“It is uncommon for a country to create a railway line, but this line actually created a country.” These were the famous words of Sir Charles Elliot, Commissioner of the British East Africa.

This statement was a sentiment to the Lunatic Express train track.

At the time, this endeavour seemed too far-fetched and the person charged with the obligation of bringing this seemingly insane concept to reality was none other than George Whitehouse who was a chief engineer.

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Off he began in 1895 in the coastal town of Mombasa and slowly traversed through the treacherous terrain.

After six years of surviving diseases, hostile animals and harsh climate, the railway line reached Port Florence in 1901. At that time, what was a crazy idea was now known as the Uganda railway.

Just as Sir Elliot had suggested indeed the railway created a country but most importantly for the people of Nakuru it created a town that over two million people now call home.

This railway line indeed opened Nakuru to the world. This was greatly signified by the arrival of the late Queen Elizabeth in 1959 which at the time was unheard of.

The queen mother receives flowers at Bondeni community centre in 1959.

Photo credit: COURTESY

In the current time, her visit could be equated to that of the U.S President visiting Nakuru.

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Upon her arrival, the Queen Mother finished touring the Bondeni Community Centre and boarded the ivory and maroon royal train of the East Africa railway in Nakuru for her tour of the settlers who owned ranches in the country.

At the time this was such a privilege and her using the train station in Nakuru cemented its presence and functionality as well as invited more people from the west to come and visit after seeing that the queen mother had traversed the region.

An aerial view of Midlands hotel in Nakuru taken on September 14, 2023.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

Also worth mentioning she managed to spend some time at the Nakuru Railway Hotel the now Midlands hotel. This iconic landmark was the number one destination for the first class passengers and was established soon after the lunatic express made its way past Nakuru.

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The railway line indeed brought life to the once quiet town.

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A railway, a queen and Nakuru town

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Bret Sanya