143 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. 138, 143 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 took over the order instead. They were part of a batch of seven NGG16s (No.s 137 to 143), the last steam locomotives built by Beyer Peacock of Manchester.

143 entered service in September 1998, a year later than 138 after receiving significant attention, particularly to her boiler. Much of this work was carried out at the specialist works of Riley and Son, Bury. She was the last locomotive built by Beyer-Peacock of Manchester, contrasting with K1 - the first Garratt locomotive to be built in 1909. She sports a very tidy South African Railways black livery.
 

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143 steams towards Rhyd Ddu, dwarfed by the slopes of Snowdon in the background.