The Station That Never Had a Train in Hermanus

One of Hermanus’s most unusual pieces of history is its old station building. Fascinatingly enough, it’s a station that never saw a single train arrive or depart. 

In the early 1900s, local businesses hoped the branch line from Bot River would be extended to Hermanus, so a station was built in anticipation. But when Sir William Hoy, then General Manager of the South African Railways, decided that steam trains would change the character of the seaside village, he refused to extend the line.

Instead of a railroad, a road transport service between Bot River and Hermanus was introduced in 1912 for passengers and goods. 

Today, the old station building still stands, a reminder of that unique decision, and houses the Hermanus Tourism office.

Photo Credit: Origins 22 - Genealogy & History

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