Nairobi Railway Museum

The Nairobi Railway Museum sits on Workshop Road beside Nairobi railway station, a few minutes from the city centre, and it holds the physical record of the railway that created Kenya as a country and Nairobi as a city. It is owned and run by Kenya Railways, and it is the only railway museum in East and Central Africa.

Why the Museum Exists

It opened in 1971, under what was then East African Railways, and most of the credit for it goes to its first curator, Fred Jordan, who had worked on the railways in East Africa since 1927. Seeing how fast the system was changing, he began gathering what was about to be thrown away, and that collection is the core of what is on display now.

The railway it documents began on 30 May 1896 at Mombasa. The railhead reached the site that would become Nairobi in 1899, which is the reason the city is where it is, and the line was completed to Port Florence, now Kisumu, on 19 December 1901. The Uganda Railway became the Kenya and Uganda Railways in 1926, East African Railways and Harbours in 1948, and the present Kenya Railways Corporation by Act of Parliament on 20 January 1978.

The Indoor Gallery

The main gallery is a single large room of maps, photographs, models, furniture and objects, arranged with more character than system. The strength of it is the specificity of the things themselves rather than the interpretation around them.

Claws taken from one of the man-eating lions of Tsavo, the pair that halted construction of the line.
A sideboard and table taken from the German warship Königsberg, sunk in East Africa during the First World War.
A seat that was mounted on the front of a steam locomotive, so that passengers could ride ahead of the engine and watch game.
A push trolley used in Mombasa between 1890 and 1926, and a permanent way inspector’s bicycle built to run on rails.
Ship fittings from the lake and coastal steamer services, including a bell from the Kavirondo and a steering wheel, alongside a model of the steamship Nguvu.
Compass and binoculars from a William Mackinnon vessel, a grandmother clock, and furniture from the colonial era.

The Yard

The outdoor section is what divides opinion and, for most visitors, what makes the trip. Steam locomotives and coaches stand in the open, and visitors can climb into and onto a good deal of it. They are weathered rather than restored, which is either the disappointment of the visit or the whole appeal of it, depending on the visitor.

The yard also holds the coach from which Superintendent Charles Ryall was dragged from his bunk and killed by a man-eating lion, the most notorious single incident of the railway’s construction and the reason the lions of Tsavo entered the language. A mini train runs rides around the yard for children, by prior booking, including at weekends and on public holidays.

The Resource Centre

Less visited and more valuable than the galleries, the resource centre holds old railway records, correspondence, books on the construction of the line, maps, annual reports and thousands of historic photographs dating back to 1896. It is a working archive for historians and researchers rather than a display, and anyone with a specific interest should ask about access rather than assume the galleries are all there is.

Practicalities

The museum is on Workshop Road, off Haile Selassie Avenue, opposite the Technical University of Kenya, beside the old Nairobi railway station. Kenya Railways states it opens daily from 8am to 5pm, including national holidays. Allow an hour for the gallery and the yard together, longer if the locomotives hold the attention.

An entry charge applies, with separate rates for citizens, residents and non-residents and reductions for students and children. The only rate card Kenya Railways publishes is an undated museum brochure that has been on its site for several years, so the figures in circulation online should not be trusted. Confirm the current rate at the ticket desk or with Kenya Railways. Note also that this museum is run by Kenya Railways, not by the National Museums of Kenya, so its tickets are a separate arrangement from the NMK sites elsewhere in the city.

The yard and auditorium are hired out for events, photo shoots and weddings, which can occasionally affect access.

Nearby

The museum is walkable from the centre of town, which puts it with the Kenya National Archives on Moi Avenue and the viewing deck at KICC for a day on foot in the city. The Nairobi National Museum on Museum Hill carries the same colonial period from a different angle, and the line’s other end is at Mombasa. The wider subject sits under heritage tours.

Questions Visitors Ask

Can I climb on the locomotives?

Much of the yard is open and visitors do get into the cabs and coaches. The stock is weathered rather than restored, so sensible footwear and some care are advisable.

What does it cost?

A charge applies, with different rates for citizens, residents and non-residents. The published brochure rates are old, so confirm the current figure at the desk rather than relying on a travel listing.

Is this a National Museums of Kenya site?

No. It is owned and run by Kenya Railways, so a ticket or arrangement covering the NMK museums does not apply here.

Where exactly is it?

Workshop Road, off Haile Selassie Avenue, opposite the Technical University of Kenya and next to the old Nairobi railway station. It is within walking distance of the central business district.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes, and the yard rather than the gallery is why. There is also a mini train that runs rides around the yard, which needs to be booked in advance.

11 Places to Visit in This Area

Other sites in Nairobi, each with its own guide.

African Heritage House Bomas of Kenya Giraffe Centre Karen Blixen Museum Karura Forest Kenya National Archives KICC Nairobi Arboretum Nairobi National Museum Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery Uhuru Gardens

Safaris That Visit Nairobi

3 of the 16 safaris listed here that visit Nairobi, from different operators where the listings allow it. Each is sold and run by an independent tour company. This site lists them and passes on enquiries; it takes no booking and charges you nothing.

Great Migration