East African Railways and Harbours
What most pupils at school in Eldoret never saw - Eldoret Station in daylight (left). This was because School Trains, like Mail Trains, arrived from Kampala at 0530 and departed for Kampala at 2230 - in the hours of darkness.A train of 2nd and 3rd class stock arrives from Nakuru and a rake of coaches is in the loop. PHOTO EAR&H Magazine. Kaptagat Station - often the next stop after Eldoret for a Nairobi-bound train, although it was more usual for the train to run on to Kipkabus.
Only 2nd and 3rd Class trains regularly called at these stations which were omitted by Mail Trains unless they were obliged to stop to allow a train heading in the opposite direction to cross in the passing loop. Or a 1st or 2nd Class passenger could have requested a stop - there was no 3rd Class accommodation on Mail Trains.Plateau Station in 2005 - but no trains.
Not all that different from 50 years ago, although perhaps a little run down.
PHOTOs - Louise Heckl
The Kaptagat Arms Hotel (left) was near Kaptagat Station. The Elgeyo Escarpment (right) is also not far from the station
Between Kaptagat and Timboroa, this little lake comes into view - note the pumping station in the photo on the right.
Timboroa Station Building (left) and platform traders (right). At 9001 ft elevation, the station is the highest on a mainline in the Commonwealth.
Train Staff, passengers and traders on the platform at Timboroa (left) while the 58 Class takes water (right).
Down Mail Train shortly after departing Timboroa. The high cab of the 58 Class locomotive distinguishes it from an otherwise similar 57 Class.
Summit at 9136 ft is reached shortly after departing Timboroa heading towards to Nakuru. It is the highest point on any main line in the Commonwealth.
In the late 1940s a KUR&H EC-3 Class (later, EAR&H 57 Class) Garratt heads a Uganda bound freight (above left) up the grade towards Timboroa. A pair of 50 Class Garratts double head a freight for Nakuru in the early 1950s (centre). PHOTOs EAR&H The picture (above right) was available as a colour postcard which shows 52 class Garratt 5203 still in its grey Kenya & Uganda Railways & Harbours livery, but sporting EAR&H number boards.
A 60 Class (left) heads a Mail Train towards Nakuru (note leading through First Class coach from Namasagali which has been attached at Mbulamuti). An up freight (right) headed by 2923 Magodo climbs towards Timboroa. -PHOTOs EAR&H
Photographed from a down Uganda Mail - the Summit Board (left) and Equator Station (right).
Equator Station - Mail Trains seldom stopped at Equator Station. The line actually crosses and re-crosses the equator three times in the vacinity of the station The photographs were taken from a Mail Train during a run through in 1962.
A 90 Class 1-Co-Co-1 diesel electric (left) bound for Nakuru heads a freight through Equator Station - PHOTO - EAR&H 1964 Annual Report. Equator Station as seen from a run through heading towards Eldoret. While Equator Station is obviously unique and seldom did the Mail Trains stop there, the station building is typical of those found throughout the Kenya Highlands. Not far from Equator is one of four spirals on the system. PHOTO - Harry Dodge
A 58 Class heads a Kampala bound School Train (right) through the Kenya Highlands between Nakuru and Timboroa. The third coach is a Dining Car which would have been mustered between first class coaches on a Mail Train.
School Train between Eldoret and Nakuru (left) - note there is only one first class coach (behind the locomotive) - the girls were always lucky! The fifth vehicle is a dining car.
As the train nears Nakuru, there was this example of soil erosion (left).
A 29 Class is framed by the RAILWAY CROSSING signs which add a US flavour to this Kenya Highlands scene (right). PHOTO - Harry Dodge
The only double track on the system was the 3.85 miles between Nakuru and Nakuru West - the junction for the Kisumu Branch, which, of course had been the original main line. The photograph on the left was taken from a School Train heading for Nakuru.
The photo on the right is of a 60 Class hauling a freight towards Nakuru taken by Harry Dodge
Approaching Nakuru from Kampala, Nakuru Shed always had a fine display of Garratts. Compare the rounded tanks of the 60 Class with the square tanks of a 57 Class behind (left). 60 and 55 Class Garratts (right).
Bouganvillia on the dual carriageway below Nakuru Bridge (left).
Electrically powered signal cabin at Nakuru West, equipped by Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co Ltd.
PHOTO (right) EAR&H Magazine
Nakuru Station (left) was the finest on the line. A 58 Class (right) goes on shed having hauled the Uganda Mail Train from Nairobi.
A year or so later, the 58 Class (left) has displaced the 60 Class between Kampala and Nakuru. The 58 Class now hands the train over to a 90 Class diesel (right) which will take the train on to Nairobi where a 59 Class Garratt will take the train on to Mombasa.
Fifteen years apart - 60 Class Garratt brings in the down Uganda Mail to Nakuru (left). The same scene when 87 Class 8722 arrives with the down Uganda Mail (right). PHOTOs EAR&H Magazine
The Royal Train with the Queen Mother aboard departing Nakuru in 1958 (left).
The Royal Train heading for Eldoret (2nd class coaches leading) as depicted on an EAR&H colour postcard (top right) .
The Royal Train returning from Eldoret (First Class coaches leading) (bottom right) - PHOTO s - EAR&H
The Royal Train was specially turned out in cream livery and hauled by two specially prepared 60 Class Garratts, 6020 Sir Evelyn Baring and 6019 Sir Philip Mitchell. There were 19 vehicles (38 units in EAR&H terminology - that being the number of bogies [trucks] in the consist). This included the two Governor's Saloons built in the Nairobi Workshops in 1920-21. The 2nd class coaches next to the engine (on the outbound journey) conveyed Mechanical Staff; the last three coaches conveyed EAR&H Public Relations Staff and representatives of the local and overseas press. The Chief Operating Superintendent and the Kenya Commissioner of Police were in overall command. A Pilot Train went ahead of the Royal Train which the Queen Mother boarded at Nakuru. She visited Eldoret and Kitale before returning to Naivasha where she left the Train.
The Royal Train (left) approaching Equator Station during the Royal Tour of the Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia Districts of the Kenya Highlands in February, 1959. Note the policeman beside the track.
The Royal Train (left) passing over the spiral in the vicinity of Equator station. There were three spirals on the Kenya Uganda division - this one, another near the coast at Mombasa and a third between Kamwenga and Dura River on the 210 mile extension from Kampala to Kasese. The Royal Train (right) heading back from Eldoret.
PHOTOs - EAR&H. All Royal train PHOTOs courtesy of Sir James Farquharson.
Sir James was General Manager of East African Railways and Harbours between 1957 and 1961.
Sir James Farquharson, KBE, engineer, was born on November 1, 1903. He died on February 17, 2005, aged 101.
