The Railway Museum in Livingstone is a small open-air collection of steam locomotives, carriages and railway equipment on Chishimba Falls Road, on the edge of town. Most of the engines worked the Zambezi Sawmills Railway, which hauled teak out of the forests to the west, and the oldest date from 1900. At the time of writing it is usually open daily from about 08:30 to 16:30, entry costs a few dollars, and an hour is enough for most people.
Why there is a railway museum here
The railway reached Livingstone in the early 1900s, as part of Cecil Rhodes's plan for a line from the Cape to Cairo, and crossed into what is now Zimbabwe over the Victoria Falls Bridge in 1905. Livingstone grew up around it, and was the capital of Northern Rhodesia until 1935.
A second, smaller railway shaped the town. The Zambezi Sawmills company built a line west from Livingstone towards Mulobezi to bring out hardwood, chiefly Zambezi teak, used among other things for railway sleepers. The company bought locomotives second-hand from the main line and from railways in neighbouring countries, from the 1920s to the 1970s, and its yard in Livingstone became the core of the museum's collection.
What you will see
The museum is mostly a yard of engines, standing in the open, with a covered display hall. Highlights include:
- Two 7th Class 4-8-0 engines from 1900, built by Neilson, Reid and Company in Glasgow, among the oldest locomotives in the collection. One was the sawmill company's first locomotive of its own, bought in 1925; its sister was the first fitted with a generator and headlights, and is shown in black and silver livery.
- A 12th Class 4-8-2 from 1926, built by North British Locomotive Company, nicknamed "Glamour Girl".
- A 1957 G Class 2-8-2, originally owned by Nyasaland Railways and used on construction of the Mulobezi line.
- A 1951 steam crane and assorted carriages, wagons and smaller equipment.
The hall has photographs, maps, tools, signals and other items from the railways of the region. The museum also holds an exhibition on the history of Zambia's Jewish community, some of whose families were among Livingstone's early traders.
What to expect
Be honest with yourself about the condition. Visitors regularly note that many engines are weathered, faded and in need of restoration, and that signage is patchy. Some find that part of the charm: you can walk right up to the engines, peer into cabs and see the scale of them without barriers. Others find it a little forlorn.
Railway enthusiasts will find a rare collection of African steam engines with real history. Families with children who like trains will get an hour's entertainment. Anyone else may prefer the Livingstone Museum in town, which covers the wider history of the area, including the railway, in a more organised way.
Practical details
| At the time of writing (late 2026) | |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | About 08:30 to 16:30, daily |
| Entry | A few dollars for non-residents; less for residents |
| Time needed | 1 to 2 hours |
| Location | Chishimba Falls Road, Livingstone |
| Facilities | Basic; bring water |
Pay in kwacha or small US dollar notes. Cards may not be accepted. Our page on money and payments in Zambia has more on cash.
When to go
Mornings are best: cooler, and the low light is better for photographs of the engines. From September to November the yard heats up fast, with little shade and metal that becomes too hot to touch by midday. In the rains, from December to March, the ground can be muddy.
Getting there
The museum is a short taxi ride from the town centre. Agree the fare before you go, and arrange a pick-up time or keep the driver's number. Some town tours include the museum; ask if yours does.
Fitting it in
The museum makes a good short stop on a town day: the Livingstone Museum in the morning, the Railway Museum and a market visit in the afternoon. If the railway story interests you, the bridge tour, with its walk beneath the deck, completes it.
If you are staying out of town, for example at Zambezi Dusk on the Kazungula Road upstream of the falls, the museum is easy to fit into a trip into Livingstone. The lodge's experiences page lists what it arranges through partners, including local market visits that can make up the rest of a town afternoon.
