Nairobi Railway Museum

Nairobi Railway Museum

KUR 87 Karamoja at the Museum
Nairobi Railway Museum Location in Nairobi
Established	1971 (1971)
Location	Station Road 00200 Nairobi Kenya
Coordinates	1°17′35″S36°49′21″E / 1.29306°S 36.82250°E / -1.29306; 36.82250
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]

A bicycle-based draisine at the museum

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	Builder	Class	Wheel arrangement	EAR&H number	Status [3]	Image
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 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	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 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. ^[5] *301 was used in the 1985 movie Out of Africa . ^[6]

References

1. Wall, Graeme (30 October 2009). "Nairobi Railway Museum". Greywall. Greywall Productions. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
2. Wall, Graeme (30 October 2009). "Named Locomotives of East African Railways". Greywall. Greywall Productions. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
3. "Locomotives in Kenya". SteamLocomotive. Sunshine Software. 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
4. Currently plinthed in Jamhuri Park, Nairobi
5. "Laying the First Rail in Mombasa, May 30, 1896". Worldview 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
6. William Rthi (6 July 2014). "Nairobi Railway Museum, where time stood still - Daily Nation". Nation.co.ke. Retrieved 28 June 2016.

External links

• Nairobi Railway Museum, Facebook page