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.
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 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, 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 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:
RailwayNumberNameManufacturerClassWheel arrangementEAR&H numberStatus
Kenya-Uganda Railway327Vulcan FoundryED12-6-2TEAR 1127Display
87KaramojaBeyer-PeacockEC34-8-4+4-8-4EAR 5711Display-
2401Vulcan FoundryEB34-8-0Display-
2409Vulcan FoundryEB34-8-0Operational-
5505Beyer-PeacockGB4-8-2+2-8-4Display-
393Nasmyth WilsonEE2-6-4TEAR 1003Display-
Tanganyika Railway301*Beyer PeacockDL4-8-0EAR 2301Display
East African Railways2921Masai of KenyaNorth BritishTribal2-8-2Display
3020NyaturuNorth BritishTribal2-8-4Operational-
3123BavumaVulcan FoundryTribal2-8-4Display-
5918Mount GelaiBeyer-PeacockMountain4-8-2+2-8-4Operational-
5930Mount ShengenaBeyer-PeacockMountain4-8-2+2-8-4Display-
6006Sir Harold MacMichaelSociété Franco-BelgeGovernor4-8-2+2-8-4Display-
Magadi Soda CompanyHugh F MarriottW.G. Bagnall0-4-0STDisplay

The museum's W.G. Bagnall engine, Hugh F Marriott, was built in Stafford, England, in 1951. It operated as a switcher at the Magadi Soda Company until 1970. *301 was used in the 1985 Movie, Out of Africa.