TS0016

Did You Know?

The railway line running through the middle of the main street in Fauresmith is a distinctive feature of this small Free State town. The line was part of the branch railway from Bloemfontein to Fauresmith, which was completed in 1906. The decision to route the track directly along the town's main street was unusual and reflects the practical engineering choices of the era, where land was cheap and the town's layout was adapted to the railway rather than the other way around. The train station itself, built in the same period, served as a vital link for the agricultural community, transporting wool, grain, and livestock from the surrounding district to larger markets. Fauresmith, founded in 1848, is one of the oldest towns in the Free State and was named after two prominent figures: the Reverend Phillip Faure and the British Governor Sir Harry Smith. The town's historical character is preserved in its many sandstone buildings, and the railway running through the main street has become a notable tourist attraction. The line was later closed to regular passenger traffic, but the track and station remain as a heritage reminder of the early 20th-century railway expansion in the region. The site is often cited as one of the few places in the world where a railway line runs directly down the middle of a public road, making it a unique piece of South African transport heritage.

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