A REPORT ON THE VISIT TO THE RAILWAYS CENTRAL

WORK SHOP AND MUSEUM ART GALLERY ON 3RD AND

4TH FEBRUARY 2022 RESPECTIVELY AS FROM 8.00 TO
4.00 PM

NAME:LAGAT .C. VALLARY

CLASS: RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION AND
MAINTENANCE
ADM: RTI/21/02304
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. OBJECTIVES
3. WORKSHOP
4. MUSEUM
5. RECOMEDATION
6. CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
After learning about railways, The RTI management decided to take the trainees
for an industrial academic visit to the Nairobi Central Workshop and Nairobi
Railways Museums on 03/02/2022 and 04/02/2022 respectively, To learn more
practically with the help from our lecturers and the railway staffs we were able to
come up with a report through what we were taught around the workshop and
railway museum.
 Objectives
i. To identify different types of locomotives
ii. To learn practically from what we were taught theatrically
iii. To identify the running history of railways
iv. To identify the communication system and signaling
v. To identify operations of railways
 WORKSHOP

ROLLING STOCK
A furnace was used where metals were subjected to a very high temperature to desired shapes.
The bending of metal was subjected to over 100 degrees of heat to be aligned to proper shape
and get straighten so as to be re-used
COACHNG (SHOP 024)
There was different activities done ;
1. Fabrication
2. Fittings
3. Refurbishments
We were also taught the different types of coaches;
1.FIRST CORRIDOR BOGIE (F.C.B)
Brought by the British in the early 90’s
It was under Repair.
2. SECOND CORRIDOR BOGIE (S.C.B)
Brought from Sweden
It had 46 rooms with 4 beds
It was under repair and maintaince
3.THIRD CORRIDOR BOGIE (T.C.R)
It was used for long distance.
It had washroom, restroom and kitchen
Repair and maintenance were used.
It had extended footsteps
.

RESTRUNT CORRIDOR BOGIE (R.C.B)

It had dinner tables and chairs where people had their dinners

DMU-DIESEL MOTORISED UNIT

It was bought and imported from Spain in the year 1902
. Used to carry passengers over short distances.
PAINT SHOP -028
This where sign writing was done and also painting
There were three types of sign writing
1. Informatory (carry information)
2. Directive sign (for direction)
3. Warning sign (for warning)
TIMBER WORKSHOP
In the timber workshop there was different types of machines which was displayed and each of
them had its own functions and purpose;
There was processing;
1. timber sleepers
2. , wooden fittings, household furniture and train furniture
There were machines that made work easier inside there;
1.lathe machine used for chooping
2.Blower machines used to suck the wooden dust
 SHOP O22
This is where the wheel and tyre components were serviced for another operation or replacement

SHOP 07B
This is where flat wagons were inspected and repaired.

WELDING SHOP
This is where all broken metallic components are brought for welding repair using oxythylene
gas for gas welding raw hydrogen rods for electrical welding.
LOCOMOTIVES
The main type of locomotive that was service and maintained there was a diesel electric
locomotives.

AIRBRAKES

Railway vehicles are commonly equipped with braking systems using compressed air to push the
pads on the discs or blocks to the wheels. The systems are known as air or pneumatic brakes. The
compressed air is conveyed through the train by a brake pipe. Bellow is the picture of a
technician servicing an ODBV.
SAFETY AT WORKSHOP

Machine operators observed the safe operational procedures (SOP) the workshop had
 Moving path or passage ways that were clearly marked and not obstructed
 Enough space in the workshop
 Proper lighting i.e height of the workplace was adequate for proper ventilation.
 The floor condition was non-skid kind
 MUSEUM
On 4th of February, we visited Nairobi railway museum and here
are our findings.

HISTORY OF THE RAILWAYS

We were introduced to the railway history by miss Esther from how the idea was brought to life to date.

The railway construction was started by the British who had colonized us under the supervision of
Engineer George white House in the year 1896.

The British were interested in the river Nile and the source was in the landlocked country, Uganda which
is Lake Victoria.

They used donkeys to do the feasibility study of where they intended to construct the railway from
Mombasa through Nairobi all the way to Kampala but it went up to Kisumu. The railway was there means
of transport to where their interests were – Lake Victoria.

During the construction the British imported 36000 workers from India which was cheap labor and
Indians had experience with railway construction and management from their home.

The British faced challenges like;

 No harbor hence no docking

 Lack of fresh water, this forced them to build fresh water distillation plant
 Malaria
 Man-eaters

At Voi they experienced a delay in construction material and introduced the use of timber sleepers which
were readily available from the hard wood trees in forest.

They established Kima station, but they were attacked by the man eating lions from the Tsavo park, the
superintendent of police Charles Ryall was attacked and killed by the famous man eaters.

The Makupa bridge (Salisbury bridge) delayed for 8 months due to poor transport network from England
to the bridge, which was opened in 1896 headed by Engineer of sleepers Ronald Preston.

In 1899 it reached Nyrobi (Nairobi –land of cool water). They faced challenges like

 Resistance from the maasai community

 Disease outbreak e.g. malaria, yellow fever
In 1900 it reached Nakuru and by the year 1901 the construction was completed at PORT Florence
(Kisumu) named after the wife of Ronald Preston the chief engineer of sleepers.

The same year the national bank of India was introduced which is the currently Kenya Commercial
Bank(KCB)

The total construction of the railway was estimated to be 1.93 million pounds but costed 5.5 million
pounds

Other branches were constructed-

1915 completion of Konza to Magadi line

1920 Voi to Taveta line

1924 to Eldoret

1926 Kitale terminal

1929 the building of the present headquarter was opened

1931 Jinja Kampala was connected to Mombasa

1932 Kisumu –Butere line

1926-Uganda railway changed to Kenya railway

1927-kenya Uganda railway and harbors was established

1948-kenya Uganda railway changed TO EAST AFRICA RAILWAY and harbors

1969 – it changed to east Africa corporation

1977 –EARC collapsed

Prince Charles came to Kenya 1928 and named the construction Kenya Uganda railway

Sir Christian was the general manager in the year 1923-1928 for Kenya railways

In 1952 princess Elizabeth was made the Queen of England while in Kenya

They used a wheeled trolley from 1890- 1926 then adopted a bike inspection

Fred Jorden was the first museum curator

John Peterson was the chief Engineer in the construction of Tsavo

HABOURS
Model of Livingstone vessel that worked on lake albert in Uganda
Clement ship in Lake Victoria used to carry cargo and passengers

RMS Victoria for east African railway and harbor

Modern liemba in Tanzania had 3 classes

Carry brooks cache the first class carried 250 and second class carried 118 and third class to full capacity.
The ship moved from south Africa to Southampton in 15 days

Konigs berg table was recovered after the ship sunk in 1915

William MacKinnon was the first steamer in Lake Victoria

SGR
It was launched in 28 November 2013 by president Uhuru at Changamwe marshaling yard

1st January2015 the construction of standard gauge railway commenced at kilindini

28 may 2016 the president of Kenya had a tour to Sultan Hamud for inspection

Types of SGR locomotives

Shunting DF7G

Freight DF8B
Coach DF11 FIRST CLASS 72 SEATS
ECONOMY 4z25g 118 seats -104 compartments
SGR STATION
ARTHI
EMALI
KIBWEZI
MARIAKANI
MTITO WANDEI
VOI
MIYASENI
YARD
Types of rail gauge
50kg\m for light cargo
80lbs\y for heavy cargo
Sign post were used to direct trains
Working gang-men at work
Point indicator- points of turnout
They used clip type- spikes were used to fasten the rail
Hammered type-the sleeper had a key and chair that were used to anchor the rail
Male buffer
Female buffer

Cow catcher
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we noticed that indeed Kenya Railway has really improved in terms of
rehabilitation of the wagons and locomotives more work need to me done to improve the
efficiency and the reliability of the rail transport. We also appreciate the work done by
the Railway technician in the workshop i.e the fabrication of local made spare parts for
the railways.