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Date: 1943 Type: College Style: Classical Revival Status: Extant   Click to view map Coordinates: 26°02'13.03" S 28°15'00.87" E Alt: 1629m

See more photographs Provincial Heritage Site Gazette No: 19719 The Administration of the South African Railways and Harbours decided to establish a central training institute for the Railways staff. The foundation stone of the elegant grey sandstone buildings near Kaalfontein station, to be known as the Esselen Park Railway College, was laid on 10 December 1943 by FC Sturrock, then Minister of Railways and Harbours. The College was named after a former Railway Commissioner, Louis Esselen. Until its completion, staff training was undertaken at the old air-school at Kroonstad, where the first courses were begun on 1 August 1945. The first group of trainees entered on a course at Esselen Park on 14 August 1947. The gradual change-over continued until 22 April 1955, when the temporary training centre at Kroonstad was closed. The college could then accommodate about 850 trainees at a time (SESA 9 1973:224). When declared a National Monument (now Provincial Heritage Resource) this encompassed: The historical buildings of the Esselen Park Training Centre complex, consisting of the Main Administration Building, the Railwayman's Inn, the "Murasie" between the above-mentioned buildings, the Shop, the Coach and Rail Restaurant, the Main Restaurant and Kitchen, the Sportsman's Bar, the Sports School of Excellence, the Port Captain's Lodge and the Old Park Station building. (SAHRIS: accessed 2015 09 17) References: Potgieter, DJ (Editor-in-chief). 1973. Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 9 Pop-Sla. Cape Town: Nasou. pg 224