Lesotho_Maseru_1710_arr_from_Mars_19D_2769__RSH_7282_1945__9_3_81.jpg (151150 bytes)

SA_-_Maseru Steam in Southern Africa 1973 - 1999. The independent Kingdom of Lesotho, formerly the British Protectorate of Basutoland, is totally surrounded by the Republic of South Africa, with Lesotho’s capital city Maseru, having a 16 mile (26km) branch line connection to Marseilles, a junction on the South African Railways’ main line from Bloemfontein to Bethlehem. In 1981, services over the branch were worked by Class 19D 4-8-2 which operated several daily return mixed trains between Marseilles and Maseru. The light had almost gone on 9th March 1981, pushing the writer’s camera and film to the limit, hence this less than perfect picture of 19D 2769 (Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn 7282.1945), arriving at Maseru with the 1725 mixed from Marseilles. Today the through route to Bethlehem is closed, except for the Bloemfontein to Marseilles section, over which diesel-hauled, freight-only trains still run, going through to Lesotho’s capital. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com