Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works

(SLM 0-4-2T 2838, 1922) SLM is best known around the world for mountain railway engines.

Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway, Colorado, USA

Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (German Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik; French Société Suisse pour la Construction de Locomotives et de Machines; or for both, SLM) was a railway equipment manufacturer based in Winterthur in Switzerland. Much of the world's mountain railway equipment was constructed by the company.

History

The company was founded in 1871 by the British engineer Charles Brown.^[1] SLM built both steam and electric locomotives, including the crocodile type.

From 1992, SLM returned to producing steam locomotives designed around advanced steam technology principles. This included rebuilding DR Class 52.80 locomotive number 52 8055.^[2]

In 1998 the cog-railway division was sold to Stadler Rail, and the engineering division, via Adtranz, to Bombardier Transportation. The remaining business was renamed Sulzer-Winpro AG and as part of a management buyout in 2001, was renamed Winpro AG.

The advanced steam division was sold in 2000 to Dampflokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik AG (Steam Locomotive and Machine Works Ltd), or DLM AG.^[3]

In October 2001 the measurement division was sold to PROSE AG.

Winpro AG was sold on 7 September 2005 to Stadler Rail.

Preserved SLM Locomotives

Finland

Image	Class	Built	Number	Type	SLM Number	Wheel arrangement	Location	Notes
	Sk1	1885	124	Mixed traffic steam locomotive	405	2-6-0	Finnish Railway Museum
	F1	1886	132	Passenger steam locomotive	434	0-4-4T	Finnish Railway Museum	“Felix”

India

Image	Class	Built	Number	Type	SLM Number	Wheel arrangement	Location	Notes
	WCG1 khekda (crab)	1928	4502, Sir Leslie Wilson	1,500V DC, 650 hp Electric goods locomotive		C-C	National Rail Museum, New Delhi	10 built by SLM 31 similar built by Vulcan Foundry [4]

Switzerland

Image	Class	Built	Number	Type	SLM Number	Wheel arrangement	Location	Notes
		1902	5	Narrow gauge steam locomotive	1440	0-6-0T	Waldenburg railway	Built for the Waldenburg railway; gauge 750 mm (2 ft 5 1⁄2 in); named Gedeon Thommen[5]
		1912	6	Narrow gauge steam locomotive	2276	0-6-0T	Swiss Museum of Transport	Built for the Waldenburg railway; gauge 750 mm (2 ft 5 1⁄2 in); named Waldenburg[5]

United Kingdom

Image	Class	Built	Number	Type	SLM Number	Wheel arrangement	Location	Notes
		1895	2	Mountain railway rack steam locomotive	924	0-4-2T	Snowdon Mountain Railway	“Enid”
		1895	3	Mountain railway rack steam locomotive	925	0-4-2T	Snowdon Mountain Railway	“Wyddfa”
		1896	4	Mountain railway rack steam locomotive	988	0-4-2T	Snowdon Mountain Railway	“Snowdon”
		1896	5	Mountain railway rack steam locomotive	989	0-4-2T	Snowdon Mountain Railway	“Moel Siabod”
		1922	6	Mountain railway rack steam locomotive	2838	0-4-2T	Snowdon Mountain Railway	“Padarn”
		1923	7	Mountain railway rack steam locomotive	2869	0-4-2T	Snowdon Mountain Railway	“Ralph”
		1923	8	Mountain railway rack steam locomotive	2870	0-4-2T	Snowdon Mountain Railway	“Eryri”

See also

• SLM Factories
• Jakob Buchli - a railway pioneer with the SLM

Gallery

• 
  Builder's Plate of Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Societe Suisse locomotive No 434 of 1886 0-4-4T at the Finnish Railway Museum
• 
  SLM built this 1050mm gauge 2-8-0 for the Hejaz Railway in 1912 and it was still at work on Palestine Railways in 1946.
• 
  SLM locomotives are still at work on India on some heritage railways.
• 
  Builder's Plate 2-6-0 Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Societe Suisse Locomotive No 405 from 1885 at the Finnish Railway Museum
• 
  Electric railcars built by SLM are used in the Pilatus Railway

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik.