South African industrial steam at its finest. A truly massive book, 240 pages, 340 photographs, page size 33 cm x 28cm. This book provides comprehensive photographic coverage of the seven steam worked railway systems in the Welkom goldfield from 1983 through to the inevitable end nearly twenty years later. As with the Author's earlier work on South African colliery railways, one mine has been specially selected for extensive coverage, this being Loraine Gold Mine, the last of the photogenic systems, which continued operations right through to late 1998. Golden Steam ... and what magnificent machines they were. In contrast to many of the coal mining railways around the country, the standard of external maintenance of the locomotives at most of Welkom's gold mines was consistently high. The variety of steam locomotives used on these railways was extensive, no less than eleven classes being depicted in this book and the attraction to the enthusiast was compounded by the imaginative liveries adopted by the various operators. Unashamedly nostalgic, this book is filled with scenes from a past era, complete with a system map as well as the historical and anecdotal commentary for which this Author is so well known. The mine railway systems portrayed encompass the following : LORAINE GOLD MINES , FREE STATE GEDULD, WESTERN HOLDINGS, ST. HELENA GOLD MINE, PRESIDENT BRAND, PRESIDENT STEYN,FREE STATE SAAIPLAAS. Please note, this book is also available in a very large landscape size, 33cm x 28cm, see separate catalogue entry