The Bergrivier Station – a stone’s throw from where the “Great Berg” meanders on its way past the historic Kersefontein – and further westward towards Laaiplek.
A railway station that has been a hive of activity decades ago… a logistical hub that overshadowed the river and the sea as primary transport link to other economic centres.
This station has for many years seen busy times, heavy traffic, many people, large quantities of grain, foodstuffs, fish products, farming produce,…locomotives shunting day and night…
And employed many… also traveling railway workers… among them a tall painter…living in a little “sink-hokkie”… moving from town to town… responsible for painting railway buildings, staff houses, …. to return to his wife and kids living at 75 Stockley Road in the Cape Flats one weekend a month…
And occasionally – during school holidays in the 1940’s/50’s, he brought one of his children along – so they could carelessly jump on and off the big steamers for days on end as they shunted towards Hopefield… while he tended to painting the railway buildings.
These days …. some old buildings, the birds and the wind remain. With flowers every year during spring. And sometimes perhaps the sound of the rusted rails trying to tell the story of a bygone era.
And maybe once in a blue moon: children and grandchildren might stop for a brief moment… in the summer heat… to reflect… spend a quiet minute… wonder what it must have been like… and to remember those who have gone before us.
