Friends of (Nairobi) Railway Museum
Posted: 06 Jan 2011, 16:05
"Friends of Railways Museum (FORM) East Africa" has been formed. I finally got round to paying my membership fees today and am now the proud holder of a laminated membership card.
There are real signs of progress at the museum, due in part to the enthusiasm of the curator, Maurice Barasa, and in part to support from the highest echelons of Kenya Railways. The museum is seen not just as an important part of Kenya's heritage, but also as having the potential to raise revenue for KR.
A large store, previously used by the refrigeration department, is currently being renovated and turned into a lecture hall and more exhibition space. Public toilets have been improved. A miniature railway has been built. A small steam crane has appeared amongst the exhibits, and there are plans to restore it to working condition if possible. Funds have been procured to repaint many of the static exhibits, and possibly to restore some coaches. A later phase will include building a new library and photographic studio to care for all the valuable old books, manuscripts, documents, photographs and cine films, and to make them more easily available for researchers to study.
There has been a hiatus in steam activity while insurance issues are sorted out, but it is hoped that they will resume again soon. The Kenya Wildlife Service is interested in picking up passengers from the steam train and then using its own vehicles to take them for a game drive and lunch in the Nairobi National Park. Francis Waweru's trips from Mawenzi Gardens Restaurant should also resume soon. Geoff Cooke is planning a tour in May 2011, hopefully with three locos in steam (3020, 5918 and 2409).
All in all, a very healthy heritage railway scene for Kenya.
There are real signs of progress at the museum, due in part to the enthusiasm of the curator, Maurice Barasa, and in part to support from the highest echelons of Kenya Railways. The museum is seen not just as an important part of Kenya's heritage, but also as having the potential to raise revenue for KR.
A large store, previously used by the refrigeration department, is currently being renovated and turned into a lecture hall and more exhibition space. Public toilets have been improved. A miniature railway has been built. A small steam crane has appeared amongst the exhibits, and there are plans to restore it to working condition if possible. Funds have been procured to repaint many of the static exhibits, and possibly to restore some coaches. A later phase will include building a new library and photographic studio to care for all the valuable old books, manuscripts, documents, photographs and cine films, and to make them more easily available for researchers to study.
There has been a hiatus in steam activity while insurance issues are sorted out, but it is hoped that they will resume again soon. The Kenya Wildlife Service is interested in picking up passengers from the steam train and then using its own vehicles to take them for a game drive and lunch in the Nairobi National Park. Francis Waweru's trips from Mawenzi Gardens Restaurant should also resume soon. Geoff Cooke is planning a tour in May 2011, hopefully with three locos in steam (3020, 5918 and 2409).
All in all, a very healthy heritage railway scene for Kenya.