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Hi Fatboy
A steam engine goes into reverse by moving the 'reverser', which serves much the same function on a loco as a gearbox does on a road vehicle, from forwards into back gear. However there are no gears on a steam engine, and the change of direction is achieved simply by changing the way in which the valves admit steam to the cylinders – the pistons continue to act in exactly the same way regardless of the direction of travel.
On most tender engines the speed in reverse is limited to rather less than when in forward gear. This is partly because it can be seen as less safe to be propelling the heavy weight of the tender ahead of the engine. This might be particularly the case on lightly laid lines such as might have existed in Malaya in the 1940s. In addition the driver's outlook to the rear of the engine is often less clear than his view ahead, so more caution is required.
In the case of tank engines – locos with no tender – the speed in reverse can generally be the same as when going forwards, though drivers may have a rather restricted view and so may well wish to drive a bit more slowly.
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