3020 goes to Athi River
Posted: 03 Oct 2010, 17:35
I've just posted the following on the East_African_Steam Yahoo group:
I just got home from the Nairobi to Athi River leg of the trip - I had to bail out there as I have a flight to catch tonight, unfortunately, which is also why I'm writing this in haste. I'll post some pictures to the FOTR forum within the next few days, I hope.
All went extremely well except that we were about 90 minutes behind schedule, due to delays in transferring oil from 2409 to 3020 this morning. Yesterday we worked on replacing the side rods which had new white metal bearings.
Once we had completed shed duties we went to Nairobi Station to pick up our load, already marshalled, of loco water tank, buffet car, three sitter coaches and brake van. Then we propelled the load to Makweni Gardens, which is in Upper Hill, just a few kms on the Uganda side of Nairobi Station. There, with the train stopped in section, we picked up about 100 passengers, food and drink, catering staff, and a couple of policemen with AK47s. A smooth and uneventful ride got us to Athi River in about 90 minutes. As I left by car, the train was being remarshalled for the return journey, and I envied those who were going to hear the exhaust bark on the uphill leg of the trip.