Umgeni Steam Railway

The train runs from Kloof Station to and from Inchanga Station on the last Sunday of each month along the edge of the scenic Valley of a 1000 Hills.  It's a one hour trip to the Inchanga Station where there is the Craft Market, Tea Garden and Museum.

Sunday, December 16th four fun missionaries went for a train ride.  This train has been under repaired for the past 10 months but in December it is up and running and running every Sunday.

HISTORY IN THE HILLS

Umgeni Steam Railway is a non-profit organisation currently restoring trains on the Old Main Line by volunteers.  Umgeni Steam Railway are preserving and promoting awareness of our historical, natural and architectural heritage.




During the colonial period the Old Main was completed to Camperdown in 1880, following the Durban to Johannesburg ox-wagon trail that curved around the Valley of a 1000 Hills more than 160 years ago. They had to build a 173m long viaduct over the Inchanga gorge rising 28 metres above the river bed, but the viaduct was unstable and was taken down after they built the line around the gorge from Inchanga to Cato Ridge.

The original Inchanga Station was built in 1892. Now only part of the original construction exists and is still a beautiful example of the early Natal Railway Colonial style architecture.  The Inchanga Hotel was built using the extra red bricks from the Pietermaritzburg City Hall.  The store lined tunnel in Drummond was completed at 52 metres long. This is the only tunnel on the old line between Durban and Cato Ridge and still operational.

Emily and Kristin

Our seat were for four across the aisle the seats were for 6.  Ginger talked to this sweet family.

The conductor punching our tickets.  

Off we gooooooooooooooo.... goodbye Kloop.

Santa and his elves came to our car.

Beautiful South Africa.

Valley of 1,000 hills

There were some very, very large homes along the route along with some very humble homes.

Santa's pickup line, 'I remember when you were a little girl and sat on my knee...'

'... and let's relive the past!"

The coal keeper, Hawkens.

Loved it when we went around a bend.

Beautiful, lovely day.

Beautiful, lovely country side.

We saw horses, cows and goats and plenty of people who stopped their cars, got out to see this sight of the train after 10 months.

We arrived!  Inchanga.

Cute bridge.

Going we were the last car, at the rest stop the engine looped around to the front.  

Now the engine is right in front of us and I loved the steam and soot coming in my window.

choo choo, chuga chuga chuga

Very difficult taking pictures of steam.

Emily and Kristin soaking in the sights.

steam, steam and more steam

It's summer here in South Africa but we are still experiencing a lot of heavy rain.  Everything is very lush.

Cars following the train.

goats

good bend picture

The Inchanga area is a mystery and an adventure for the kids and adults.  It reveals hidden parts of our past.  The upkeep of these historical features is vital for the survival of the heritage in KwaZulu Natal.