November 17, 2021
By Audrey John
The Friends of the National Railway Museum from the United Kingdom (UK) have in their regular visit to Sierra Leone visited the Bauya Train Station in Kongbora Chiefdom, Moyamba District where they met and interacted with the teachers and pupils of St. Peters School Heritage Club on the 15th November 2021.
The Friends of the Railway Museum have had engagements with the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Railway Museum all aimed at strengthening ties to preserve the historic monumental relics. They were accompanied to the Bauya Train Station by the Director of Culture, Foday Jalloh and the Coordinator of the National Railway Museum, Abubakarr N. Kargbo.
The Coordinator of the National Railway Museum, Abubakar N. Kargbo explained that Friends of the Railway Museum usually visit the Bauya Train Station whenever they are in the country because it is one of the heritage sites that has 90% of its remains intact, hence they want to preserve it. The Bauya Railway Station was established in 1915 and closed down in 1971.
The visitors were taken on a conducted tour of the Train Station, the dam and the School Heritage Club. Speaking to teachers and pupils of the St. Peters Secondary School, Hellen Ashby remarked that they were glad to have supported the railway heritage club as they have been doing research about Bauya in respect of its railway station.
She mentioned that the railway compound is a very important place in Sierra Leone, noting that it was a very busy place and a centre of business when the railway was in operation. She maintained that they are interested in the preservation of the station and all its artifacts and most importantly the preservation of the knowledge and understanding of its inception.
The Director of Culture, Foday Jalloh said the Anglican Church in Bauya which was built in 1923 will be celebrating its Centenary anniversary in 2023, therefore he will ensure that the church is considered for proclamation by the President through the Monument and Relics Commission as a National heritage sites adding to the already refurbish Madam Yoko grave site in the chiefdom.
Friends of the Railway Museum presented a token to the teachers of the school heritage club. Pupils of the heritage club presented letters of assistance to the visitors to give to the children of St. Peters School, York, UK.
A courtesy call was paid to the P.C. Banya who commended the visitors for their strides in preserving their train station and appealed to them to do more in order to uplift the standard of the relics and that of the school.