Three Beyer-Garratts in East Africa

[rogerfarnworth]

Three Beyer-Garratts in East Africa in the 1950s
The December 1958 issue of The Railway Magazine featured three photographs of Beyer Garrett locomotives at work in East Africa. These were giants of the metre-gauge that grappled with long loads on steep inclines and at times sharply curved track radii. .......

Three Beyer-Garratts in East Africa in the 1950s

The December 1958 issue of The Railway Magazine featured three photographs of Beyer Garrett locomotives at work in East Africa. These were giants of the metre-gauge that grappled with long loads on…

rogerfarnworth.com

The KUR EC5 class was a class of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt-type articulated steam locomotives built during the latter stages of World War II by Beyer, Peacock & Co. in Gorton, Manchester for the War Department of the United Kingdom. The two members of the class entered service on the Kenya-Uganda Railway (KUR) in 1945. They were part of a batch of 20 locomotives, the rest of which were sent to either India or Burma. ........

 

[rogerfarnworth]

There are a number in Nairobi Railway Museum. One was, for a time, in use under its own power on the metre-gauge network but perhaps only just into the 2000s?

 

[Jetglo]

Here is 5918 in its shed at Nairobi depot in mid-2018.

 

[matchmaker]

There is a 3'6" gauge Garrett "Springbok" at the Summerlee Museum at Coatbridge, built by North British Locomotive Co. It's outside and not in a particulately good state.

 

[Ploughman]

What is the Garret in Manchester Science and Industry Museum?
Is it a 59

 

[class442]

Here is 5918 in its shed at Nairobi depot in mid-2018.

Wow, this is really exciting to me. I've been to Kenya quite a few times now. The railway is fascinating and I've scoured the internet looking for more pictures of 5918, it became a bit of an obsession, but couldn't find any past 2009 or so, since its last steaming. I visited the railway museum last year expecting to see it, but of course didn't.

Have you got any more info? Are these your own photographs?

 

[webbfan]

Interesting, bought the worksplate off 5804 a couple of weeks ago, now know exactly which engine carried it.

 

[Jetglo]

Wow, this is really exciting to me. I've been to Kenya quite a few times now. The railway is fascinating and I've scoured the internet looking for more pictures of 5918, it became a bit of an obsession, but couldn't find any past 2009 or so, since its last steaming. I visited the railway museum last year expecting to see it, but of course didn't.

Have you got any more info? Are these your own photographs?

5918, 2409 and 3020 were stored in the former loco depot not far from the museum and were both secure when I visited in mid-2018. The locos looked to be in good complete condition but rather dirty.
There is no public access to the depot, I had applied to the museum curator ahead of a working trip to Nairobi requesting a visit to see the locos, the staff were all very friendly, helpful and proud of their locos.
Yes, they are my photos but it was obviously difficult to get decent ones due to the loco’s position.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Oct 2025 ==

A Couple more photos….

 

[Dr_Paul]

I worked at the Crown Agents, which ordered, inspected and shipped locomotives and rolling stock (and much else besides) to what were then British colonies, and in the archive department were many ex-works photographs of them, including huge Garretts for East African Railways. This was back in the 1970s; I hope that the archives have been deposited somewhere safe.

 

[rogerfarnworth]

5918, 2409 and 3020 were stored in the former loco depot not far from the museum and were both secure when I visited in mid-2018. The locos looked to be in good complete condition but rather dirty.
There is no public access to the depot, I had applied to the museum curator ahead of a working trip to Nairobi requesting a visit to see the locos, the staff were all very friendly, helpful and proud of their locos.
Yes, they are my photos but it was obviously difficult to get decent ones due to the loco’s position.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Oct 2025 ==

A Couple more photos….

Some great photos, Jetglo

 

[class442]

5918, 2409 and 3020 were stored in the former loco depot not far from the museum and were both secure when I visited in mid-2018. The locos looked to be in good complete condition but rather dirty.
There is no public access to the depot, I had applied to the museum curator ahead of a working trip to Nairobi requesting a visit to see the locos, the staff were all very friendly, helpful and proud of their locos.
Yes, they are my photos but it was obviously difficult to get decent ones due to the loco’s position.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Oct 2025 ==

A Couple more photos….

Great photos indeed, thank you for sharing.

I'll probably be in Kenya next summer, so will have to see if I can see them for myself.