Blue Train (1939 to 1972) and Drakensberg (1972 - 1985)

The first deliveries of the steel bodied air conditioned stock that would make up the new Union Limited and Union Express train sets occurred in 1939 and concluded in 1940. This comprised of six sleeper carriages, classed as C-31-A, six sleeper carriages classed as C-31-B, two dining and kitchen/staff cars classed as A-33 and AA-34 respectively, two lounge/bar cars classed as B-3 and a single segregation van classed GC-25-C. As only one segregation van was ordered, a wooden bodied GC-10-C composite van was used on one of the sets. The sets ran until 1942, at which point service was withdrawn for the duration of World War 2.

In 1946 the service was resumed, but the Union Limited/Union Express names dropped away, and the luxury service was known simply as the Blue Train.

When orders were placed for the vehicles to make up the train for the 1947 Royal Tour of Southern Africa, extra vehicles were ordered, including 2 sets of C-31-A/B carriages, which differed from the original 1939 designs in several details (Which we have modelled). Two of the new C-31-Bs and one C-31-A were used on the Royal Train, as well as an A-33/AA-34 set, A B-3 and the GC-25-C. Some modifications were made to the 1939 stock, and several of these modifications remained after the vehicles were converted back for service on the Blue Train after the tour (Which we have modelled).

Following the introduction of the 1972 Blue Train vehicles, the 1939/1946 vehicles became the Drakensberg Express after a few modifications (Which we have modelled).