Nairobi Railway Museum
 KUR 87 Karamoja at the Museum | |
  Nairobi Railway Museum Location in Nairobi | |
| Established | 1971 |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
| Coordinates | 1°17′35″S 36°49′21″E / 1.29306°S 36.82250°E |
| Type | Railway museum |
| Owner | Kenya Railways Corporation |
| Public transit access | Nairobi railway station |
| Website | Nairobi Railway Museum |
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.[1]
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.[1] 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.[citation needed]
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:[1][2]
| Railway | Number | Name | Manufacturer | Class | Wheel arrangement | EAR&H number | Status[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya-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 | |||
| 5505 | Beyer, Peacock & Company | GB | 4-8-2+2-8-4 | Display | |||
| 393 | Nasmyth Wilson | EE | 2-6-4T | EAR 1003 | Display[4] | ||
| 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 | ||
| 3123 | Bavuma | Vulcan Foundry | Tribal | 2-8-4 | Display | ||
| 5918 | Mount Gelai | Beyer, Peacock & Company | Mountain | 4-8-2+2-8-4 | Operational | ||
| 5930 | Mount Shengena | Beyer-Peacock | Mountain | 4-8-2+2-8-4 | Display | ||
| 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 | Display |
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.[5] *301 was used in the 1985 movie Out of Africa.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Wall, Graeme (30 October 2009). "Nairobi Railway Museum". Greywall. Greywall Productions. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ^ Wall, Graeme (30 October 2009). "Named Locomotives of East African Railways". Greywall. Greywall Productions. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ^ "Locomotives in Kenya". SteamLocomotive. Sunshine Software. 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ^ Currently plinthed in Jamhuri Park, Nairobi
- ^ "Laying the First Rail in Mombasa, May 30, 1896". Worldview 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ^ William Rthi (6 July 2014). "Nairobi Railway Museum, where time stood still - Daily Nation". Nation.co.ke. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
External links
