Keeping the Steam Alive!
Building up a Steam
History is a part of who we are and how our culture has developed over the years. A group of individuals have taken this sentiment to heart and are fighting to keep the historical steam engines in Durban Alive.
Inchanga Railway Museum
The Inchanga railway museum is housed in the old Stationmaster’s home, a quaint little house on the hill above the Inchanga railway station. The station opened in 1894 after the viaduct was closed and the deviation of May 1892 took effect. The station at the time was double its current size at with a tea room above the station proper.
During this period the train was the primary means of transportation between Durban and Pietermaritzburg; Inchanga being the halfway station between these two points. The train trip itself between Durban and Pietermaritzburg used to take 6hr 14min up and 5hr 45min down to complete and passengers use to disembark at the Inchanga Station for lunch and refreshments.
In 1905 the settlement included 2 gangers’ houses (for the workers and maintenance men), the Stationmaster’s house, the station itself, the Inchanga Hotel and a reservoir for the provision of water to the settlement.
The Stationmaster’s house now houses the Inchanga railway museum; it is used to show case some of the historical gems and interesting items from this bygone era of the Stream Train.
Interesting Areas Around the Station
There are a number of interesting areas near the station. These include Wallace Town, established in 1880, the station nursery, the Stationmaster’s house and the Gangers’ house to mention a few.
A walking tour of the area is currently being planned and will include the above mentioned areas. In future it is hoped that the tour can be extended to include other areas, however this will be subject to demand and time constraints for the passengers that travel up to Inchanga on the steam train.
The Steam Train
The current tour allows you to embark one of the restored steam trains at Kloof railway station (Stokers Arms) and travel up to the Inchanga Museum and craft market on the last Sunday of every month. The trip itself takes approximately 1hour to reach Inchanga and the train leaves again 1 and a half hours later allowing passengers to disembark and take advantage of the great offers available at the craft market and to visit the museum.
The museum hosts a tea garden with breakfast and lunches services as well as picnic baskets for those that prefer to sit in the shaded picnic area near the train station.
Proceeds from the museum will go toward maintaining the museum itself and extending the available tours. Museum tours will commence on the 27th of March with the Grand Opening being on the 31st of March 2011.
All in all, this day trip is an excellent family event to embark on, not to mention a good course in supporting the local history of the steam train.
Dates & Times of Steam Train Tours to Inchanga
Date : Last Sunday of Every Month
Train Departure : 7:00 from Inchanga Station
Train Arrival : 8:00 at Kloof Station (Stokers Arms)
Train Departure : 8:30 from Kloof Station (Stokers Arms)
Train Arrival : 9:30 at Inchanga Station
Train Departure : 11:00 from Inchanga Station
Train Arrival : 12:00 at Kloof Station (Stokers Arms)
Train Departure : 12:30 from Kloof Station (Stokers Arms)
Train Arrival : 13:30 at Inchanga Station
Train Departure : The last trip of the day has no return trip to Kloof
Cost
Adults : R 150.00 Return or R 100.00 one way
Pensioners : R 130.00 Return or R 90.00 one way
Children : R 120.00 Return or R 80.00 one way
Please note that the cost of breakfast, lunches or picnic baskets are not included in the above rates.
Click here for more photos of the steam trains.