Umgeni Steam Railway

The Umgeni Steam Railway is a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge heritage railway at Inchanga, near Durban. The Durban to Pietermaritzburg line was built in the 1880s; it runs through a 53 metres (174 ft) long tunnel at Drummond built in 1878, which is probably the oldest tunnel in use today in South Africa

Steam locomotive 1486 (named "Maureen") at Kloof railway station after returning from an excursion run to Inchanga.

In 1982, a small Dubs locomotive was donated by the Illovo Sugar company to local enthusiasts; this was the start of the preservation group. A Class-3BR locomotive is used every month; it was built by North British Locomotive Company in February 1912. The coaches used were built between 1908 and 1953, with most being built in the 1930s.

Excursion Trains

On the last Sunday of every month excursion trains are run from Kloof to Inchanga.[1]

Museum

The Inchanga Railway Museum in the old Station Master's house next to the Inchanga Station, covers the history of South African Railways. It is open to the public on days when trains are operating.

GPS tracked route from Kloof to Inchanga. The route meanders alone the Valley of 1000 Hills.

Routes

The Umgeni Steam Railway currently operates trains on the last Sunday of all months of 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]

Fleet

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 an 1892 vintage Class A "Dübs A".[4]

(Click to enlarge)

  • The Umgeni Steam Railway prior to departure.
  • The Umgeni Steam Railway en route.
  • The Umgeni Steam Railway refreshment carriage.
  • Maureen, the Class 3BR locomotive No.1486 built in 1912.
  • One of the passenger carriages of the Umgeni Steam Railway
  • The firebox of Maureen, a 1912 built Class 3BR locomotive No.1486
  • A view of KwaZulu-Natal from the Umgeni Steam Railway

References
  1. http://umgenisteamrailway.com
  2. http://www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za
  3. http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trains/maps/NML-Dbn-Pmb.pdf Trains and Rail accessed 29 August 2011
  4. http://umgenisteamrailway.com
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