Kenya: Longonot Interlude

[John Ashworth]

Photos and text by Roderick Smith, May 2011, first posted on East_African_Steam Yahoo group.

We would face a long crossing wait at Longonot (a freight with 9311), and it
provided a very interesting interlude...

It was to be a sunny runpast of the train, featuring the signalbox, the
station building and sundry trees animals and houses against a beautiful
Rift Valley backdrop.

A village drunk stood in front of the line, singing ribald songs in Swahili.
The train was carrying two armed guards, and one sprang into action.
I had the camera at the ready: my first shooting, and great to add to the
Melbourne debate?

Not so: the guard frogmarched the pest away, and handcuffed him until after
all of the photoruns, and the cross, and the train was ready to continue.
The crew took the opportunity to inspect and lubricate the loco.

Classes were suspended in the local school, and the teacher brought the
students to the station to watch the rare action.

We then continued, to more dramatic and sunny photostops.