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EAR class 59 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt 5913 at Embakasi

EAR class 59 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt 5913 at Embakasi

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Caption - East African Railways (EAR) class 59 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt 5913 stands at Embakasi station south of Nairobi waiting for the single line token. These metre-gauge oil-fired giants weighed in excess of 250 tons. The class consited of 34 locos which were built in 1955 and provided the mainstay of traction on the mainline from Mombasa on the coast up to Nairobi at 4000 feet above sea level. They were the most powerful and heaviest metre gauge locos in the world and were a master of the job. Photographed in December 1977, 5913 was near the end of its working life with the class being withdrawn from service by 1980.

Country - Kenya   Date - 1977   General Photo - 126

Photographer - Lou Johnson

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