Colonial Railways in Africa

All of Africa was colonised by European powers except Egypt which was briefly a British protectorate between 1914 and 1922.

This book, a reprint of a book published in Germany in 1916, although the text had been closed off in 1914, provides comprehensive information about the railways in each African country at that time in its 450 pages.

The map of Africa has changed in the meantime and some names and borders are now history. In regard to German colonies in Africa, all were taken off Germany in 1919 and given to other colonial masters to exploit. Although in those days books aimed to inform through text rather than pictures, there are plenty of photos and diagrams of track installations, stations, locomotives and trains, as well as technical discussions. Economic analysis features a lot too, for those interested in general African history.