Steam on the Veld: Steam in South Africa During the 60’s (1972 First Edition) by A.E. Durrant, A.A. Jorgensen, C.P. Lewis

Steam on the Veld: Steam in South Africa During the 60’s by A.E. Durrant, A.A. Jorgensen and C.P. Lewis was published by Ian Allan Ltd, Shepperton, Surrey, and printed in the United Kingdom by Balding + Mansell.

This is the first edition of Steam on the Veld, stated “First published 1972” (SBN 7110 0240 1).

It is a large-format photographic survey of South African Railways steam in its last great decade, with a colour frontispiece and numerous black and white photographs and captions.

The contents run from an introduction and a section on locomotives with dimension tables, through regional chapters on the Cape Province, Orange Free State, Natal and Transvaal.

Later chapters cover locomotive depots, the Blue Train special, private railways, South Africa’s neighbours, a visitors’ guide and a bibliography, about 193 pages in all.

The Natal chapter of Steam on the Veld will be of particular interest locally, with Garratts on the Pietermaritzburg–Franklin line and doubleheaded GCAs on the Underberg branch.

This copy retains the publisher’s printed errata slip, pasted to the contents page, correcting captions on several pages.

Steam on the Veld is a standard reference for South African railway enthusiasts, modellers and collectors of steam photography, and this is a good copy of the first edition at a modest price.

Condition – Very Good

This copy of Steam on the Veld is in very good condition: black cloth boards clean and square, the spine lettered in silver. Internally clean, with only light toning to the pages and no notable marks or inscriptions. Errata slip pasted to the contents page as issued.

The dust jacket is in poor condition, with substantial chips and loss at the head and foot of the spine and at the corners, a large chip at the head of the front panel, rubbing and general wear.

The original R12.10 price sticker is on the rear panel. The jacket still protects Steam on the Veld and shows the striking front cover photograph.