The EAR 59 class were class of oil-fired 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) gauge Garratt-type articulated steam locomotives. These locomotives had a 4-8-2+2-8-4 wheel arrangement, weighed 252 tons, and delivered a tractive effort of 83,350 lbf (370.76 kN). 34 members of the class were built in 1955 by Beyer, Peacock & Co. in Manchester, England, for the East African Railways (EAR).
They entered service in 1955–56, and were the largest, heaviest and most powerful steam locomotives to operate on any metre gauge railway in the world.
They were designed to haul 1,200-ton trains on 1.5% gradients and were the mainstay of freight services on the 330-mile run from Mombasa to Nairobi until the late 1970s.
The engines, many with Sikh drivers, were kept very clean and the cabs were polished and immaculate. The most famous was 5918 Mount Gelai with a devoted crew known as the "Magnificent Foursome" who worked her for 16 years. The two drivers of 5918 were Kirpal Singh and Walter Pinto. When the locomotive went into the works at Nairobi for scheduled maintenance they simply took their holidays.
Withdrawals started in 1973, with the last locomotive, Mount Gelai, removed from service in April 1980 when it was driven by its long time driver, Kirpal Singh directly to the railway museum.
Trivia[]
- The locomotives were named after mountains in East Africa.
- During normal service the locomotives were manned by two regular crews on a 'caboose' basis, one working and one resting in a van with sleeping accommodation, changing over at eight-hour intervals.
- The character Kwaku from Thomas & Friends is based on the EAR 59 class.
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