Matheran Light Railway Locomotives 1 to 4

MLR 1 to 4 were a series of four Steam Locomotives, that originally plied on the Matheran Hill Railway. These were supplied by the German engineering company, Orenstein and Koppel. These served on the railway since its inauguration in 1907, all until 1982, when they were withdrawn from service, and completely replaced by Diesel locomotives.

MLR-1 to 4
MLR no.740
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Orenstein & Koppel Serial number 1766, 2342, 2343, 1777 Build date 1905 Total produced 4
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 0-6-0 Gauge 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) Driver dia. 30 in (0.762 m) Loco weight 15 tons (empty), 17 tons (working) Water cap. 450 gallons Firebox: ​  • Grate area 7 sq ft (0.65 m2) Boiler pressure 176 psi Heating surface 452 sq ft (42.0 m2) Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 11.81 in × 13.78 in (300 mm × 350 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort 81,101 lbf (360.76 kN) at 85% boiler pressure
Career Operators Matheran Hill Railway Numbers MLR 1-4 (old) MLR 738-741 (new) First run 1907 Retired 1982 Disposition All Four preserved

To navigate the tight curves on the MLR, the locomotives were fitted with an articulated wheel design, based on a patent by one John Clark in 1870. The design allowed for the rods to remain parallel to the engine at all times, while the wheels would follow the track's curves. The driving axles were Klien-Lindners.

The Locomotives served on the line exclusively until 1965, when diesel traction was introduced on the line. Eventually, the four engines were retired in 1982. All models have been preserved at various locations.

Preserved examples

Out of the Four Locomotives, only three remain in India, while one has been transported to the UK in 1986, where it passed through multiple owners.

No.738 is been plinthed at a mini-garden near the premises of the Neral Toy Train station. No. 739 is situated at National Rail Museum, New Delhi, while No. 741 is plinthed within the yard premises of Matheran Railway Station. No.740 was the locomotive ferried to UK, and was acquired by Amberley Chalk Pits Museum. It was then fully restored, and put to working condition. Between 2003 and 2008, it was on service on Leighton Buzzard Railway.

• 
  Locomotive MLR-739
• 
  Locomotive MLR-740
• 
  Locomotive MLR-741

Gallery

• 
  Old image of a train hauled by the Steam Locomotives
• 
  MLR 740 at the Amberley Chalk Pits Museum
• 
  MLR 741 plinthed at Matheran
• 
  Interior of the Locomotive
• 
  A plaque on the plinth of MLR-741
• 
  Diagram of the articulation mechanism

External links

• Locomotive Magazine and Railway Carriage & Wagon Review,Volume 13- 1907 See pg 48 for an article on Matheran Railway
• Railway and locomotive engineering See pg 383.
• MLR no.2 (O&K 2342) and train: Postcard
• MLR 738 navigating a curve on MLR, 1978
• Interior view of MLR 739, at NRM