Steam Locomotive Information

Here is the photo album for Selukwe Peak Light Railway No. 'Karen', a 0-4-2T located in Porthmadog, Gwynedd. If you would like to suggest additional photos for this album, please click here.

The works plate.

Pictured outside the FR depot, Portmadog 5 May 1984.

This Bristol built locomotive worked on the Selukwe Peak Light Railway in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe today). The steeply graded railway was built to carry chrome ore from the mine of Rhodesia Chrome Mines Ltd. the six miles to the main line at Selukwe.

Here we see the left hand cylinder, slide bars and crosshead. Notice that it is an outside framed loco.

Whilst the cylinders are outside the frame, the valves are inside the frames, as is the valve gear. The slide valves are mounted vertically in typical British practice.

Space is tight between the frames and the the frames, and the valve rods pass between the wheels and over the leading axle.

The eccentrics are fixed on the rear driving axle. As space is at a premium, the eccentric rods are quite short.

After our crawl under the boiler, we see the mechanical lubricator on the left hand footplate. It takes its drive from the left hand valve rod, which can be seen on the photo of the valve chests.

Something the loco wouldn't have had in Rhodesia is an air brake system, but it is essential for hauling passenger trains. Here is the air supply pump on the side of the smokebox.


Selukwe Peak Light Railway 0-4-2T No. 'Karen' Porthmadog, Gwynedd, UK	Location: Welsh Highland Heritage Railway Status: Display