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Poupan siding is a railway siding located near Strydenburg in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The siding was established in 1884 as part of the expansion of the Cape Government Railways (CGR) network into the interior, specifically along the line connecting De Aar to Kimberley and further north. The name 'Poupan' likely derives from Afrikaans, meaning 'pole pan' or referring to a local pan (a shallow depression) marked by poles, a common naming convention for railway stops in the arid Karoo region. The siding served as a minor stop for loading livestock, wool, and agricultural produce from the surrounding sheep-farming area, typical of many small stations on this line. The railway line through Strydenburg was crucial for opening up the Northern Cape's economy in the late 19th century, linking remote farming communities to major markets.
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