The Nairobi Railway Museum is a railway museum in Nairobi, Kenya, adjacent to Nairobi railway station. Containing exhibits from the defunct East African Railways, it was opened in 1971 by East African Railways and Harbours Corporation. It is operated by Kenya Railways.
The museum has maintained its rail connection. This allows for the efficient movement of museum exhibits for maintenance and placing items in the collection.
The three operational steam locomotives are stored securely under cover within the main railway works. Visitors must request an appointment to view them. They have not been used for several years. One of the display locomotives, 301 (2301) was used in the 1985 movie, Out of Africa.
The museum's collection also includes early diesel locomotives and passenger coaches. Friends of the Railway Museum East Africa (FORM East Africa), a concern encompassing Railway and Locomotive enthusiasts, has assisted in sourcing and securing artifacts for the museum.
In January 2011, a working miniature railway was installed to enhance activity at the museum. This miniature train was formerly used to promote Kenya Railways (KR) on exhibitions, such as the Nairobi Show. It consists of a locomotive with a petrol-engine, and several coaches made of wood.
Exhibited locomotives The museum exhibits a number of engines, including:
Railway Number Name Builder Class Wheel arrangement EAR&H number Status ImageKenya-Uganda Railway 327 Vulcan Foundry ED1 2-6-2T EAR 1127 Display 87 Karamoja Beyer, Peacock & Company EC3 4-8-4+4-8-4 EAR 5711 Display 2401 Vulcan Foundry EB3 4-8-0 Display 2409 Vulcan Foundry EB3 4-8-0 Operational stored in the main works 5505 Beyer, Peacock & Company GB 4-8-2+2-8-4 Display 393 Nasmyth Wilson EE 2-6-4T EAR 1003 DisplayCurrently plinthed in Jamhuri Park, Nairobi Tanganyika Railway 301* Beyer, Peacock & Company DL 4-8-0 EAR 2301 Display East African Railways 2921 Masai of Kenya North British Tribal 2-8-2 Display 3020 Nyaturu North British Tribal 2-8-4 Operational stored in the main works 3123 Bavuma Vulcan Foundry Tribal 2-8-4 Display 5918 Mount Gelai Beyer, Peacock & Company Mountain 4-8-2+2-8-4 Operational stored in the main works 5930 Mount Shengena Beyer, Peacock & Company Mountain 4-8-2+2-8-4 Displayed at the Uhuru Gardens 6006 Sir Harold MacMichael Société Franco-Belge Governor 4-8-2+2-8-4 Display Magadi Soda Company Hugh F Marriott WG Bagnall 0-4-0ST Displayed outside the main railway station
The museum's WG Bagnall engine, Hugh F Marriott, was built in Stafford, England, in 1951. It operated as a switcher at the Magadi Soda Company until 1970. In 2020, it was moved to a display outside Nairobi railway station. *301 was used in the 1985 movie Out of Africa.
References
External links
Nairobi Railway Museum, Facebook page