3020 at Athi River

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John Ashworth
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3020 at Athi River

Post by John Ashworth »

The trip from Nairobi to Athi River was pretty much flawless, but frustrations set in at Athi River. Due to an accident at Kikuyu on Friday, freight trains were stacked up. Without our passengers, our return trip to Nairobi was now a fairly low priority in the great scheme of things, so we stood for 4 hours at Athi River while freight trains were cleared in both directions, before finally getting our own "line clear" at around 6 pm. We had a good trip back, arriving in Nairobi Station at 7.45 pm. But all credit to RVR for giving us a good run with our passengers in the morning. That part of the trip was immensely successful and the customers were happy, which is the important thing.

Photos by John Ashworth, 7th August 2011
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3020 stands in Athi River Station
3020 stands in Athi River Station
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This time pumping water went smoothly
This time pumping water went smoothly
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9312
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9409
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Running round the train and moving the water tank to the other end proved slightly complicated. We could not use the main loop due to the volume of traffic, so we used the small loop by the old goods shed. However this had a goods van standing on it which we had to move and then replace. The following few shots show aspects of the shunt.
Running round the train and moving the water tank to the other end proved slightly complicated. We could not use the main loop due to the volume of traffic, so we used the small loop by the old goods shed. However this had a goods van standing on it which we had to move and then replace. The following few shots show aspects of the shunt.
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"Coupling, coupling..."
"Coupling, coupling..."
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The loop on which the goods van was sitting had a derailer for protection. Here the derailer is on.
The loop on which the goods van was sitting had a derailer for protection. Here the derailer is on.
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Derailer off
Derailer off
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Innovative use for an old goods shed - the local chief's office. Next door is an evangelical church, who sang most of the time we were there.
Innovative use for an old goods shed - the local chief's office. Next door is an evangelical church, who sang most of the time we were there.
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9309 exchanges tokens
9309 exchanges tokens
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The carriage and wagon chaps place their board on the line as they examine the brakes and couplings
The carriage and wagon chaps place their board on the line as they examine the brakes and couplings
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6221 comes in on a local freight
6221 comes in on a local freight
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8741 hauls the last train to cross us in light suitable for photography. The train then reversed back into section to enter a siding, and we had to wait for confirmation that the train was clear and points locked before we were given "line clear" back to Nairobi
8741 hauls the last train to cross us in light suitable for photography. The train then reversed back into section to enter a siding, and we had to wait for confirmation that the train was clear and points locked before we were given "line clear" back to Nairobi
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Steve Appleton
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Re: 3020 at Athi River

Post by Steve Appleton »

Hi John, Interesting that the C+W guys placed that sign on the track.
Is that sign put just in front of the loco to warn the crew not to move the train? Are the C+W chaps actually scrabbling around under the train?
Do you take those C+W chaps with you on these trips?
Is not a roadworthy examination before initial departure from Nairobi not sufficient, followed up by a brake test after the loco has runaround, as we do here?
Are the brakes and couplings that unreliable that they need such a full inspection?
"To train or not to train, that is the question"
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John Ashworth
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Re: 3020 at Athi River

Post by John Ashworth »

I think it's more to do with inter-company interfaces, Steve. The locos belong to Kenya Railways and are operated by (retired) KR crews, but the coaches belong to RVR, and RVR have the concession to operate trains. Hence the guard on the train is RVR, and we have an RVR official on the footplate. The brake test is thus done by RVR personnel, not by our own crew. They sign the paperwork. With the type of coupling used on KR, each coupler has to be screwed up tight, and this is also done by RVR personnel. But yes, they do put that warning board in front of the loco to warn the crew not to move while they are between (not under) vehicles.
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Tony Mackay
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Joined: 31 May 2010, 07:04

Re: 3020 at Athi River

Post by Tony Mackay »

Great shots of 3020, John. Takes me back to my young days spent in Dodoma when this class of loco was a common site. These pics just seem to capture the atmosphere of Africa.
Tony Mackay N.Z
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