Ashburton Viaduct

[Jonathan Glover]

Took a trip today up the Natal Main line, had read that there is a lot of activity on this line. It took a while to find an access road to the viaduct but after asking some locals I found it. 6 trains came past in the just over two hours I was there. I spoke to a security gaurd who was at the gate of a nearby farm and he says trains come past all day at intervals of 20 minutes. Stefan I know you said you had easy pickings with the holiday specials, but this is everyday.

[Nathan Berelowitz]

Can you not get any side on shots at this location. Looking at the last one, if a person could get onto the hillside on the right without getting a snake bite or mugged, it will make a handsome photo.

[Stefan Andrzejewski]

Brilliant. You are really blessed.

[Jonathan Glover]

Hi Nathan, I think it would be possible to get up onto that hill, would involve quite a walk but like you say would be well worth while. Would like to find out from Ashley if on their laters Umgeni trip from Kloof to Nottingham Road whether they took steam all the way to Maritzburg or the electric took over at Cato Ridge. A photo of their steam locomotive and wooden carriages crossing this viaduct would be amazing.

Ashley?

Stefan I am blessed but only for a while soon its back to the Cape and a lot of Metros, with their own merit.

[Brendon Anderson]

Hi Nathan, I think it would be possible to get up onto that hill, would involve quite a walk but like you say would be well worth while. Would like to find out from Ashley if on their laters Umgeni trip from Kloof to Nottingham Road whether they took steam all the way to Maritzburg or the electric took over at Cato Ridge. A photo of their steam locomotive and wooden carriages crossing this viaduct would be amazing.

Ashley?

Stefan I am blessed but only for a while soon its back to the Cape and a lot of Metros, with their own merit.

Hi Jonathan

Steam only ran as far as Cato Ridge on the Notties train. USR is still not permitted to run steam on the Natal Main line and any steam must be be hauled by either diesel or electric over the section. There are some long tunnels on that section (up to 900 metres long), so working steam can be tricky, but certainly not impossible.