On the Railway: The Great South African Train Story – David Williams
David Williams unpacks his book 'On the Railway: The Great South African Train Story' (Camera & editing: Darlene Creamer)
Experience South Africa's rich railway heritage - from the luxurious presidential White Train and the dining cars, to the goods trains that once served as the economic lifeblood of the country. David Williams shares the story of Africa's most extensive rail network, enriched with his own anecdotes and being a lifelong rail enthusiast. He recounts stories from his childhood, where the whistle of passing trains and steam locomotives were a daily part of 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.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Williams is a South African author, journalist and broadcaster, specialising in sport, political economy and business. He has also worked on "the other side of the fence", spending five years as Communications Manager for the South African Breweries Ltd. He is the author of several bestselling books and lives in Johannesburg.
'On the Railway: The Great South African Train Story' is published by Tafelberg, an imprint of NB Publishers
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