Night Train Documentary: The Dark Side of the Iron Road

I am proud to share my latest documentary, "Night Train," which I had the privilege of editing. This 55-minute feature delves into the untold stories of the "iron road" built by President Paul Kruger in 1894, connecting Johannesburg to Lorenzo Marques. The railway became the lifeline for 5 million Mozambican migrant workers from 1901 to the 1960s, who toiled in the coal and gold mines of the Witwatersrand, laying the foundation for South Africa's prosperous industrial economy.
Integral to the documentary's powerful soundtrack is "Stimela," a composition by the late great South African musician Hugh Masekela. His evocative music captures the enduring memory and trauma of the steam train journeys that etched themselves into the souls of black men and women across Southern Africa.
Musician and mining engineer David Marks delves into the depths of the underground world experienced by mineworkers. His compositions "Number not a Name," "Master Jack," and "Mountains of Men" add dynamic dimensions to the narrative and soundtrack.
The documentary features reflections from retired Mozambican migrant workers Fernando Nyabola and Alfred Wachane, who share their experiences riding the "night train" and working in the gold mines of the Witwatersrand.
The film also touches on the remarkable journey of a young Winston Churchill, who was captured and interned during the Second Boer War and traveled via the "iron road."
Inspired by the academic research of Professor Charles van Onselen, as published in his work The Night Trains, this documentary tells the profound story of the "night trains" that ran from Booysens Station in Johannesburg to Ressano Garcia in Mozambique. Witness the incredible history and the human spirit that endured and persevered through the hardships of these journeys.
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[@Lisa1111]

Thank you