When the golden age of steam was fading in New Zealand, Mike Adams knew it was time for a new adventure. With diesel engines taking over and the government shifting its focus to road transport, he and fellow train drivers set their sights across the Tasman. Their destination? The rugged iron ore railways of Western Australia's remote Pilbara region.
Mike's journey didn't stop there. After a decade on the rails, he returned to Melbourne to drive the charming Puffing Billy, a beloved tourist railway that kept the spirit of steam alive. Later, he transitioned to a new challenge in Perth, mastering the operation of massive industrial steam boilers. But steam never left his heart-he lovingly rebuilt his cherished steamboat, Jessie Edward, and had the rare honour of driving Pendennis Castle, a legendary British locomotive brought to Australia by Hamersley Iron.
And if that wasn't enough, Mike even took the helm of a true cinematic icon-the original African Queen from the classic movie-steaming down Melbourne's Yarra River.
Packed with nostalgia, adventure, and a deep love for steam, Beyond the Tasman is the captivating story of a man who followed the call of the rails, no matter where they led.
This is Mike's second book, following Over Jenkins Hill and Beyond, which tells the story of his early railway career-from starting as a 17-year-old fireman to becoming a steam train driver in New Zealand's South Island.
