Umgeni Steam Railway, Heritage railway line in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Umgeni Steam Railway is a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge heritage railway based at Inchanga, near Durban. It runs steam trains on the old Durban–Pietermaritzburg main line between Kloof and Inchanga, climbing gradients of 1:30 to 1:50, and passes through a 53-metre tunnel at Drummond built in 1878.
The line was built in the 1880s to connect Durban and Pietermaritzburg, and a tunnel at Drummond was completed in 1878. A volunteer group later took over the route and began restoring the old locomotives to bring them back into service.
The small railway museum at Inchanga is housed in the former Station Master's residence and opens on running days. It displays old photographs, tools, and objects that show how the railway shaped daily life across the region.
Services run only on certain weekends, so it is worth checking the schedule in advance and booking early. The route passes through hilly terrain, so comfortable clothing is a good idea for the journey.
The preservation group began in 1982 when Illovo Sugar donated a small Dübs locomotive to local enthusiasts. That engine, an 1892 Class A "Dübs A", is still part of the fleet, alongside a Class 3BR built by North British Locomotive Company in February 1912 and run every month.
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