Carrying on with our little project about the Umgeni Steam Railway, we'll complete the route today.
Last week I shared some photos showing the part of the route the Umgeni steam train is running along while still being in built-up areas.
Today, I'll show you the second part of the route to its final destination at Inchanga station.
It takes the train through the beautiful landscape of the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
As mentioned last week, it departs from Kloof, runs through Gillits, and then Hillcrest.
My last photo in last week's post showed where it leaves Hillcrest and heads into the open countryside.
From here it will first pass through Botha's Hill before it goes through the Drummond area.
In this photo, the train will be coming into the Drummond area, traveling alongside the Comrades Marathon route.
A little further on I will be waiting to take a photo here of the train making its way through the "bush".
From there I will be moving to the Comrades Marathon halfway mark where the train will approach me from under this bridge. (I've shared this photo in one of my previous #wednedsaywalk posts too).
I can also get a photo on the return trip, just coming from the opposite side.
From here, I'll be moving higher up to the spot mentioned in yesterday's post, where I will be standing on the inside of the bend, just below a viewpoint over the valley.
From this higher point, I should get a nice photo of the train passing through the valley below me.
A few minutes later the train will reach its end destination, Inchanga Station.
A friendly, colorful Inchanga is awaiting the passengers.
A nice area to relax while spending some time in Inchanga. The Inchanga Craft Market is also open every time the train is running to entertain the passengers.
If you are to continue further, this line will take you all the way to Pietermaritzburg.
To my knowledge, there are similar trains doing service on special occasions between Pietermaritzburg and Inchanga as well. I am not sure of the detail, but I'll do some reading and digging to find out.
I will be approaching the station from the car park though.
This is what the little station looks like when you approach it from the car park.
Although I will have to cross the railway line, I will then arrive on the same platform as the passengers...Platform 1.
And then the journey starts back towards Kloof again. The whole experience, from leaving Kloof to arriving back at Kloof, will last about three and a half hours.
Leaving Inchanga, on the way back to Kloof again...
And that's it for today.
This coming weekend is a long weekend here in South Africa, and the train will be doing several trips.
If all goes well, I plan on going out to get some photos over several of these trips.
So hopefully, by next week Thursday, I should have some nice "action" photos of the train to share with you.