Station Master House Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(small)
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The Inchanga railway museum
The Inchanga railway museum/Tea Garden is housed in the old Station
Master’s home, a quaint little house on the hill above the
Inchanga railway station, just follow the stairs opposite the
picnic site of the station to locate the Museum. The station opened
in 1894 after the viaduct was closed and the deviation of May 1892
took effect. The station at the time was double its current size
with a tea room above the station.
During this period the train was the primary means of
transportation between Durban and Pietermaritzburg; Inchanga being
the halfway station between these two points. The train trip itself
between Durban and Pietermaritzburg used to take 6hr 14min up and
5hr 45min down to complete and passengers use to disembark at the
Inchanga Station for lunch and refreshments.
In 1905 the settlement included 2 gangers’ houses (for the
workers and maintenance men), the Station master’s house, the
station itself, the Inchanga Hotel and a reservoir for the
provision of water to the settlement.
About the Inchanga Station Masters House, Tea Garden and Museum.
There is still a debate going on about the building of the Station
Masters House, the date that some Railway Historians believe it to
be built in 1899, but some believe it to be 1892 as the NGR never
built a station with a Station Master’s House, and the
station was built in 1892.
The Station master’s house now houses the Inchanga railway
museum; it is used to show case some of the historical gems and
interesting items from this bygone era of the Stream Train.
Guided tours of the museum, station and rolling stock shed, where
the steam locos and coaches are kept, are conducted on
off-train-running Sundays and public holidays at 11am and 1pm. Tea,
coffee and cool-drinks are served after the tour.
On train Sundays, buffet breakfast and buffet lunch are served,
however, bookings are essential as usually the tables are booked up
from train passengers.
The Tea Garden website contact and booking details is (Tea Garden Booking)
The Cache
As this area is on private property the cache can be accessed on
the following days;
The cache is available on Sundays and Public holidays when the
museum and Tea garden is open.
Special arrangement has been made with Bruce Bennett the curator to
access the cache during weekdays, but please be courteous and
report at the house first before wondering around.
The cache is not available on Saturdays and after hours,
please respect the privacy.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)