THE Umgeni Steam Railway (USR), which was devastated by the April floods, is hosting a Fundraising Open Day this weekend, offering longer train rides from Inchanga Station to Botha’s Hill and back.
The train ride takes place on Saturday, August 27 as Sunday is the Comrades Marathon. Visitors to Durban for the Comrades Marathon weekend are invited to spend Saturday at Inchanga in the company of Wesley – a 19D 2685, 1938 vintage team loco – and take part in heaps of train-themed activities.
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Thanks to the generosity of the thousands of supporters who attended the first open days, sufficient funds have been raised to fix the line up to Botha’s Hill. So the trip this time around will be substantially longer, around 1 hour and 15 minutes to Botha’s Hill and back.
The trip meanders along the rolling hills of KZN through one of the oldest operating tunnels in South Africa, with the 1000 Hills in the distance.
The train leaves Inchanga at 08.30, 11:00, 13.30 and 15:30. Tickets are R150 for adults and R100 for pensioners and children.
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The Inchanga Craft Market will once more be in full swing with dozen of stalls offering family-friendly locally sourced fare, such as gift ideas, great coffee, bespoke wooden toys and décor, homemade delicacies, plants, books, honey, dolls clothes, toys and games, funky T-shirts, collectables, bathtime treats, knitted goods, arts and crafts, jewellery, accessories and clothing.
Shop to a great soundtrack, as there will be a DJ playing.
The market will operate from 08:00 to 17:00.
For more information, visit USR website at www.umgeni steamrailway.com.
