In order to trace the history of the Union Limited and Union Express we would like to quote from the General Manager's Report for 1924:

" One of the principal features of the year's operations was the general acceleration of long distance passenger train services. The most important innovation was the introduction from 26 November 1923, of a bi-weekly express service in both directions between Pretoria via Johannesburg and Cape Town. The schedule time for the 926 miles run by this from Johannesburg to Cape Town is 29 hours and 21 minutes and in the reverse direction 30 hours. The Union Express (as the fast train leaving Cape Town is termed) on Mondays departs from Table Bay Docks at 10 am and conveys first class passengers only and mails arriving by the incoming mail steamers from Europe. Passengers from Cape Town entrain at Monument station. The Union Limited, the name applied to the fast train leaving Pretoria at 6.30 am and Johannesburg at 8.45 am on Thursdays, likewise conveys first class passengers only and mail matter for shipment by the mail steamer due to sail from Table Bay Docks at 4 pm on Fridays. Passengers booked to Cape Town detrain at Monument station."

The Union Limited also attached a coach at Kimberley from Durban. The Union Express detached the coach at Kimberley on her northbound run. This arrangement provided an express first class service between Durban and Cape Town. This reduced the travelling time between Durban and Cape Town from 65 hours 19 minutes to 48 hours 4 minutes.

The weight of the trains in 1923 was 320 tons. The modern day Union Limited weighs an average of 490 tons with 12 coaches.

At its inception the Union Limited train was made up of C-16 open balcony saloons and up until 1925 no observation cars were used. Observation cars were introduced in 1925 and they were marshalled at the rear of the train - the van was placed next to the locomotive. The C-16 open balcony saloons did not serve the Union Limited for long - only for a period of five years.

The year 1928 witnessed the introduction of the famous luxury articulated saloons. These vehicles carried on six axles (three bogies) and supplied by the Midland Carriage and wagon Company were the last word in travel luxury. The compartments and coupes provided among other amenities, a decanter of water and glasses, washbasins with hot and cold water and an electric bell whereby the coach attendant could be summoned for dining car or valet service. Facilities for the valet service were provided in the attendant's coupe which was incorporated in each saloon. For dining car service the attendant communicated with the kitchen by telephone which was also provided in his coupe. The attendant no longer applies in our modern day as labour costs have soared.

The coupes in these articulated saloons were much roomier than those in the conventional open balcony coaches. There was more floor space, a larger folding table and an extra seat facing the main bench seat of the coupe. The windows of these coaches were noteworthy in that they were of a frameless pattern with handgrips attached to the glass itself. Unfortunately spares are no longer available so the modern day Union Limited has reverted to wooden framed windows. The articulated saloons served the Union Limited for eleven years and were replaced in 1933 by airconditioned coaches.

The observation cars referred to earlier also provided sleeping accommodation for passengers, as only a portion of the vehicle was constructed as a lounge.

1933 saw a noteworthy improvement in the make up of the train with the introduction of a new dining car - Protea - which caused quite a stir. She was of vastly improved and modernised design and was furnished in very distinctive colours - azuure blue and cream with a silver roof.

Protea and her attendant kitchen car were then the only two vehicles painted blue and cream. At this stage the articulated saloons, observation car and vans were not painted - they had a varnished teak finish. However Protea's colour scheme was so well received and successful that a decision was taken to adopt her colours for the Union Limited and Union Express. During the transition period the trains looked a little odd with some vehicles painted and others not but in due course the two expresses looked resplendent as complete sets in the blue and cream livery. This was in 1936.

During 1936 two observation cars were rebuilt as lounge cars. These new lounge cars were marshalled next to the dining saloon. This allowed the compo van to be placed at the rear while the mail van remained behind the locomotive.

Also in 1936 additional "deluxe" dining cars (type A 28) were placed in traffic. a few of these cars were made available for use on the two expresses. The new cars were based on the Protea's design. Kei, Umvoti, Umkomaas and Nyanza were some of the new diners used on the train. Umkomaas is at present being restored.

As far as rolling stock development is concerned the next significant change on the expresses took place in 1939 with the advent of airconditioned vehicles.

In 1942 the expresses were discontinued for the duration of the War. This was the end of the trains named Union Limited and Union Express. In 1946 when the trains reappeared, as airconditioned stock, on the Johannesburg to Cape Town service the name Blue Train was used for the first time.

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