The very best of preserved and working steam trains in Southern Africa filmed over a four year period by enthusiast and cameraman Jean Dulez.
Living in South Africa, Jean was uniquely able to travel throughout the African sub-continent to seek out the most spectacular locations to film preserved steam at its best. He was also able to record the amazing spectacle of some of the last pockets of working industrial steam trains in the 21st century in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
It takes an ardent enthusiast and expert photographer to compile a series of sequences of such high quality. Producer Peter Middleton was simply blown away when he first saw the spectacular sequences contained within. The scenery, the weather, the wide variety of steam action over main lines, branch lines, the so-called Cape Gauge (3ft 6ins) plus narrow gauge lines all combine to make this a steam spectacle not to be missed.
The film starts with a brief history of railways in Southern Africa followed by detailed maps and graphics throughout. This is a spectacle that you will want to watch and listen to over and over again.
Steam Railway Magazine review:
It’s no secret that we’re fans of South African steam, but even those for whom anything foreign does little to stir the soul will find it very difficult not to be impressed by this spectacular film.
Enthusiast and cameraman Jean Dulez has captured in wonderful high-definition the very best the South African sub-continent has to offer, from ‘Cape Gauge’ main line trips with SAR ‘15Fs’, ‘19Ds’ and ‘25NCs’, to Sandstone Estates narrow gauge and some of the last real working steam anywhere in the world.
Filmed over the last few years, this is bang up to date and the picture is crisp and sharp. Jonathan Kydd’s informative and entertaining commentary does not overwhelm the action, but if you prefer to hear your steam ‘raw’, there is a ‘commentary off’ option [on the DVD & Blu-ray].
At 112 minutes in length, there is quite a lot to digest in just one sitting, but £20 is pretty reasonable value for something you’ll undoubtedly want to re-watch again and again.
And if you don’t like it, Video 125 offers a no-quibble money back guarantee. You can’t say fairer than that.
| Narrated by |
Jonathan Kydd |
| Written by |
Jean Dulez |
| Produced by |
Peter Middleton |
| Filmed in |
2013-2017 |
| Duration |
112 mins |
| Widescreen |
Yes |
| Download size |
4.7GB |
| Format |
MP4 video |
▶ Click to watch preview
