East African Railways Corporation

Nairobi to Kisumu and Butere

 Nakuru-Kisumu

 

With Mount Longonot in the background a 29 Class climbs out of the Rift Valley with a Kisumu-Nairobi goods train. PHOTO - James Waite

A characteristic of the Nakuru-Kisumu branch is the numerous US-style trestles along the line.  24 Class 2448 with a freight train. PHOTO - James Waite

29 Class 2918 (formerly Luo) has acquired a passenger coach in its consist as it crosses another trestle on the line.  PHOTO - James Waite

An unidentified 29 Class heads a freight east of Fort Ternan.  PHOTO - James Waite

Fort Ternan is the halfway point between Nakuru and Kisumu.  In 1978 the trains from Nakuru and Kisumu met here where each would take over the other's train and return respectively from whence each came.  30 Class 3130 passes a WHISTLE Board (left) as it approaches Fort Ternan.  PHOTO - James Waite
Year 2013. Approaching the trestle bridge between Kisumu and Fort Ternan - PHOTO Martin Luta
Year 2013. Approaching the trestle bridge between Kisumu and Fort Ternan - PHOTO Martin Luta
The typically American railroad bridge was built in 1901 by the American Bridge Company - PHOTO Martin Luta
Trestle bridges are supported on bents as seen here - PHOTO Martin Luta

 2448 waits in the loop at Fort Ternan for the Nakuru goods to arrive. PHOTO - James Waite.

The Nakuru goods arrives headed by 29 Class 2918. PHOTO - James Waite

In the mid 50s a double headed passenger train arrives at Chemelil, 26 miles from Kisumu .  The pilot engine (leading) is 2445.  PHOTO - Ron Bullock

3130 spends the night at Kisumu motive power depot in company with 24 Class 2448.  PHOTO - James Waite

Tank Engine 1302 lets off steam in Kisumu. PHOTO - James Waite

Morning at Kisumu as 3101 Tribal Class gets up steam. PHOTO - James Waite

3101 sets off for a day's work.  It is perhaps surprising that, as a Kenya locomotive, it has retained its BAGANDA name plate. PHOTO - James Waite

The raison d'etre for the railway's going to Kisumu was decided at the turn of the Twentieth Century when it was chosen as the destination for the Uganda Railway, Kisumu which was part of the Uganda Protectorate until the early 20th Century. It was from Kisumu on Lake Victoria that steam ships crossed the lake to Port Bell for Kampala. Not until the 1930s did the railway get to Kampala, thus degrading the mainline to Kisumu to a mere branch from Nakuru. In the mid sixites, two rail ferries - the UMOJA and the UHURU - were commissioned for lake service, principally between Kisumu, Jinja and Mwanza. Here one of them (right) prepares for an evening departure. PHOTOs - James Waite

Kisumu to Butere

Tribal 3130 (formerly Karamojong) departing Kisumu with one of the three daily services to Butere. PHOTO - James Waite

The same train (right) passes a familiar landmark on the line. PHOTO - James Waite

Apparently not making deliberate smoke for the camera, 3130 heads across the equator towards Butere. PHOTO - James Waite

The return working approaches Kisumu. The Third Class passenger cars in this photograph are of the later design. PHOTO - James Waite

I am grateful to James for allowing me to show his photographs.  They are also displayed on Narrow Gauge Heaven - worldwide railway information. 

 East African Railways and Harbours