The Railway to Adventure
Other titles available
A World of Steam African Steam Safari - Albert Falls to Asmara African Steam Safari - Kisumu to the Great Karoo
African Steam Safari - Luxor to Sir Lowry's Pass   Daylight Reflections Fading Steam Famous Last Lines Famous Last Lines 2 Famous Last Lines 3
Heavy Metal Late Light Narrow Gauge...then and now Rocky Mountain Sunrise Seasons of Steam Steam Beneath The Red Star
Waiting for the Light Where there's Smoke - Pakistan to Patagonia Where there's Smoke - Scotland to the Cape
The Railway to Adventure
The Soul of a Railway website, the seminal work on South African railways, includes eight chapters on the Port Elizabeth narrow gauge. Responsible for those chapters were Charlie Lewis & David Payling, and it was the latter's wish that these chapters should form the basis of a stand-alone book on the 2ft gauge railway from Port Elizabeth to Avontuur & Patensie. Sadly David passed away early in 2020, prior to publication.
The Railway to Adventure is the end result of this wish.
The book focuses on new, fascinating and compelling information about the railway, particularly the political shenanigans that plagued its turbulent latter years. These are recounted by the author Charlie Lewis, the Regional Engineer responsible for the line from 1981 to 1986 and also one of South Africa's most prolific photographers. It is both a historical & photographic tribute to both the line & all those who fought for its survival, including the intrepid folk at Apple Express who, it is to be hoped, will continue to keep at least part of the Railway alive & echoing to the sounds of NG15 2-8-2s.
The Soul of a Railway material has been edited by John Hunt, Dick Manton and John Middleton who have all spent a lot of time in South Africa and visited the line on many occasions. The text is complimented by a wide selection of over 350 photographs, many in colour and previously unpublished, with contributions from many of the world's leading railway photographers. The authors believe that this new book will form THE definitive record of the Railway in its latter years.
265 pages - Size 280mm x 215mm - Hard Cover - Over 350 colour & b&w photos with captions
Price - UK£29.50 / Eur36.95 plus P&P
Postage and packaging add UK£3.75 in the UK. Add UK£16.35 / Eur20.45 Air to Europe/Surface elsewhere.
Euro payments - email here for details
Air mail rates are available upon request
Click here for Ordering information
Steamscenes Front Page Books Calendars