Like all preservation groups we at Umgeni Steam Railway rely heavily on the income, and subsequent profit, from ticket sales for our normal running days and our special excusrsions in order to keep our rolling stock in running order and to survive.
Our running costs are high as a ton of coal now costs is just short of R600.00 and we need 12 tons just to fill one of our running locos. There are obviously lots of other running expenses - leases to Spoornet for buildings and track, water, greases and oils etc. that mount up.
We obviously have to deduct our operating costs from our ticket income in order to realise a profit. It doesn't leave much at R100.00 per ticket.
I hear you all say that the answer then would be to increase ticket prices. Unfortunately it doesn't work quite as simply as that as higher ticket prices attracts less people.
If you would like to donate money that would be used directly to help preserve our heritage for the future then please go to the following link and pay whatever monies you feel you can afford towards the preservation of steam.
As we use a credit card payment system that is product orientated donations
can be made by purchasing "units" of R100.00 (South African Rand) which equates to
approximately to 1-unit = US$12.93 / £6.58 / €8.31
