East African Railways and Harbours Corporation
Encyclopedia
The East African Railways and Harbours Corporation (EARH) was formed in 1948 for the new East African High Commission by merging the Kenya and Uganda Railways and Harbours
with the Tanganyika Railway of the Tanganyika Territory
. As well as running railways and harbours in the three territories it ran inland shipping services on Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga
, Lake Albert, the Victoria Nile and the Albert Nile.
sold EARH eight metre gauge
USATC S118 Class
steam locomotive
s in 1948 another eight in 1949. EARH converted them to oil fuel and numbered them 2701–2716, making them the 27 class. EARH allocated them to its Tabora
Depot on its Tanganyika section. They entered service in 1949 and 1950, working the lines to Mwanza
, Kigoma
and Mpanda
where their light axle loading was an advantage and their high firebox
enabled them to run through seasonal flooding on the Kigoma and Mpanda branches. EARH built further S118 from spare parts in 1953 and numbered it 2717. EARH withdrew them from service in about 1965 and they were in Dar es Salaam
awaiting scrapping in 1966.
In 1955 and 1956 EARH introduced new and much more powerful steam locomotives for its Kenya and Uganda network: the 59 class
Garratt
s. These were the mainstay of the section's heaviest traffic until they started to be withdrawn from service between 1973 and 1980.
EARH extended the Uganda Railway
from Nairobi
to Kasese
in 1956 and thence to Arua
in 1964. In 1962 it completed the northern Uganda railway from Tororo
to Pakwach
, thus superseding the Victoria Nile steamer service.
. This faster vessel doubled the speed of the circular service around the lake, allowing EARH to increase sailings from once to twice a week. Elizabeth II
designated her a Royal Mail Ship
: the only EARH ship to receive this distinction.
In 1965 and 1966 EARH introduced a train ferry
service across Lake Victoria with the and . In 1967 EARH made harbour improvements at Kisumu
on the Kenyan shore of Lake Victoria by scuttling
the disused ferry to form a breakwater.
, was dissolved and EARH's rail network was broken up into three national railways: Kenya Railways Corporation
, Tanzania Railways Corporation
and Uganda Railways Corporation
.
Kenya and Uganda Railways and Harbours
Kenya and Uganda Railways and Harbours ran harbours, railways and lake and river ferries in Kenya Colony and the Uganda Protectorate from 1929 until 1948. It included the Uganda Railway, which it extended from Nakuru to Kampala in 1931...
with the Tanganyika Railway of the Tanganyika Territory
Tanganyika Territory
Tanganyika Territory was a British colony between 1919 and 1961. Prior to the end of the First World War was part of the German colony of German East Africa. After the war had broke out, the British invaded the German East Africa, but were unable to defeat the German Army...
. As well as running railways and harbours in the three territories it ran inland shipping services on Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga
Lake Kyoga
Lake Kyoga is a large shallow lake complex of Uganda, about in area and at an elevation of 914 m. The Victoria Nile flows through the lake on its way from Lake Victoria to Lake Albert. The main inflow from Lake Victoria is regulated by the Nalubaale Power Station in Jinja. Another source of water...
, Lake Albert, the Victoria Nile and the Albert Nile.
Railways
The Malayan RailwayKeretapi Tanah Melayu
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin...
sold EARH eight metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
USATC S118 Class
USATC S118 Class
The United States Army Transportation Corps S118 Class is a class of 2-8-2 steam locomotive. Built to either or Cape gauge, they were used in at least 24 different countries across the World....
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s in 1948 another eight in 1949. EARH converted them to oil fuel and numbered them 2701–2716, making them the 27 class. EARH allocated them to its Tabora
Tabora
Tabora is the capital city of Tanzania's Tabora Region with a population of 127,880 . Tabora region is one of the largest geographical regions of Tanzania.- History :...
Depot on its Tanganyika section. They entered service in 1949 and 1950, working the lines to Mwanza
Mwanza
Mwanza is a mid-sized port city on the southern shores of Lake Victoria in northwestern Tanzania. With an urban population of 1.2 million and a metropolitan population of 2 million, it is Tanzania's second largest city, following Dar es Salaam and ahead of other major Tanzanian cities of Arusha,...
, Kigoma
Kigoma
Kigoma is a town and lake port in western Tanzania, on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika and close to the border with Burundi. It serves as the capital for the surrounding Kigoma Region and has a population of 135,234 and an elevation of 775 m.The historic trading town of Ujiji is 6 km...
and Mpanda
Mpanda
Mpanda is one of the 4 districts of the Rukwa Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the Northwest by the Kigoma Region, to the Northeast by the Tabora Region, to the East by the Mbeya Region, to the Southeast by the Sumbawanga Urban District, to the Southwest by the Nkansi District and to the West...
where their light axle loading was an advantage and their high firebox
Firebox
In a steam engine, the firebox is the area where the fuel is burned, producing heat to boil the water in the boiler. Most are somewhat box-shaped, hence the name.-Railway locomotive firebox :...
enabled them to run through seasonal flooding on the Kigoma and Mpanda branches. EARH built further S118 from spare parts in 1953 and numbered it 2717. EARH withdrew them from service in about 1965 and they were in Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
awaiting scrapping in 1966.
In 1955 and 1956 EARH introduced new and much more powerful steam locomotives for its Kenya and Uganda network: the 59 class
EAR 59 class
The East African Railways 59 Class Garratt was the largest, heaviest and most powerful steam locomotive to operate on any metre gauge railway in the world ....
Garratt
Garratt
A Garratt is a type of steam locomotive that is articulated in three parts. Its boiler is mounted on the centre frame, and two steam engines are mounted on separate frames, one on each end of the boiler. Articulation permits larger locomotives to negotiate curves and lighter rails that might...
s. These were the mainstay of the section's heaviest traffic until they started to be withdrawn from service between 1973 and 1980.
EARH extended the Uganda Railway
Uganda Railway
The Uganda Railway is a railway system and former railway company linking the interiors of Uganda and Kenya with the Indian Ocean at Mombasa in Kenya.-Origins:...
from Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
to Kasese
Kasese
Kasese is a town in Western Uganda, lying north of Lake George. It originally grew around the copper mine at Kilembe, while attention later turned to cobalt mining. It is the 'chief town' of Kasese District and the district headquarters are located there...
in 1956 and thence to Arua
Arua
Arua is a town in Arua District, Northern Uganda. An important local commercial centre, it is a base for a large refugee population from Southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is an aid distribution centre for those nations.-Location:...
in 1964. In 1962 it completed the northern Uganda railway from Tororo
Tororo
Tororo is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Tororo District. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
to Pakwach
Pakwach
- Location :Pakwach is located in Nebbi District, in West Nile sub-region, in Northern Uganda. It is situated approximately , by road, southeast of Arua, the largest town in West Nile. This location lies along the western bank of the Albert Nile, approximately , by road, southwest of Gulu, the...
, thus superseding the Victoria Nile steamer service.
Inland ferries
Also in 1961 EARH introduced the new Lake Victoria ferry RMS VictoriaMV Victoria
MV Victoria is a Lake Victoria ferry operated by the Marine Services Company Limited of Tanzania. Until Kenyan independence from the United Kingdom in 1963 she was the Royal Mail Ship RMS Victoria.-History:...
. This faster vessel doubled the speed of the circular service around the lake, allowing EARH to increase sailings from once to twice a week. Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
designated her a Royal Mail Ship
Royal Mail Ship
Royal Mail Ship , usually seen in its abbreviated form RMS, a designation which dates back to 1840, is the ship prefix used for seagoing vessels that carry mail under contract by Royal Mail...
: the only EARH ship to receive this distinction.
In 1965 and 1966 EARH introduced a train ferry
Train ferry
A train ferry is a ship designed to carry railway vehicles. Typically, one level of the ship is fitted with railway tracks, and the vessel has a door at the front and/or rear to give access to the wharves. In the United States, train ferries are sometimes referred to as "car ferries", as...
service across Lake Victoria with the and . In 1967 EARH made harbour improvements at Kisumu
Kisumu
Kisumu is a port city in western Kenya at , with a population of 355,024 . It is the third largest city in Kenya, the principal city of western Kenya, the immediate former capital of Nyanza Province and the headquarters of Kisumu County. It has a municipal charter but no city charter...
on the Kenyan shore of Lake Victoria by scuttling
Scuttling
Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull.This can be achieved in several ways—valves or hatches can be opened to the sea, or holes may be ripped into the hull with brute force or with explosives...
the disused ferry to form a breakwater.
Dissolution
In 1977 the High Commission's successor, the East African CommunityEast African Community
The East African Community is an intergovernmental organisation comprising the five east African countries Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Pierre Nkurunziza, the President of the Republic of Burundi, is the current Chairman of the East African Community. The EAC was originally...
, was dissolved and EARH's rail network was broken up into three national railways: Kenya Railways Corporation
Kenya Railways Corporation
Kenya Railways Corporation , also Kenya Railways is the national railway of Kenya. Established in 1977, KR is a state corporation.- History :...
, Tanzania Railways Corporation
Tanzania Railways Corporation
The Tanzania Railways Corporation ' is a state-owned enterprise that runs one of Tanzania's two main railway networks.When the East African Railways and Harbours Corporation was dissolved in 1977 and its assets divided between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, TRC was formed to take over EARH's railway,...
and Uganda Railways Corporation
Uganda Railways Corporation
Uganda Railways Corporation is the parastatal railway of Uganda. It was formed after the breakup of the East African Railways Corporation in 1977 when it took over the Ugandan part of the East African railways....
.