As technology develops it is as if the world gets smaller and smaller.
Well, it feels that way...but in reality, we are just moving faster between our destinations. That is...if we actually have to move...
I can remember as a little boy, there were no computers. I was in high (secondary) school when computers started making their appearance.
When people started talking about the day when you can make a call and speak to the other person while you can actually see him on a screen, it sounded like something from a science-fiction movie.
And yet, here we are. Today we can communicate with anybody anywhere in the world via a Zoom meeting/conversation, speaking to the other person as if he/she is sitting in front of you. We make video calls on Whatsapp. We have group meetings using Accord as if it's the most normal thing under the sun. We don't even think twice about it.
A little more than 100 years ago, a 100-mile trip had to be planned. It could involve more than a day to get to your destination and back.
But then cars made their appearance, and trains and eventually airplanes.
Today we can travel between continents in a matter of hours.
But thanks to organizations such as the Umgeni Steam Railway, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of railway heritage in South Africa, we can enjoy reliving the sensation of steam trains from yesteryear.
They are even mentioned on Wikipedia.
I thought it might be a good idea to do a "little project" about this fun steam train, doing service in our area. It's a great tourist attraction and provides fun to locals and holidaymakers alike.
My plan was to go out on the first day and cover the route from Kloof, where the train departs, to the end destination at Inchanga, taking photos and finding spots from where I should be able to get some nice shots of the train in action.
After this, I will be checking the program of the train, and I will go out on several days to take photos of the train "in action" at various points and some activities around it. In this way, I hope you can share in some of the fun...and who knows, maybe it will bring back some memories for some too...lol.
For today's post, I will cover the point of departure, in Kloof and share some photos of the first leg of the route, where the train is going through built-up areas.
Then next week, I'll share photos of the final stretch up to the final destination at Inchanga.
This should give me enough time to get some nice photos (taken over several days and trips) of the train "in action" which I will then also share.
For today...
Only when I got back, I realized that I never took a photo of the old "station" building from outside...lol. But I will do that for my photos of the activities.
What used to be the "Kloof Railway Station" has now been transformed into a Sports Bar/Pub-n-Grill Restaurant. Yet, it still serves its purpose when the train is doing its runs, as this is still where the passengers will board the train.
The red carriage you can see in this photo is now also being used as a dining area for the restaurant.
Leaving Kloof Station, the starting point of the journey, the machinist will see this ahead of him.
From Kloof, coming towards you (in this photo) the first station the train will pass through is Gillits, although this station is no longer in use.
As a matter of interest, this railway line was built to do service between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
Here you can see that being at Gillits Station, you are 1969 ft. above sea level and 24 miles from Durban. South Africa changed from using inches and miles to meters and kilometers since about 1967.
Passing through Gillits, the train will start turning in a northerly direction where it will pass through Hillcrest.
Coming from Gillits, passing behind some industrial properties in Hillcrest.
Passing through Hillcrest, with some Industrial/Business properties on the left, and the beginning of residential areas on the right.
Leaving Hillcrest on its way now to Botha's Hill.
This is where the train leaves the suburban areas and city life behind and heads out into the open.
Next week, I'll share some photos I took along the route through Drummond and some photos at Inchanga station.
Next weekend is a long weekend here in South Africa. If all goes well, I want to go out and get some photos over several runs. I won't be able to get from one "good spot" to the next one in time to get all the photos that I have in mind.
Depending on how long it takes me to get everything I want, and also how many photos I get, will then determine if I will share them all in one final post or maybe do more than one "action photo" post as well.
Thank you for reading my post and I hope you will join me in the fun when I get the real "action" photos too.
