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Steam train on Bloemfontein to Pretoria route, South Africa
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Steam train on Bloemfontein to Pretoria route, South Africa
Steam train on the Bloemfontein to Pretoria route, South Africa, showing a Boer ambush. Date: circa 1900
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Media ID 19694120
© Mary Evans / Pharcide
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures a pivotal moment in the history of South Africa's railway system, as a steam train on the Bloemfontein to Pretoria route comes under attack during the Boer War in circa 1900. The locomotive, with its powerful engine and billowing plume of smoke, is the epitome of industrial might, yet it is dwarfed by the raw power and determination of the Boer soldiers hidden in the brush. Armed with rifles, they prepare to ambush the train, their faces etched with focus and resolve. The railway line connecting Bloemfontein and Pretoria was a vital artery for transportation and communication during this tumultuous period. The Boers, seeking to disrupt British supply lines and disrupt the British advance, launched numerous attacks on trains and railway stations. This photograph offers a rare glimpse into the dangerous reality of rail travel during this time. The steam train, with its express locomotive at the front, was a symbol of progress and modernity in the late 19th century. Yet, as this image shows, it was also a target for the conflict raging around it. The men in uniform, both British and Boer, are a reminder of the human cost of war, as they engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse on the railways of South Africa. This photograph is a testament to the enduring allure of the steam train, as well as a poignant reminder of the turbulent history of South Africa's railway system during the Boer War.
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