Umgeni Steam Railway
Encyclopedia
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).
to Inchanga. Special trains are sometimes run further south to Durban
and/or further north to Pietermartizburg.
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.
to Inchanga and Nottingham Road
. 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).
, 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".
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
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
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
(90 km by road).
Excursion Trains
On the last Sunday of every month excursion trains are run from KloofKloof, KwaZulu-Natal
Kloof is a leafy, middle- to upper class suburb and small town, that includes a smaller area called Everton, in the greater Durban area of eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
to Inchanga. Special trains are sometimes run further south to Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
and/or further north to Pietermartizburg.
Museum
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.
Routes
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 PietermaritzburgPietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
to Inchanga and Nottingham Road
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands is an inland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that lies outside of Pietermaritzburg but before the Drakensberg mountain range....
. 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).
Fleet
The fleet of steam locomotives includes a Class 3BRSouth African Class 3B 4-8-2
In 1912 the South African Railways took delivery of ten Class 3B steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement that had been ordered by the Natal Government Railways the year before.-Manufacturer:...
, Class 12R
South African Class 12 4-8-2
Between April 1912 and 1922 the South African Railways placed altogether forty-six Class 12 steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in goods train service.-Manufacturers:...
, Class 14R
South African Class 14 4-8-2
Between 1913 and 1915 the South African Railways placed forty-five Class 14 steam locomotives with a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service.-Manufacturer:...
, two Class 19Ds
South African Class 19D 4-8-2
Between 1937 and 1949 the South African Railways placed two hundred and thirty-five Class 19D steam locomotives wirh a 4-8-2 Mountain wheel arrangement in service...
, a Class GF
South African Class GF 4-6-2+2-6-4
In 1927 the South African Railways placed thirty-seven Class GF Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 4-6-2+2-6-4 "Double Pacific" wheel arrangement in service. A further twenty-eight locomotives were delivered in 1928.-Manufacturers:...
Garratt and a Class GMAM
South African Class GMA 4-8-2+2-8-4
Between 1954 and 1958 the South African Railways placed one hundred and twenty Class GMA branch line and Class GMAM main line Garratt articulated steam locomotives with a 4-8-2+2-8-4 "Double Mountain" wheel arrangement in service...
Garratt, along with the locomotive that the company was started with - namely a 1892 vintage Class A
South African Class A 4-8-2T
In 1888 the Natal Government Railways placed the first five of its eventual one hundred Class Dübs A 4-8-2T tank steam locomotives in service. The last of the one hundred was delivered in 1899. In 1912, when these locomotives were assimilated into the South African Railways, they were renumbered...
"Dübs A".