Steam in Kenya 2004

Saturday 13 March 2004 dawned with brilliant light, and 3020 looked at her best backing onto the "Happy Valley Express" at 07:04.  This initial delay seemed to be down to the signalling side, because 3020 had been up by the west Cabin before 06:40, when I arrived in the station. Departure was at 07:28.  A quick exit from the station was marred by the token ("line clear" in KR parlance) being dropped at the pickup by West cabin, so we had to stop briefly. 

Given the damp rails, a slow climb to Kibera had been anticipated. There were several bouts of slipping, but the train was not stalled. Kibera was reached in 52 minutes.  I had expected things to pick up then, but it took another 40 minutes to pass Dagoretti, section that had taken 28 minutes with the freight nine days previously.  

Then Dagoretti to Kikuyu took 60 minutes, compared to 35 minutes on the previous week.  Some loss of time was accounted for by slipping around Dagoretti.  On this day I did not have the privilege of being on the footplate, so I could not check the boiler pressure.  However the lack of much sound suggested to me that pressure was not all it might have been.  Graham on the lineside at Kikuyu looked cheerful - as well he might now I have seen his photo posted here!  

However, on the train, Mrs Masha (Passenger Services Manager) was getting concerned, and some passengers were wondering about the slow progress.

Things got even slower after Muguga, one passenger even asked if he could get down and walk for change!   Now that it was past 11:00, hot and sunny, slippery rails were no longer a problem.  The planned run-past at Limuru tunnel was taken, and a short stop made at Limuru station.  The section on to Uplands seemed to take forever.  In fact, Uplands was reached at 13:15.  This was a total elapsed time of 5h47m from Nairobi.  It did not compare well the the corresponding time of 3h16m with last week's freight.  Furthermore, the freight grossed at 261tons, the passenger was 170 tare, approx 200 gross.  By this time, poor Mrs Masha was really disheartened, and was starting to make arrangements for a return with diesel haulage.  However, everyone's
spirits were lifted by the wonderful views over the Rift Valley and the roll downhill to Naivasha took 2h20m, through torrential rain at Suswa.  Naivasha was reached at 15:36.  Passengers left for their
late lunch at the Naivasha Country Club and we returned to find the train remarshalled. 

9320 has been called from Nairobi. Sorry Graham - the return was in fact diesel hauled. 3020 was marshalled dead inside the train loco. Departing at 17:52, Nairobi was reached at 21:59.  Good humour prevailed among passengers - we understood that Nyaturu seems to need more loving care and we did enjoy ourselves.

Though the fact is that something isn't right - probably many things.  If the previous week's performance had been repeated, we would have reached Naivasha soon after 12:00.

Let's thank Joe Kamau and the team and ask them to press on.  We have seen that 3020 can run well.  Things must come right sometime!

Perhaps short distance steam specials, eg Athi River only, would be better, so that in the event of trouble, the lateness doesn't get excessive.