Umgeni Steam Railway - a railway preservation group, started in 1982, located just outside Durban in a small village called Inchanga. The history of the line they use dates back to the 1870s when the first railway line was built to run from Durban-Pietermaritzburg (90 km by road).
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On the last Sunday of every month excursion trains are run from Kloof to Inchanga.[1] Special trains are sometimes run further south to Durban and/or further north to Pietermartizburg.
At the old Station Master's House next to the Inchanga Station, a SAR Museum called the Inchanga Railway Museum has been opened. The Museum is open to the public every Sunday, and tea, coffee, breakfast and lunch is served in the tea garden. On train running days, a buffet is served at lunch.
Bookings for breakfast, lunch or the buffet can be made on the Umgeni Steam Railway website for running days, or at Bevelart for all other days. To organize school excursions or to make appointments to view the museum other than on Sundays, go to the Bevelart website and email Bev.
The Umgeni Steam Railway currently operate trains on the last Sunday of each and every month throughout the year between Kloof and Inchanga, with special trains running from Pietermaritzburg to Inchanga and Nottingham Road.[2] The route from Kloof to Inchanga follows the old main line from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and traverses some of the steepest railway gradients in South Africa (1:30 to 1:50).[3]
The fleet of steam locomotives includes a Class 3BR, Class 12R, Class 14R, two Class 19Ds, a Class GF Garratt and a Class GMAM Garratt, along with the locomotive that the company was started with - namely a 1892 vintage Class A "Dübs A".[4]
(Click to enlarge)