The Ibadan Railway Turntable, constructed in 1946, stands as one of the most significant surviving pieces of Nigeria’s colonial-era railway infrastructure. Built by Cowans, Sheldon & Co., Ltd., a renowned British engineering firm specialising in railway equipment, the turntable is widely regarded as the only functioning railway turntable in Nigeria, and possibly one of the last still extant in Africa.
Purpose and Historical Importance
During the age of steam-powered locomotives, railway turntables were essential. Steam engines could not simply reverse direction efficiently; instead, they had to be physically rotated to face the correct direction for their next journey. At the end of each rail run, locomotives were rolled onto the turntable, which would then rotate the engine to align with another track.
The Ibadan turntable served this exact function at the Ibadan Railway Station Yard, which was the headquarters of the Western District of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). Ibadan’s strategic position made it a major rail hub connecting Lagos to the interior of Western Nigeria and beyond.
Decline with Technological Change
With the introduction of diesel and electric locomotives, which can operate efficiently in both forward and reverse gears, railway turntables gradually became obsolete worldwide. Most were dismantled, abandoned, or preserved within railway museums in Europe and North America as industrial heritage artefacts.
Globally, only a handful of operational turntables remain today, and these are typically maintained as protected historical monuments. In contrast, Nigeria’s Ibadan turntable, despite its rarity and historical value, has suffered prolonged neglect.
A Neglected National Relic
Although the Ibadan Railway Turntable remains structurally present, its condition has significantly deteriorated over time. Exposure to the elements, lack of maintenance, and institutional neglect have left the structure at risk of permanent loss. The situation is particularly troubling given its uniqueness and its importance as a tangible reminder of Nigeria’s railway history and early industrial development.
The neglect of the turntable reflects a broader challenge facing Nigeria’s industrial and cultural heritage, where historically significant infrastructure is often left to decay rather than preserved, documented, or repurposed for education and tourism.
Cultural and Heritage Value
Beyond its engineering function, the Ibadan Railway Turntable is a symbol of Nigeria’s integration into global industrial networks during the mid-20th century. It represents:
Colonial-era railway engineering
The rise of Ibadan as a major transport and commercial centre
The technological transition from steam to diesel locomotion in West Africa
Preserving such structures offers opportunities for railway museums, heritage tourism, and historical education, while reinforcing national identity through the protection of shared material history.
A Call for Preservation
The continued deterioration of the Ibadan Railway Turntable raises urgent questions about heritage preservation in Nigeria. Without immediate intervention, documentation, and restoration, this rare relic risks being lost entirely—an irreversible erasure of an important chapter in Nigeria’s transport and industrial history.
Saving the Ibadan Railway Turntable is not merely about preserving metal and machinery; it is about protecting memory, history, and national heritage for future generations.
Source
Photograph by Akinkunmi Akinyele, Ibadan Railway Station Yard, Headquarters of the Western District of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, 5 October 2012
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