Sierra Leone National Railway Museum

Sierra Leone had a narrow-gauge railway running inland from Freetown from the end of the nineteenth century until it was closed in 1974, and the museum at Cline Town holds what was saved of it: locomotives, wagons, signalling equipment and the coach prepared for Queen Elizabeth's 1961 visit. The rolling stock was kept at the old workshops, survived the war years there, and was restored from 2004 on the initiative of a British army officer; the museum opened in 2005, and it is small but genuinely rare.

History

The Sierra Leone Government Railway closed in 1974, and a collection of its rolling stock, including a Garratt locomotive, the Governor's coach and the coach prepared for Queen Elizabeth II's visit of 1961, was kept at the old workshops. It survived the war years, restoration began in 2004 on the initiative of Colonel Steve Davies, and the museum opened at Cline Town in 2005 (Wikipedia, Sierra Leone National Railway Museum).

What to look for

• The royal carriage - the coach built for the 1961 visit, restored from a shed.
• The locomotives - the narrow-gauge engines saved from the closed line.
• The signalling equipment - the operating gear of the old railway.
• The rescue story - rolling stock that survived the war years and was restored from 2004.

When to go

November to April is the dry season. The museum keeps set hours and closes on some days. Weekdays are quietest.

Things to know

The collection is small and an hour or two covers it. Opening hours are limited and worth confirming. Cline Town is a working industrial area and getting there takes some navigating.

Nearby

Freetown's centre is west, and the ferry terminal is nearby.

Key facts