Journey back in time with Inchanga steam train
The Umgeni Steam Railway's steam train, run entirely by volunteers, travels to Inchanga twice, generally on the last Sunday of the month.
Want to take a trip back in time?
Travel no further than Kloof, board the Umgeni Steam Railway’s steam train that travels inland to Inchanga. The trip is done twice generally on the last Sunday of the month. It allows travellers a chance to browse an old-school market for a few hours before heading back to Kloof.
The iconic trip will prove nostalgic to those who once depended on a steam train for transport, and for those who haven’t, it will surely provide you with a feeling of how things operated ‘back in the day’. The trip is great for families, the young and old alike.
Umgeni Steam Railway is associated with the Railway Society of South Africa – Natal (RSSA-Natal). The volunteers run, maintain and operate the trains, the library and the museum.
The steam trains run from Kloof Station (Stokers Arms) to and from Inchanga Station, on the last Sunday of each month along the edge of the picturesque Valley of a 1000 Hills.
Inchanga is a colonial station (built in 1895) and is a 45 minute ride away along the old main line. The line was built in the late 1800s and is one of the oldest active railway lines in South Africa today.
Registered as a Section-21 non-profit making organisation, the surplus funds are used for the preservation of steam locomotives in KwaZulu-Natal.
The iconic steam wafting through Valley of a 1000 Hills, while on route to Inchanga:
USR runs trains for the public in order to share the experience of railways, and also to raise funds for ongoing and new projects.
The Inchanga Conservancy runs the craft market at Inchanga Railway Station each time USR runs a train. Craft goodies, delicious food and refreshments are on sale. While at Inchanga, you can also buy beverages in the station building, and can visit the museum in the Station Master’s House next to the station. Just ask someone in uniform for directions to the museum.
Festivities at the Inchanga market:
The Inchanga ‘Choo Choo’ train
- Departs from Stokers Arms in Kloof and returns to Stokers Arms in Kloof.
- Stops at Inchanga where the Inchanga conservancy organise a craft market, picnic area with food stalls.
- Children under two-years-old are lap passengers and therefore are not booked on the train.
- Prices are for the train ride only.
- A craft market with food stalls is available at Inchanga and a refreshment bar is on the train.
- There are no card facilities at Inchanga or on the train, please carry cash to use on the train and in Inchanga.
- The train is not wheelchair accessible.
- Wheelchairs and prams go into baggage compartment.
- Due to various reasons out of authorities’ control, the locomotive can be changed from steam to diesel.
Watch the train leaving the Inchanga market, and heading back to Kloof station:
Some facts on the Umgeni Steam Railway
The organisation is run entirely by volunteers and is self-funding, relying almost exclusively on revenue generated from running public and charter trains to continue operating and preserving our railway history.
Over the years Umgeni Steam Railway has managed to collect a sizeable array of historically significant rolling stock and other items, including approximately 10 locomotives; 50 coaches and a variety of goods wagons. Unfortunately due to ongoing financial constraints many of these irreplaceable items remain in storage awaiting preservation.
The beauty of 1000 Hills can be admired from the steam train:
Normal running days include a ‘morning train’ and an ‘afternoon train’. Morning trips are 3 hour excursions while afternoon trains are 3 and a half hour excursions.
All trains stop at Inchanga, the morning and evening trains except for “Carols-by-Candlelight” trains, stop for 1 hour. The afternoon trains stop at Inchanga for 1 and a half hours.
Keep an eye on the website timetable, Facebook Events, Twitter and Google+ Events for special train running dates.
Volunteers are always welcome to join. There are no qualifications required to join USR/RSSA, all you need is a passion for railways and history. Current members consist of young, old, male and females.
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