Nairobi Railway Museum started in 1971 by the East African Railways and Harbors but it is operated by the Kenya Railways Corporation, and it is the only one of a kind in East and Central Africa. It is a must to go during your tour for every Kenyan and those visiting, because it catalogues the growth of the Kenya Uganda Railways. Displaying all the locomotives which were used back in the day, from hand push train, and steam to diesel locomotives.
The story of the construction of the famous railway from coastal Kenya, Mombasa to Kisumu at the shores of Lake Victoria. All this is found in the Nairobi Railway Museum including some of the claws of the Maneates Lions and other visual engrossing artefacts. The most amazing and fascinating story of the Man-Eaters Lion is better told by one, John Henry Patterson on how he managed to kill these fierce and ferocious serial killer lions’ pair widely known as the Man-Eaters of Tsavo, get the book of Amazon, or the movie, The Ghost and the Darkness. It is during this era railway started in Kenya in 1886 to 1901.
Nairobi Railway Museum Entrance.
The welcoming graffiti clearing with the security check at the gate is startling and perplexing, to say the least though it was dusty a while back but now it has tarmac and paved sidewalk, the fine art will keep you company as on your right side you can have a snippet of what you are about to consume. The old locomotives, the distance from the gate to the office is abit far you will hardly notice since you will be in bewilderment stupor.
Here you can be welcomed by the signboards reading the Nairobi Railway Museum and dauting writings ‘’No taking photos’’.
Rooms of Nairobi National Museum.
Nairobi National Museum has got four rooms as they include the following;
The first room at Nairobi National Museum.
The first room has a display ranging from a track inspector bicycle, a part from the bike, there are photographs from back then late 1800 and early 1900’s survey maps which they used and other engrossing Memorabilia from back then all related to the railway in Kenya.
The second room at Nairobi National Museum.
The second room is rather small and brief, as it can be called the communication room since there are pictures and those tangible communication tools like the bells, phones. The Signaling lambs and torches, ships steering wheel, back then life jackets which looks cool in the orange colour, there is also the early typewriting machine and an old Manuel calculator which was used to be operated in the chef accountant office in 1926 to 1930.
The third room at Nairobi National Museum.
This room is for the water transport and ships affiliated in Kenya, all the models and a piece of detailed information about the German cruiser Konigsberg, which was sunk during World War 1 by the British.
The fourth room at Nairobi Railway Museum.
The fourth is the final room of the museum before you can head onto the most anticipated vintage locomotive graveled and lawn greenish parking lot. In this room it displays and talks the modern rails which are accustomed by the Kenya government in collaboration with the Chinese.
The Locomotives at Nairobi Railway Museum.
First Coach, Charles Henry George Ryall Story.
The story of Charles Henry George Ryall, he was a police officer together with two others who were set to kill the Man-Eaters of the Tsavo national park, they got into their first-class of the course armed to the core with riffle ready to finish this thing once and for all.
Upon arrival to a place known as Kima where the Tsavo eaters were known to be their territory, they corked up their riffles ready to bring these monsters down only for dark to creep on without sight of the dreaded lions.
The second coach-out of Africa coach.
This is other interesting coach, featured with the favorite movies out of Africa, set in Kenya in 1985 loosely based on true events of the book (Get the book on Amazon) written by Karen Blixen under the name Isak Dinesen. The name bore an opulence suburb in Kenya ‘’Karen’’ and there is a Museum behind her name as well. Karen Blixen Museum, this is another museum you should tour during your visit in Nairobi. So the coach featured in that movie (now on Netflix) inside Nairobi Railway Museum.
Location of the Nairobi National Museum.
You first walk from Nairobi CBD. It is a quite a tour of about 1.7kms to the destination. Take Moi Avenue down to Afya center, at the roundabout take Haile Selassie Avenue up to Kenya poly on your left take workshop road, straight you will see Station Road which led you to Nairobi Railway Museum.
Opening hours of Nairobi National Museum.
The Nairobi National Museum is always open from 08:00 am to 5:00pm seven days a week. During the holidays and National Functions, they are rarely closed waiting for your arrival.
Entrance fees for Nairobi National Museum.
Museum Charges.
| Non Residents adult | Ksh 600 (6 USD) |
| Non Resident Student | Ksh 300 (3 USD) |
| Resident adult | Ksh 500 |
| Resident student | Ksh 200 |
| Nonresident/Resident child | Ksh 100 |
| Citizen adult | Ksh 200 |
| Citizen student/Child | Ksh 100 |
The payment for the museum is only paid by the MPESA or the VISA CARD, cash is not allowed during your payment.
