Nairobi Railway Museum News June 2015

[John Ashworth]

From Geoff Warren, following a visit in June 2015:

I enjoyed visits on 20 and 29 June, and was pleased to meet Maurice Barasa, the Curator, and visitors from China and Australia. Some news of international interest follows:

The Kenya Railways Corporation board has approved funding for some substantial improvements. The locomotives outdoors will be repainted. The last time was in 2006 and the tropical climate has weathered most EAR crimson liveried locos to a muddy red-greenish hue that is far from the original. The present store rooms to the east end of the museum building will be converted into display space, including a library area. The access road to the museum is to be surfaced. It is noted that there has been a change of Managing Director at the KRC board. The new MD, Mr AK Maina, is a history graduate, who may more fully appreciate the historic role of the railway in creating Kenya and thus be sympathetic to the national role of the Museum.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Museum and the Swedish Railway Museum at Gävle. This follows a visit to the museum by a team of Swedish railway consultants. It is understood unofficially their main activity in Kenya was in connection with proposals to improve the Nairobi commuter train services. There are few common factors linking the railways in Kenya and Sweden , although the Kalmar-built 3rd class coaches remain a mainstay of the RVR passenger fleet. What may follow from the link with Gävle is open to speculation!

Talks are in progress regarding the opening of a branch museum at Maktau station on the out-of-use Voi-Taveta line. In February 2015, the station building was gazetted as a national monument, because of World War 1 skirmishes between Britain and Germany in the region. The Taita-Taveta County local government wishes to develop Maktau station as an additional tourist attraction, being located near the Tsavo wildlife parks.

The status of the steam locos 2409, 3020 and 5918 is unchanged. They remain in the Workshops and are available to run if resources are available.