Nemeth/Star Productions - Picture Gallery

Today we take a detailed tour of the Matjiesfontein railroad station. From the tracks, an abandoned station building to the museum. This is a journey with a view from above, during the day, at sunset and into the night, where we transition to the first episode of SPACE-FRIDAY: Photography from the Karoo Desert. Matjiesfontein station was opened on February 1, 1878, when the railroad line was extended north from Cape Town. Today it is still well preserved and houses a small museum. We also see one of the outbuildings which gives the station the charm of a lost place. The station thus shows its historically significant history and also awakens a thirst for adventure. We will see more of the old trains in a future episode. The station originally served as a water station for steam locomotives on their way through the Karoo. In 1883, the Scotsman James Douglas Logan acquired the station and turned it into a private health resort. The dry, warm air of the region was ideal for lung sufferers, making Matjiesfontein a sought-after destination for wealthy and prominent personalities. Today, the Blue Train and the Rovos Rail stop here twice a week, two trains that take luxury tourists through South Africa. On their stopover, however, the luxury tourists only see the tourist part of the city. In a later episode, we will also take a look at the part of the city that is inhabited by its residents. Matjiesfontein used to be accessible via a small airstrip. This is located southwest of the village, on the edge of the historic settlement. The airstrip was originally used during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), when Matjiesfontein was an important British military base. At the time, the area served as a remount camp for over 10,000 soldiers and 20,000 horses. The airstrip was close to this camp and was probably used for military purposes. In the 2000s, the airstrip was repaired and reopened for private air traffic. Today, the airstrip can only be seen on OpenStreetMap and parts of it are visible on a walk. Otherwise, Matjiesfontein can be reached by car and by long-distance bus via Laingsburg. Today, Matjiesfontein is mainly visited by international tourists and locals who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city. The village is particularly popular with locals at weekends. Matjiesfontein also serves as a stopover on the long road trip between Cape Town and Johannesburg for all travelers. In 1975, the entire town, including the railroad station, was declared a national monument in order to preserve its Victorian charm. Matjiesfontein station is an important architectural and historical monument that reflects the rich history of the South African railroads and the Karoo region. In the museum you can see historical timetables, photos of trains, the points switching system and ticket offices. The station shines in a new light when the sun goes down. The setting sun makes the station sign and the buildings shimmer in a golden light. The starry sky shimmers above the station in the pitch-black night. A first look at the starry sky over Matjiesfontein. This is the foretaste of a breathtaking episode of SPACE-FRIDAY: Photography from the Karoo Desert, with a clarity of stars that is second to none. To be continued in... SPACE-FRIDAY: Photography - Season 2025 - Episode 3