Following on from his popular series examining industrial steam in regions of the UK, Gordon Edgar looks at a variety of interesting workings around the world, during the final days of steam in industry. As the range of industrial steam worldwide is extensive it would have been impossible for him to document all the types still working, so his aim here is to cover the key examples available. Numerous globe-trotting trips in the latter part of the twentieth and early twenty-first century by Gordon, and other accomplished photographers, has enabled him to produce a remarkable record of steam at work in locations as varied as Western and Eastern Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia.
The first of two volumes, The World's Last Steam Locomotives in Industry: The 20th Century focuses mainly on the places where industrial steam had disappeared prior to, or was due to finish soon after, the turn of the century. With evocative photographs that capture not only the final days of these industrial workhorses, but also the atmosphere of the environments in which they worked, including coal mines, quarries, steelworks, and sugar plantations, this is a fitting tribute to a major aspect of international industrial history.
Countries covered are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.
Detailed captions accompany the 174 colour and 10 black & white photographs. 128 pages.