Pangani Falls

Hydro Electric Power Station

Tanganyika, 1938-1947

Fred Marquordt, an Electrical Engineer, was transferred from Kenya (with his wife and five children) to be the Superintendent at Pangani Falls Power Station from 1938 - 1947. The photo of the Power Station (see below) was taken before extensions were made to house a new Turbine.

During World War II, one Stator burnt out. It was rewound by hand by Fred Marquordt and an Indian mechanic, and then reinstalled to run at half capacity with the remaining Turbine. Later, a new Stator was shipped out from England.

A new Turbine was installed round about 1946 by Tom Watt, an Engineer from England, after the extension had been added to the Power Station. This made three fully operational Turbines.

Walter Smith joined the East African Power & Lighting Co. Ltd. (EAP&L) as an Electrical apprentice in 1940. During World War II, he served with the Nyasaland, (now Malawi) Battalion, and Kings African Rifles from October 1941 to October 1946.

On returning from active overseas service, he rejoined the EAP&L in October 1946. In June of the same year he was seconded to Balfour Beatty Co. and sent to Pangani Falls to construct an overhead 33KV power line from Pangani Falls to Neusagan Substation.

In May 1948 Walter was transferred back to EAP&L. In June 1949 he married Sylvia Marquordt, (Fred Marquordt's youngest daughter.)

Pangani River Power Station
1946 (before the extensions)

The new turbine

New bridge over the Pangani River, 1945/46

Pangani River Falls, 1947

Main House at Pangani, 1947

Another view of the Pangani house

Christmas at Pangani, 1940

Tennis party at Pangani, 1947