Old Park Station in Johannesburg- an impressive piece of engineering

When in Johannesburg (South Africa) it's a great idea to take the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus around the city. We spent one day doing just that. In the district of Newtown we allready had some knowledge about the Old Park Railwaystation. We could also see it from our hotel in. We went to the railwaystation which is situated close to the new railwaystation. This building is a piece of impressive engineering, as far as we could see from a distance. But we wanted to go inside an look at it. It was not possible. There is a parking lot in front, and it was closed to us. So unfortunatly I only have a few photoes when standing in front of it and from the sightseeing bus when we continued.

This old station dates from 1896, making it the oldest building / construction in Johannesburg. It is one of two such stations in the region still standing. It was designed and built in the Netherland. This meant it had to be transported by ship, albeit in parts, from Rotterdam to Cape Town. Then finally to the place where it was placed for the first time. This place is about 1 km. from the current location and where the new Park Station is located. So in 1952 it had to be moved away. This because the new Park Station complex was planned to be built on the same spot. This old building was moved as far as some 40 kilometers. But in 1993 it had to embark on what is currently its last journey. Back to one kilometer from today's new Park Station and to the current location. A trainstation that has travel quite some long distances.

When on the sightseeing bus again, we cross the bridge with the trains below us. I think there is something grand about the old railway station and hope they will keep it and hopefully open it up. I should have liked to stand inside on the platform, imagening waiting for a train. Just like the inhabitants of Johannesburg might have done once.