There was a time when I could not have brought myself to look at this - like someone unable to look at a picture of a long-lost childhood sweetheart. I rode on this train in the early 1960s and it is amazing how little has changed. Sadly, I left Kenya, the country of my birth, in 1964 never to return. Of course, back then this train was pulled by the huge 59 class Beyer Garratts and I think myself lucky to have seen them working. These days I enjoy the equally wonderful views afforded by the English Peak District. To borrow an analogy from Cecil Lewis, when God created England he was painting miniatures - to paint Kenya he used much bigger brushes. As if to emphasise the tiny scale of England this idyllic spot lies less than 15 miles from where those great Beyer Garratts were built.
wow! so many fellow Kenyans!! i am a Mombasa baby educated in Nairobi and Rift Valley and Beyond! i remember so many times taking this train! so many fond memories!
omg! great video. I was born and raised in mombasa Kenya, train to Nairobi for the holidays was awesome. the overnight train ride was great. me and my sisters used to fight over the top bunk. memories...thanks for posting this last time I rode this train had to be around 93/94. if you ever go back to Kenya try the 1st class train to kisumu the train has double sided tripple deckers.
Maggie Patta I too was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya; and I took train rides in my youth from Mombasa to Nairobi from 1960 to 1970 during the steam train days. I now live in Canada with my family. I'm writing a book about my childhood in Kenya, and am interested in hearing your experiences that we can include. Would you be able to contact me to discuss our different decades of experiences?
I stay in Nairobi and I have only used train once... I used it out of curiosity though... I stay in western part of Nairobi.. So one day I decided I want to try a train I went to train station and took a train upto embakasi then taxi back... I didn't like it overcrowded as shit
I took this intriguing trip in 1987. R locomotive broke down in the middle of the Bush, and we had to wait hours for a replacement to come up from Mombasa. We could see the loco wending its way up from the coast very slowly
Thank you for posting it. I grew up in Mombasa where my father was based (working for an oil company) we used to travel on that line when we were travelling to Europe before Mombasa had an airport open to civil aviation (I am talking before Kenya became independent)
Unfortunately, this train has been retired from public use, as Kenya has built a modern fast train using SGR technology. We hope they will renovate and keep these old trains in operation for tourists wishing to travel slowly enjoying the Tsavo National Park.
Great video. Which year and how long was the actual journey? I travelled the Pre-independance EAR Mombasa to Nakuru and those journeys were my childhood highlights. The engine was steam, the livery colours rust brown, and the animals the same....
Thanks for this. I took this train way back, in 1974 - a great experience. Does a steward still come round with a little xylophone when dinner is about to be served?
Thx for this video. planning a trip to Kenya for a safari, but seeing that you come across zebras, giraffes and other wildlife while on the train to Mombasa, I'm wondering if a safari is worth the loads of money.
I Think Kenya made a huge mistake in building the sgr on borrowed money. Investing in good rolling stock for the existent railway coupled with modest renovation of the track and partial build out of relatively cheap rail to double track would likely have yielded much more for the invested resources. Narrow gauge is not limited in terms of capacity. It is limited in speed. And the price differential is huge in relation to sgr. They would have gotten the same capacity with less 8nvestment, and all most all of the investment could have stayed locally. Using this approach they could build out the network to cover more and more of the country and supply neighbour with vital capacity as well.
![MOMBASA OLD TOWN: KENYA'S CULTURAL GEM 🇰🇪| [EP. 3]](/img/n.gif)
There was a time when I could not have brought myself to look at this - like someone unable to look at a picture of a long-lost childhood sweetheart. I rode on this train in the early 1960s and it is amazing how little has changed. Sadly, I left Kenya, the country of my birth, in 1964 never to return. Of course, back then this train was pulled by the huge 59 class Beyer Garratts and I think myself lucky to have seen them working. These days I enjoy the equally wonderful views afforded by the English Peak District. To borrow an analogy from Cecil Lewis, when God created England he was painting miniatures - to paint Kenya he used much bigger brushes.
As if to emphasise the tiny scale of England this idyllic spot lies less than 15 miles from where those great Beyer Garratts were built.
The sound coming from the railway tracks is just wooow. I wanna go back.
wow! so many fellow Kenyans!! i am a Mombasa baby educated in Nairobi and Rift Valley and Beyond! i remember so many times taking this train! so many fond memories!
omg! great video. I was born and raised in mombasa Kenya, train to Nairobi for the holidays was awesome. the overnight train ride was great. me and my sisters used to fight over the top bunk. memories...thanks for posting this last time I rode this train had to be around 93/94. if you ever go back to Kenya try the 1st class train to kisumu the train has double sided tripple deckers.
Maggie Patta I too was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya; and I took train rides in my youth from Mombasa to Nairobi from 1960 to 1970 during the steam train days. I now live in Canada with my family. I'm writing a book about my childhood in Kenya, and am interested in hearing your experiences that we can include. Would you be able to contact me to discuss our different decades of experiences?
Sure. That would be great.
i also lived in mombasa from 60s to late 70s i went to Mombasa Technical High school. great days.
My last and only time travelling with that train was in August 1993.
I stay in Nairobi and I have only used train once... I used it out of curiosity though... I stay in western part of Nairobi.. So one day I decided I want to try a train I went to train station and took a train upto embakasi then taxi back... I didn't like it overcrowded as shit
Thanks for uploading this. I took this train around 1991, and your video brings back great memories.
They are still there for cargo but now its new sgr trains +44
I took this intriguing trip in 1987. R locomotive broke down in the middle of the Bush, and we had to wait hours for a replacement to come up from Mombasa. We could see the loco wending its way up from the coast very slowly
Qamar ul-Zaman
Very nice video reminds me of my Nana ji.
Thank you
Thank you for posting it. I grew up in Mombasa where my father was based (working for an oil company) we used to travel on that line when we were travelling to Europe before Mombasa had an airport open to civil aviation (I am talking before Kenya became independent)
Unfortunately, this train has been retired from public use, as Kenya has built a modern fast train using SGR technology. We hope they will renovate and keep these old trains in operation for tourists wishing to travel slowly enjoying the Tsavo National Park.
ua-cam.com/video/otAJqurL5IM/v-deo.html
I think you can't ride indian local train,this Mombasa train is quiet well and clear,you can't experience,
They should bring the old train back for tourists and adventure travellers
Thanks for Upload 1st Dec 2020 KENYA 254 LONDON LOCKED
It's really amazing an old video
I took a trian from Nairobi to Mombasa in November 2021 & the one i took was totally different from this one 😅 😳 😂
great video! cant wait to visit in Dec! thanks for sharing..
Thanks too still love the old ones but now its SGR Trains
Fantastic memories of a wonderful trip
Great video. Which year and how long was the actual journey? I travelled the Pre-independance EAR Mombasa to Nakuru and those journeys were my childhood highlights. The engine was steam, the livery colours rust brown, and the animals the same....
Thanks for this. I took this train way back, in 1974 - a great experience. Does a steward still come round with a little xylophone when dinner is about to be served?
Lol! Our family road thie train from Kisumu to Mombasa round trip in 1974 as well! NIght train.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful journey.
Thx for this video. planning a trip to Kenya for a safari, but seeing that you come across zebras, giraffes and other wildlife while on the train to Mombasa, I'm wondering if a safari is worth the loads of money.
Amazing long time ago this is our memory indeed
True true Memories are made of this!
Very nice.Tak good care of your trains.
Beautiful 😍
Good memories nice video
I Think Kenya made a huge mistake in building the sgr on borrowed money. Investing in good rolling stock for the existent railway coupled with modest renovation of the track and partial build out of relatively cheap rail to double track would likely have yielded much more for the invested resources. Narrow gauge is not limited in terms of capacity. It is limited in speed. And the price differential is huge in relation to sgr. They would have gotten the same capacity with less 8nvestment, and all most all of the investment could have stayed locally. Using this approach they could build out the network to cover more and more of the country and supply neighbour with vital capacity as well.
@Arch Stanton In 1950s it took 12 to 14 hours
I miss this......train.
Old is gold
Mehbub Daud missing train....
Krzysztof Kwiatkowski
You wanted SGR
next time maybe, but SGR is different experiences :-)
Which year ?
April 2011
I just miss this, I wish it could be reserved for those willing to travel slowly and watch the wild
but i request that such development should not harm the wildlife of africa... i am mantu choudhury from india... i love the wildlife. of africa....
ujinga wawakenya mme ua reli yenu mme wapa sgr wachina hamna kitu sasa 😂
Leli iko they go parallel hio ni mzigo na umbwa kama wewe