Coloured locomotives
Blue, green and red among the palms.
Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bahnfrend — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bob Adams from Amanzimtoti, South Africa — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bahnfrend — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Railway Museum in Livingstone is dedicated to preserving Zambia's railway heritage, a quiet place away from the crowds at nearby Victoria Falls. Old steam locomotives and carriages line its grounds, and it suits train lovers and families looking for a different short stop in town. Livingstone is tied to the railway story of this region, since the line reached it across the Victoria Falls Bridge, completed in 1905. The museum keeps what survives of that era in locomotives and equipment. It also holds an exhibition on the history of Jews in Zambia, an unexpected side of the old trading town's story that adds a human dimension to the visit. You walk among locomotives painted blue, green and red on short tracks among grass and palms, some carrying their old number plates, including a Class 7 number 955, a Class 8A and a Class G. A small building stands at the entrance. You can get close to the wheels and boilers, which brings home the size of these machines. The museum lies about 2.4 km from central Livingstone in a straight line and is easy to reach by taxi. The exhibits are outdoors, so bring a hat and water in the heat. Climb on locomotives only where allowed, as the old metal can be sharp and hot in the sun. Check opening times before you come.
Blue, green and red among the palms.
Huge machines seen up close.
An unexpected side of the town's story.
Livingstone, Southern Province, Zambia
Yes, the locomotives appeal to them, but watch them on climbs and in the heat.
Yes, it is in Livingstone itself and needs about an hour.
