Arriving from UK in 1939, the first six C-31-B sleeper cars were numbered in the uneven range of numbers from 8280 to 8290. They were steel bodied, fully air conditioned and luxuriously appointed.
The 1939 series slept 11 passengers in 3 compartments and 4 coupes, two passengers per compartment and one per coupe except for compartment F which slept 3. In addition, there was one coupe which slept 2 carriage attendants. The B carriage included a shower and a coal fired boiler to provide hot water for the shower and the compartment basins in each A/B set
In 1946 two further C-31-A/B sets were ordered along with other carriages for use on the 1947 Royal Tour. Two of the new C-31-Bs and one C-31-A were used on the tour, reverting to Blue Train service after the tour. These differed from the 1939 order in a few ways, just two being that the air intakes for the air conditioning system were deleted from the vestibule doors and moved to the sides above the windows, and that compartment slept 4 passengers and each coupe 2, so they could accommodate 11 more passengers
There are four versions of this model which can be roughly broken down as follows:
- 1939 Early - As built
- 1939 Late - Drakensberg service, inter carriage coms equipment and backlit number boards deleted, Day bogies replaced by Commonwealth 2286 bogies. Concertina vestibule connectors replaced with Gummiwurst
- 1947 Early - As built
- 1947 Late - Drakensberg service, inter carriage coms equipment and backlit number boards deleted, Day bogies replaced by Commonwealth 2286 bogies. Concertina vestibule connectors replaced with Gummiwurst
The model is supplied with flush glazing as well as separately applied seat backs, bunks and compartment doors for the modeller to customise each vehicle. The model also features the unique SARMODEL sprung vestibule walkways
Supplied unpainted, but with a detailed interior with separately applied seats. Bogies, wheels, couplers and screws are included. The model also features accurate underframe equipment and accurate roof vent spacing and arrangement.
