138 is one of four Beyer-Garratt NGG16 (2-6-2 + 2-6-2T) locomotives, formerly from South Africa, that provide the power for the new Welsh Highland Railway. These are the most powerful narrow gauge locos in the world, which is necessary to cope with the hard gradients of up to 1 in 40 along the line pulling up to 12 coaches.

Sourced via the Alfred County Railway alongside No. 143, 138 was overhauled and converted to oil burning in South Africa, before arriving in Wales in early 1997. Both 138 and 143 were originally ordered by the Tsumeb Copper Corporation in 1958. However its line was altered to a different gauge and South African Railways instead took over the order. They were part of a batch of seven NGG16s (No.s 137 to 143), the last steam locomotives built by Beyer Peacock of Manchester.

138 was moved to Dinas and entered service in a dark green livery in September 1997, hauling almost all trains on the new line until October 1998. In 2001, she was repainted into a lighter green with yellow and black lining, which was further modified in 2002, when the loco was also named Mileniwm/Millennium to commemorate the Millennium Commission funding, and the participation of Edison Mission Energy as sponsors.

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138 departs from Caernarfon with a train for Rhyd Ddu.