87, ex-South African Railways NG/G16 Garratt, Welsh Highland Railway

An ex-South African Railways NG/G16 2 ft gauge Beyer-Garratt 2-6-2+2-6-2, working on the Welsh Highland Railway in north Wales.

No. 87 is the Belgian-built engine of the SAR NG/G16 family. It was built by Cockerill of Seraing in 1936 (works number 3267) as part of the first NG/G16 batch ordered by South African Railways, and worked the 2 ft gauge Natal branches until withdrawal in 1986. It came home to Wales in 2006 and joined the WHR fleet, where it now works in service alongside its later British-built sisters of 1958.

The Welsh Highland Railway uniquely operates both the first Garratt ever built (K1, 1909) and the last (143, 1958), with No. 87 sitting between them as the only Belgian-built engine on the line.

Notable history

Built by Cockerill of Seraing, Belgium, in 1936 (works number 3267) as part of the first batch of NG/G16 Garratts ordered by South African Railways. Worked the Natal narrow-gauge branches in SAR service until withdrawal in 1986. Repatriated from South Africa to the Welsh Highland Railway in 2006, where it works alongside its later British-built sisters.

Additional notes

Location, livery and status last confirmed pre-2024, subject to verification.