Born in London, England, Geoff grew up in Bulawayo, the second city of Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). In 1986 Geoff persuaded the National Railways of Zimbabwe to allow him to run a tourist train from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, a roller coaster ride that is now the subject of this book. He is recognised as one of the leading authorities in African tourist train operations. Geoff and Sheelagh now live in Kidderminster, England, where they can hear the steam whistles on the Severn Valley Railway from their garden.