Virtual Railfan Tour of St. Kitts - 1991 - Invitation to a Derailment

 Invitation to a Derailment

My last visit to St. Kitts was in 1991. I was just finishing breakfast in my hotel one morning when the railway superintendent dropped by and said: "We have a derailment close by and I wondered if you would like to come with me to see the locomotive being rerailed?"
Of course the reply was "Yes, please!"  We quickly found Hunslet No. 1 on its side. I don't remember how this happened but it was an excellent opportunity to see the underside.

This must have given the crew a fright

THis provided entertainment for local people

One of the rails has been twisted


As the crane put the engine back on the rails a track crew began the work of replacing the rails.

No. 3, another Hunslet, was on the work train and would presumably have hauled No. 1 back to Basseterre

Some spare rails were on the work train.

Later that day I came across this derelict steam crane. It wouldn't have been much use to lift a locomotive.








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