Few expereiences in Africa can match that of the Railway Museum in Nairobi, even if railways are not your thing.
Kenya the country and Nairbi the city exist because of the railway. There are photos showing the first few days of Nairobi's existence: a railway, horses grazing and a motely collection of white tents scattered across a grassy plain.
Contrary to what a few reviewers have said, most of the museum is inside, a massive jumble of photographs, objects and stories of the past. Many of the items have a unique tale to tell; nothing major but plenty of dusty, fading memories being heard down the years.
One particularly moving story, and nothing at all to do with the railways, is the detailed story of how Queen Elizabeth heard the sad news that her father had died in 1952. It's not quite the story that many of us knew from our childhood.
All kinds of railway memorabilia is jammed into the building: just take your time exploring.
Outside a huge collection of old railway engines and carriages disappears into the distance. It is remarkably difficult to tell which railway carriages are in the museum and which are just sitting in the sidings alongside! The trpical heat and rain takes its toll quickly. Perhaps the most famous is Carriage #12 from which a British superintendednt was dragged by the man-eating lion of Tsavo.
Alongside the Railway Museum is a small and very pleasant art gallery, unadvertised, but with many good paintings. It's free, so do spend an extra 10 minutes there too! :)