Sierra Leone National Railway Museum

The Sierra Leone National Railway Museum is a collection of trains built by the British which has survived for over forty years. Operating from 1897 to 1974, the railway was the only rail system which ran through the entire country.

By the 1960s the Sierra Leone Railway was run-down, inefficient and unprofitable. Increasing emphasis on road traffic led to the decision to close it down.

A collection of the most interesting surviving vehicles was hidden in the former carriage body workshop in Cline Town, to protect them from the cutting torch.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, occasional intrepid travellers managed to gain access and photographs the collection.

Inside the museum you can see a wonderful array of orginal steam and diesel locomotives, carriages and wagons along with historic photographs, documents and railway paraphenalia.

The oldest locomotive is No 10 'Nellie', built by Manning Wardle of Leeds, in 1915  for the Fourah Bay Harbour construction company. She proved  under-powered, so was transferred to Water Street as a shunter, and later to the Railway Workshops in Cline Town.

2-6-2 tank locomotive No 81 is one of 32 engines built by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds between 1898 and 1954.  No 81 worked mainly in Freetown, notably on the ‘Wharf Line, between Government Wharf and Water Street and for banking trains up the hill  onto the main line.

Beyer-Garratt  steam locomotive No 73 -8-2 + 2-8-4, built in Manchester in 1955. 

This was one the heaviest, most powerful engines to operate on the 2’ 6” gauge anywhere in the world.  It was originally coal fired but converted to oil firing in 1959.

In the late 1950s diesel locomotives were introduced to replace the old steam engines.  Diesel-mechanical 2-8-2 locmotive No 133 was built in 1958 by Hudswell-Clarke Engine Company of Leeds. This is believed to be the last locomotive ever to operate on the Sierra Leone Railway.

The Pay Coach No PC100 is adapted from an earlier carriage built in 1908. It was adapted to include greater secuirty and was used to convey railway workers’ wages around the system. It is said that every railway worker always knew where this particular vehicle was at all times!

The entrance to the museum is located in Cline Street, right opposite the goods exit from Queen Elizabeth II Quay, or 'Water Quay' as it is known locally.

The museum is much more than simply a collection of artefacts. The education team provides an active programme for schools and community groups, including guided tours, pump-trolley rides, song and dance and a range of hands-on educational and entertaining activities.

The Pump Trolley is a “SF handcar” manufactured by D Wickham & Co. of Ware, Hertfordshire, England. It was used for getting track inspectors or railway permanent-way men to their place of work.

It is a firm favourite with the children!