Friends of the Rail Forum

Bagnall 0-4-0T shunter from the Magadi line
"Hugh F Marriot"

Photos by John Ashworth 1996

The same loco 12 years later

Photos by John Ashworth 01/03/08

Interesting. I worked at Magadi in the 70's - I do not remember this though. I wonder when it was taken out of use? It would have been used for shunting I assume.

In fact, I cannot remember much at all about the railway operation at Magadi, apart for the odd trains coming in from time to time to cart off the soda. I think it was too hot and humid to worry about anything else except being miserable! The crew of this little engine could not have lasted too long!

The line to Magadi was 90 miles long and built in 1913 incidentally, and the soda deposits were at the time of major importance.

The Magadi line was privatised a good few years ago (long before RVR) and the Magadi factory ran its own trains up as far as the main line. I'm not sure of the status now.

The line must still be going strong - I recall a new set of wagons being designed for the Magadi Soda Company only a couple of years ago. Found this pic of one....