IN LATE June, with little notice, operation of some heritage steam trains in South Africa was permitted after months of Covid-19 related restrictions. The volunteer-run Umgeni Steam Railway Museum operation on the Kloof- Inchanga section of the original 1067mm gauge Natal Government Railway main line between Durban and Pietermaritzburg saw steam trains during the last weekend in June, with ex-South African Railways (SAR) 19D Class 4-8-2 No. 2685 (built Borsig, Hennigsdorf 14736/1938) working trains in crisp southern hemisphere winter weather.