Unsolicited input from Michael and Rhea (subsequent to their travelling on 3rd January 2010)

Dear Ashley,

We would just like to thank you and the whole crew for such a good outing yesterday - pity about the signal failure [Transnet Freight Rail problem] , but I guess that just adds to the "excitement" of the day!!! 

We appreciate all the logistics involved in a day like this, and apart from problems beyond your fault, we congratulate you all.

We look forward to another time of travelling with Umgeni Steam!

Yours sincerely,

Michael and Rhea

Unsolicited input from Pamela Lynch

Just a huge big thank you for the trip that Michael, Mark and I had yesterday [17th June] on Maureen...

We had a super time, think the 'Dad' enjoyed it more than the Mark.

We wish Umgeni Steam Railways lots more miles, and thank them  for showing a nearly long forgotten era.

Kindest Regards
Michael, Pamela and Mark Lynch...


Unsolicited input from Rene Prins, Asizamafuthi, Pietermaritzburg - regarding the excusrsion from Pietermaritzburg to Baynesfield - Sunday 4th May 2008 An extract from an e-mail sent to her friends.

..... The day out at Baynesfield, was wonderful, it really was an awesome day.

The highlight for me personally was to be able to put a yoke on my shoulders.  I love the story of the man walking with the water pots on a yoke and how, the one, being broken was still more than useful.  I felt as if I had been given an opportunity of a life time to have this very old yoke put on my shoulders.  We didn’t have the camera so I couldn’t take a photo, but, I will always remember it.  We saw all the old wood working tools – now I have a passion for working with wood, and I was in my element when I saw the treadle lathe, and watched a man with a fret saw.  We saw a very old steam engine being used to grind meilie meal, the kids loved that, especially as it went ‘toot toot’.  Asunda wasn’t keen on walking away and kept saying goodbye to the train.  The man watching over the engine offered him the chance to blow the whistle, I said, ooohhh nooooo, there are 11 of them, and you should have seen him agree with me!!.  It was fantastic to be able to show them these things.

We had a coach – I would say, the old 3rd class coach all to ourselves.
This was comfortable for us because we didn’t have to worry about the children getting on other peoples nerves etc.  It too was a moment for me.

We traveled on the way and passed by Franz, we showed the children the hundreds and hundred of houses, and within myself, I knew just how privileged these children actually were, they come from neighborhoods just like that, and when I looked at these houses, I just wondered at what their lives may have been (if they had survived their babyhood).  God was and is merciful to them.  One day is the day that we will be able to tell them that that is where they came from, places like Fox Hill, Thembalehle etc.

The journey went along, we were able to show the children where we had lived before we bought the house, they saw cows, and fields of grass waving in the wind.  They were mesmerized by the sights.  At one point the train was swaying too and fro and I took the children and let them stand in the middle of the coach so that they could have the sense of movement, then we stood, over towards the windows and they wobbled with the movement, peels of joy coming out of their hearts and eyes as this happened.  It was wonderful.  Then we got to the station and off we had to climb.  We waited for the tractor ride.  They loved that, it was like a roller coaster ride – we had shrieks and laughter as the tractor went over bumbs etc. 

On arrival at the Estate, we found a nice place to put all our blankets and gave the children something to eat and drink.  Then we walked around.  When it was time to go back, we took the lorry ride.  Oh they loved the sense of the wind in their faces, I was terrified, really I was, they have no sense of fear and were quiet happy to stand up, or get on their knees.  I spent the short trip shouting at them and held on for dear life to Steve.  Then we had the trip home on the train.  We let the kids lie down on the benches and feel the wheels, one or two of them went to sleep.  Asunda was on my lap and he had his little arm out of the window the whole way back, just feeling the wind, he never closed his eyes.  Amanda fell asleep at the window while she was watching the fields go by, what a way to fall asleep.

We all agreed that we would just have to do this again.  Gosh, the financial implications are way out of our reach, so this was a gift of magnitude to us, both emotional as well as financial.

Unsolicited input from Pam Reddy - regarding the excusrsion from Pietermaritzburg to Nottingham Road - Sunday 6th January 2008

I am from Reservoir Hills, Durban... I booked the train to Notties for 18 of us... family and friends as Christmas gift.... it was the best thing that I had ever done...

Everyone was kept in the dark and the journey from Durban was shrouded in mystery for all... I gave each family a personal invite and designed it in such a way as to include dress etc... my clue to all was the "pretty street" in PMB with the statue... they had to guess...

What a pleasant surprise for all.... the lovely station...steeped in history...the train...a blast from the past (all the adults were in their 50's and the kids in their 20's)...

The journey was awesome... spectacular in fact... the farmsteads... the rolling lands.... mountains in the distance... cows grazing... people waving... the dams, lakes, railway tracks....

The 6km tunnel [Cedara Tunnel] is still the talk of the table even today.... my best friend called the entire trip... a journey filled with unforgettable Kodak moments...

The Nottingham Station was joy to arrive at... the unspoilt buildings that we had to pass... the Notties Hotel... Graham... no barbed wire fencing...!!!!!!!! No security guards...

Our group walked to The Junction where we had booked with Penny for lunch (I did this after scouting out the picnic spot and realised that for 18 people, the weather was indeed a gamble)... I sent in our requests for the main meal the day before...the meal was really good...and so was the service... the surroundings...

We then went around the curious little shops in The Junction... but believe it or not... we felt the time was really toooooooo short... I was keen to walk everyone to the new complex where the food outlet serves bottomless coffee... to where the hot air balloons were being launched.... the flyfishing shop..... but just we could not make it... maybe next time, we will have our lunch on the train and then set off...

The entire group says... we need to go back there again... and I agreed... but they want to drive to make it easier for us to visit the brewery for example... your idea of getting the"Notties guys" more involved is an excellent one... it would certainly mean more exposure for them as well... I would have loved to visit the glassworks for example... or the cheese factory...

But Graham... despite all of this... ALL OF THIS... the journey by train was exceptional.... I plan to book again (maybe for about 20-25 people) in December.... have a brother that is coming down with his family for Christmas... I am hoping that you run one from Bellair to Pennington... would be soooooooooooooo wonderful... or maybe the Baynesfield trip / ?????

PS There was one unfortunate incident though.... my children witnessed a young boy's bag being snatched by a "child-thief" as he was walking towards the train from Notties Hotel... my children managed to give chase and she threw the bag into a hidge and ran off. The thief was caught by a local woman who slapped her around and shouted at her. She apologised profusely and said "Please... but we at Nottingham Road ar not like this...." Whilst we felt upset for the victim, we could not help but reflect on the desperation and plight of these people... children especially...

Graham...I will end here..apologise for any errors... tired.... had a busy day.... and sorry about my rambling... can't help it...

Kind Regards...

Pam

PS I did send a note thanking Rob...but I would also like you to convey my sincere thanks to the members of the USR for their comittment and dedication in keeping this avenue of advand history open to us, the lay public....

As for a "supporters club" MOST CERTAINLY.... I have no hesitation in recommending the train ride as good, clean, family fun... our society really needs more of this.... I have encouragedthe teachers on my staff to make this journey... we will go back and help them plan and book... one of my group is a doctor... he was very excited and plans to book a trip for the doctors and their families to Nottingham Road in the near future... so look out for the Chatsmed Gardens Group...

See article and photograhs she took on the excursion MY TRIP TO NOTTINGHAM ROAD (in Microsoft Word format)

By Allan Jackson

A few Sundays ago I arrived bright and early at Kloof Station to take a trip on the Inchanga Choo Choo, but crowds of passengers were already queuing to pick up the tickets they had booked.
 
The train is run a couple of times a month by the Umgeni Steam Railway between Kloof Station and Inchanga Station and, occasionally, further afield to Nottingham Road, for example. From their first public run in 1984, when there were 80 passengers, the non-profit USR now carries up to 800 people per day.
 
When I arrived at Kloof there were carriages in the station but no locomotive, apart from the one on permanent display. The USR volunteers, chatting on their walkie-talkies, did not look concerned and soon afterwards, there was a whistle from down the line and the locomotive Maureen chuffed into the station, belching clouds of coal smoke and steam from every orifice.

Maureen is an S.A.R. Class 3BR locomotive, built by the North British Railway Company in 1912. She found her way into the tender clutches of the Umgeni Steam Railway after 70 or 80 years service with the South African Railways and some time spent at a colliery in Utrecht.
  
In her heyday she could do 90km an hour, but is nowadays limited to 60km, so as not to put her under too much strain. On a typical day, with two return trips to Inchanga, she will consume between four and five tons of coal and between 30 000 and 40 000 litres of water.
  
Maureen shunted carriages back and forth for a bit and, then, after loading passengers, set off in the direction of Inchanga with a mighty blast on her steam whistle. At the last minute I had decided not to ride up to Inchanga, but managed to cadge a lift with fellow photographers who were planning to follow the route by car.
  
We stopped along the way a number of times to photograph the train as she steamed past and, on arrival at Inchanga Station, we found that she had beaten us to it.

The passengers were busy browsing through the stalls in the craft market on the station  platform, or sitting under some shady trees nearby and enjoying food and drink from the stalls, or the picnics they had brought with them. There was plenty going on, with a DJ playing some mellow sounds and face painting and pony rides available for the kids.
  
In one corner, I noticed James Couve de Murville and Vicky Johnson, both dressed in stylish period costume. It turned out that they were part of a promotion organised by the Workshop Shopping Centre for its tenants. Maureen, sitting steaming quietly to herself, was also a major attraction, with many passengers posing for photographs in front of her or climbing up on to the footplate for a look at the controls.
  
Hidden half under the locomotive I came across train driver George Greeff, who was busy greasing the wheels for the return journey; I presume they must have been the ones that squeaked most! I was fascinated to learn that there are still two places in South Africa where you can get a licence to drive steam trains but that, at R40 000, it will cost you as much as a private pilot’s licence.
  
All too soon there was an announcement on the public address system and we all climbed into the train for the return trip to Kloof. I found my seat in the carriage in front and, armed with a cold drink from the stall on the train, settled back to enjoy the scenery.
 
All around me, families were having a fine time, especially when a group of minstrels came into our carriage and played a few tunes. The Broadway Gents, as they are called, are Gordon Timm, Patrick Da Silva and Edward Kater, and they have apparently been playing on the Inchanga Choo Choo for close on 18 years.
  
We arrived back in Kloof to find the station packed with passengers waiting to go on the second trip of the day and the USR volunteers wondering whether, for the first time, they would have to hitch another carriage onto the train to accommodate them.
  
I have to say that a trip on the Inchanga Choo Choo is an absolutely great experience and is the ideal thing to do by yourself, or when you’ve got kids or visitors to the city to entertain. It’s perfectly safe, providing you obey the instructions of the USR staff and don’t stick your head out of the window, where you might come into sharp contact with the local vegetation or get a cinder in your eye.
  
Watch the local press for adverts for the Choo Choo, including special trips organised from time to time.
  
The bad news is that there has been talk in the corridors of power about closing the line down, meaning that the Umgeni Steam Railway would be unable to earn the income it presently uses to restore and maintain its precious collection of locomotives and rolling stock. The costs of running a railway are huge and it is expected to cost R200 000, for example, just to restore the USRs 1892 Natal Government Railway Class A tank locomotive to running condition.
  
There has not been much in the way of tangible support for the USR from official quarters, where some apparently view it as an irritant. The volunteers have been approaching potential sponsors and it is hoped that they will be also be able to attract charters for corporate team building events, or from tour operators wanting to develop rail tourism packages.

It would be such a pity if this wonderful facility were lost to the city and our kids never got to ride on a steam train.

Ticket to Ride

The Inchanga Choo Choo runs to Inchanga on the last Sunday of each month, departing from Kloof Station at 8.30am and 12.30pm. There is also an [occasional] afternoon trip on the last Saturday of the month, departing from Kloof Station at 3pm and ending up at Botha’s Hill Station for afternoon tea. Other trips are arranged from time to time and full details are published in the press [and on the "Specials" page].

The USR can be contacted on 082 353 6003 or 087 880 7715 and booking is essential.