"BLOEMFONTEIN TO KIMBERLEY"

The 170 km long railway from Bloemfontein to Kimberley was the last secondary main line in South Africa to utilise steam traction on a regular basis, only succumbing to full dieselisation during February 1990. The Author visited the line on more than forty occasions during the final decade or so of 'real steam activity', He also visited subsequently for special train events. The line was not an easy one on which to 'chase trains', with much of the roughly parallel road being unsurfaced, and often running a good distance from the railway, with many sections inaccessible if the train was to be seen again. The Author enjoyed a good relationship with the staff at the Kimberley Operating office, and quite often nominated locomotives were requested on specified trains, and invariably this would eventuate.
This is an enormous 376 page very large landscape book, with outstanding photography. Background and technical information and a route map are included, as well as lively anecdotal commentary. Join the Author on a photographic odyssey of this often overlooked railway, where 4-8-4s ruled, but not exclusively. Indeed, ten different locomotive classed are depicted in this book. With the sort of perseverance shown by the Author, it was eventually possible to build up a photographic portfolio often featuring the results of effective utilisation of the lighting angles that only an east - west aligned railway route can offer.
Extensive coverage of the highly photogenic Bloemfontein shed and visits to Beaconsfield shed are also included.

PLEASE NOTE THAT A MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE 220 page standard landscape version of this book (complete in its own right) is also available under the title "South Africa's last steam worked secondary main line". See the relative entry.