On the railway by David Williams (Tafelberg, 2025)
Title: On the railway: The great South African train story
Author: David Williams
Publisher: Tafelberg (July 2025)
ISBN: 9780624094289
Epub ISBN: 9780624094296
Author: David Williams
Publisher: Tafelberg (July 2025)
ISBN: 9780624094289
Epub ISBN: 9780624094296
Come travel through South Africa’s rich railway heritage – from the luxurious presidential White Train and the dining cars with their starched linen tablecloths, to the goods trains that once served as the economic lifeblood of the country.
In On the railway, David Williams shares the story of Africa’s most extensive rail network, enriched with anecdotes from his own experience as a railway child, steward, and lifelong rail enthusiast. He recounts tales of railway towns and his childhood in Estcourt, where the whistle of passing trains and the mighty steam locomotives were a daily part of his life.
Our railway network, with its engineering marvels that overcame challenging terrains, was for years the pride of the continent and the country’s biggest employer. Yet, Williams does not shy away from confronting the more troubling aspects of this legacy, including racial segregation under apartheid and the devastating impact of state capture and mismanagement. Today, the future of this essential component of our country’s success remains uncertain. Captivating, nostalgic, and full of the life and character of the railways.
Kommentaar
My oupa het sy hele lewe lank vir die Spoorweë gewerk. Hy het begin as 'n vakleerling, geleer om die treinwaens aanmekaar te timmer en homself opgewerk tot superintendent van die treinstasiewerkswinkel op Uitenhage. Ongelukkig het dit als tot niet gegaan.