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Safari Steam South |
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Railways in Africa came relatively late on the scene. They were almost invariably regarded as primarily a colonial and political tool to open up the areas away from the coastal strips which had long seen visitors from Europe and Asia. As often as not, the builders underestimated the problems they would face and the end results were a tribute to the engineers of the late 19th century and early 20th century. With the passing of the era of colonial empires, the railways passed into the hands of newly independent countries. With few exceptions, they have not prospered, reflecting the troubled experiences of the continent as a whole as it struggled to come to terms with the new order. The principal role of this CD-ROM is to present a record of the closing years of steam in Southern Africa (outside South Africa). Necessarily, some railways dispensed with steam earlier than others and I am very grateful to Chris Walker who has opened his collection of historic post cards and allowed me to use a selection. This runs roughly from west to east including some island railways which have now vanished. |
