KwaZulu-Natal: Umgeni Steam Railway forced to cease operations due to flood damage!
The devastating floods in mid-April 2022 caused extensive damage to Durban's iconic Umgeni Steam Railway's track. Flooding washed away the foundation under the railway at several parts of the track, leaving the railway line hanging in the air. The organisation was therefore forced to cease operations for the foreseeable future. According to a statement on facebook, the Umgeni Steam Railway estimates that around R1 million is needed to repair the railway line, and is desperately appealing for for any donations, either monetary or of materials and machinery.
The Umgeni Steam Railway is a non-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers who maintain and operate the trains, tracks, museum, library and archives. South Africa's oldest volunteer-run heritage organistion is dedicated to preserving the heritage of railways in the country. On the last Sunday of every month, the Umgeni Steam Railway operates historic steam trains between Kloof and Inchanga along the old main line from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.
