Luxor to Sir Lowry’s Pass

(Cairo to the Cape in laymen’s terms)

This is the third in the African Steam Safari series, where Aussie Railway photographers show of their amazing photographic skills utilized all over the dark continent. We visit Cecil Rhode’s Rhodesia, skirt Livingston, named after the famous explorer, where there was a large steam depot, and head into Mozambique where I spent a lot longer than I intended. My story and that of others in this incredible place is told here.

I am bemused by thought of that famous saying, “Dr Livingstone I presume”, as his friend found him somewhere in the jungle. For my part, I visited an apartment in Salsibury where a colleague was supposed to be staying. Someone else answered the door and explained he had taken over the flat. We told him we were train buffs and he quipped, “do either of you know Paul Dow?” Paul had been our flatmate in Johannesburg and as it turned out was in the back room fast asleep. The place was and is full of surprises.

Bagnall 2-4-2 T on the Korna Isna line on the west bank of the nile near Luxor – Lindsay Rickard

I had no idea that in the 1970s steam was still around in Egypt, Ghana, and the Gorilla country of Zaire. I did know about Sudan where trains ventured some of the way and an air trip from Juba to Entebbe got you to Uganda and the East African Railway, connected to the southern part of the continent.

There were lots of conflicts going on at that time, and some are still in progress, making it quite dangerous to run around taking photos of railway infrastructure.

20th class Garratt has just uncoupled from its train and is heading back to safety. – John  Gaydon

Zambia had a closed border with Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and they would back trains onto the Victoria Falls bridge, uncoupling the loco at the mid point and then darting back to safety less the other side tried to steal the loco!

The book finishes with the Garden route, travelling from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town across the bottom of South Africa, traversing the impressive Montague Pass, and at times passing very close by the Southern Ocean. Clear Blue skies, and those legendary African sunsets, make for some very pleasing photographs.

14 CA and GEA climb Sir Lowry’s pass with a fully laden fruit train. April 1975 – Greg Tripplet

This volume completes the set of 3 published by the ARE, so is a must if you have the other two. We have put together a few combos including Mike Tyak’s new world steam calendar of which I have very limited supplies, Where there’s smoke, and the African Steam Safari books. Buying a package makes sense as the cost of postage in Australia continues to escalate.

For available purchase options, click here.

In the meantime, here are a couple more images from African Steam Safari volume 3.

Atlantic 812 stops to pick upp passengers on the Monapo to Lombo line in far norther Mozambique 1975 – John Gaydon
This hand fired GEA is making hard work of the climb past the observatory at the top of Sir Lowry’s pass.

Delivery to Australia (Includes Postage)

Where there’s smoke $A80
African Steam Safari Vol 1 $A60

African Steam Safari Vol 2 $A60
African Steam Safari Vol 3 $A60
African Steam Safari Vol 1, 2 & 3 $A150
African Steam Safari Vol 2 & 3 $A100
African Steam Safari Vol 1 & 3 $A100
Where there’s smoke & ASS Vol 3 $A120

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