Found in 1923 to take passengers from Johannesburg to the ships departing from Cape Town to England. The Blue Train was introduced luxury features such as a dining saloon in 1933 and air-conditioned carriages in 1939 and has become one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world.
The Blue Train boasts butler service, two lounge cars (smoking and non-smoking), an observation car, and carriages with gold-tinted picture windows, in soundproofed, fully carpeted compartments, each featuring its own en-suite (many of which are equipped with a full-sized bathtub).
After a break in service in World War II the service returned in 1946. In 1997 it was refurbished and relaunched. The service of the Blue Train is promoted as a "magnificent moving five-star hotel" by its operators, who note that kings and presidents have traveled on it.
Here is a rare collection of amazing photos from
Hilton Teper that shows the comfortable interior of these trains in South Africa from between the 1920s and 1950s.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigT5zTtdiX54r7qTwwvbY8i9uuijDYhmwnmsVGzoYehleVcRMEL2bLALVuxT-znShyphenhyphenfmqJwRMvhTFY3Ck9aahrlyYYHgcCBYppWu1IRlItEHW8dMq-AM0_QCWjp0f7hgifDCnZaGH9hEc/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%25281%2529.jpg) |
Two man reading while other sleeping, 1924 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnnhSnQ8R3gCtwg8l6LjuviXBU_qPabypsqnM7viHXgi_ca9IBnmm5H-i-ILH6fqtWzcT_TXJcfU_b5XEQAC9Eq6BYU0Qf5tZ06Vtv0CdKYolRf7Gl1JIlS9h7hsGyCN9mlO-IDExO3CU/s1600-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%25282%2529.jpg) |
Night scene in a First Class compartment of Blue Train, ca. 1930s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmyNiYMQvEYE_XEKLLR8Ct5HTjQaISQcoH9pvnjMXZpfT54NH-l0miqlhhdhCgQbfureaFnzug2mizxTZLuU3WiNiZY0AEJa0R9bpoN3E_PN9CSP8IKgu2KQoCDfFRjmMvYBFFh8yt4s/s1600-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%25283%2529.jpg) |
Night scene in a First Class compartment of Blue Train, ca. 1930s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOxd2YNxi5g9JVi-4L-2IbPvnXxCw6rIakGqkV8WDKqLoB2VpVdx84SxBfEmDmkLFyHC3HZQosg1D1whrpiOsqF0ATyuErN94vhd0FAM5ZTq6JX7ehunV4Ddx1iTj2HEr0wdd2w9BpIDE/s1600-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%25284%2529.jpg) |
Night scene in a First Class compartment of Blue Train, ca. 1930s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh038R4qzvWT9LWyeCdJ37lXHLRzCCRl5GR29CGPxuz0pJVDLpa1yGxot1X7TsAmYyFx_MeYlhyphenhyphenb7yODE7oaI2w47fhnVtr_R0D-2_gUg7hoRwlRSggIdhX5L3zj1MsZ9gEqkBmnRUPiyE/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%25285%2529.jpg) |
Tea in a First Class Couple, ca. 1930s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpnz_jt5bkpP_FxsWOTyyu9eD0o14sbCW_fsXIEvZlQDCfGsTGzei3n4hlcin52gUogifLj7bzX5lkwzcZwmIL4H-a5MoVopns6ee6TSrFEFZmT8qmF36hhjGbGAqEc_CSKlA7tGRBt30/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%25286%2529.jpg) |
A woman reading in a Blue Train compartment at night |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qga069h5VFiLF471UFR8qLO1K8Xz030e_NNdAZGGuBD8-VubyaCN6B8IRUMhBZb-ue0K14RB0zkXUpWUj7L0MSZdMqRdUkG5yP4CTTDsqz6NmeekiYq4X15NNkpuTbuhyykfR8UmbZg/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%25287%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train bedding attendant, Catering Department |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGd6z9GDAYe51Q-v3wmk_vHXTIuQGy-3XqxLYTnLP3levdiDuJN1vhQwT8lleBkuztk2JE72Kkyzgi3T1uWuik7PxBHQHYbeygZwoCAZkhVerE_MyhsBp2AOrBKW1jtXhlaXVMUuGUUb0/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%25288%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train bedding man at work |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkdOQEe1ZUEKXCbX3EA0XDRdjbrQJISEmEsNSMGkpdUlSrMG8WHTlRoBJs8qG7b7-6aJMgApohOpSd2d5BtYV-59EfePwAy4o2SRxnYnV6gfQ1B3eItu-Ok4-7MXRRy0SpxwtRd2AS1Q/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%25289%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train compartment scene, ca. 1940s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pFJutCQOUPmJnbua1JMF3NWrhnbiXXqBl9Ai_-Pmlq7KNoAr35IdbKQ25uOvku7gk1dCjHoqHeTa6nZou3wYcdPGuweGBXojIBg53YkJKoqxPDCi7Hutoa4ptEpGgOg1m178gNxDe84/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252810%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train couple in the 1940s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-8EULxQ8dXaW8aTagfQv9bJ0zf7rYdLqyV5H7GapVCzYTRTQNXgEJLi4JPlM1ph4KiehsYZ1uuReOBz_LYF13FEm9TN6aFw8u1D9fmTscx14nYFvFP05azXewMhOiJXdZwHsAQ8oGFM/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252811%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train deluxe mattress |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nBh0jBstKwY4ywbcyoZCmzy3i0bvR1PxBKCGrxUnKk5kT6vD34y9Br1q1r6LhUcGQamY5s9_w3yJpopEnIeduWz5EyrEbupWkNNUp8suDgm-XPJ79egbWlIVdFT5OSri1652BA_pUzA/s1600-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252812%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train shower room |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzxxzkxxsFKOBvoZYra_uvlQBDMoUxYmc160D6vVfGjIA2qcmuoTHCk-eoLRK9LMRREQ1mT1gbI83DtqllAZigtwefsrtHxNML4ZdJYGGOUpNTEZOyjLrtAZB2v3_svc6WekqXnbJPI0/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252813%2529.jpg) |
Interior of a First Class compartment |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hOwBrPgxHJPzFQABY1JLiNApNoB1LS6AmLj8ZIys3HxTiPE5mm-jdGQjxCX5xAjYznsyoH4f6R4MmdcYF-QbtXWS2kIRtVkH5pRSz46gRvrQmrkAvsvt4sI_8GLz4X1jdMzzaLiC5iU/s1600-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252814%2529.jpg) |
Interior of couple showing sleeping accommodation |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYa-xb35bEXvgO5HHm9I1CEU-o7cLn7ghMGoUJxNCo5fbsuEaOW1-NBF9_aNEnltvRrFC8_5uy5P8Eu7JCBj7ZWPGLBCDTKf6aGRqf7zKxEDp5TqO_lGhJi5d_DP4NxxL3xJs5N0gbPDw/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252815%2529.jpg) |
Tea in a Blue Train compartment |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YGuKC9Sw13Igqio4l-FDoQDhTJ_ARsik3AkB9yKhyphenhyphenFdRDuTjE3uvm902qQ8tOE650rDa1jYtCu1lcrwNkjMOuZIpy4vGw43WwL59RXBi2gu-I1ZQ5vRiqx4xYrI-2aPnWxXjqOiQ5XE/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252816%2529.jpg) |
Two girls reading magazines in a First Class compartment, ca. 1940s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmr5H1y7vEqaKcyL7oXN7t4mapHf6DsgL3xcyYAqEtyESK_8nJOauuiNljvSdIsd8BJ21IY-aL41kKnk9zLBgiW6FGGy3ZIVOU8w1AqAwkKF-SrmImVRq-kja_-C42dykDyDEOCU8-To0/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252817%2529.jpg) |
A family inside a Trans-Karoo compartment, ca. 1950s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY9FZFAyGlBPLBxM-wyWzY5IT1NZyEMewOTussopfL1mwthpFsi4sDUi_HsTdpr7s5JaSZa0Tfqpqu9Ko0CRPorRS51-o1sZmTIPD7c_YSz_ZyvKr4aamnmFW5GO5L5sQ4vTvnRCud2c/s1600-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252818%2529.jpg) |
A woman and her daughter in a Blue Train compartment, ca. 1950s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVrwJEJ7efaac0-_vcr1Wz3d2XN5b8PEKHVjfTP5aqEHe21wVOi3nUx5zC11tULcYQ63XJKE8S_hC-YsDDVM84VsNC8nfNMs5cTbIm3E5auBOmMHOKcamydO-klaKCvs9yYdzUYxSVeU/s1600-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252819%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train compartment scene, 1950 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitT9YM83CdUudXz7_G2wetPli5LxM8vRZZi22v8KqSlIdwBInXVnzOTeofFPhhEqNhQ2POm8b37uRrQLfXigRwbZHDqtVw1_pFmuhdrEFbKTMNZPAhwXxPd4iOInvmY60jFtxkcZG-_5k/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252820%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train compartment scene, ca. 1950s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3p26TzL_-kyvhESFLWyA4D0v_eH7VI4z6FdfPGg2sPhbL0rq4vjEZvZZtX2O0uNnu_TAVPx9mwq5W1vmmW38ef1t8URDywJoLeqcNZdjVel0Q913WbY07dB1Jmn9RD_TZoI1kLHeJ8I/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252821%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train compartment scene, ca. 1950s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZKC22Qrh9wwaMYawY_p2B4c5R2jnWVcYGdmNESfzuBTvGeDmR7cqU60FfKU000HejcRdIO7b69TeiZmPcKhzl5Jm6YhkpvFNSB_XP8YhEaUygkXKfAxS-6xT1CUnzvXPwbTfHx_rIdk/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252822%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train couple, ca. 1950s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_FsPwtdiTzBrrIf5NfZeOccdqyX2a-SE_x97bYpeeYrJUFXcviMRff6oCz9qToPUL6Xz7St1qy2WzhvJQl3h8LUbV5Ydf6AgU5RvoEL3w0NXwWu5UztUgKN10KuuRiq5O7Y_G5tmJmA/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252823%2529.jpg) |
Blue Train suite |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GkI7mw4dvoMqrZaMpRwJHMdMpMnYx6JlGA3VVQUcOZRu1HiW4uD9IqyVbrpEI8XiWC5PfgXF6vCrhAXZakhy9dw7YYbDxIqhI_iNpGC9iCY1xZuP8IihkdT_fOs0cptsAxYsbSCkC6w/s640-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252824%2529.jpg) |
Interior of a Blue Train compartment, ca. 1950s |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLUKuKXAi5QeW6BzXvvAqKAhXa9MmFVWUnzmzi9tPDUGgnkjqH4D6oXH7RvJAeAzGfXmzbeVDcrszWXBRWO0iU1QVp1uM8nOhhmOO0u9XsAlFCOeASMDbelv6KObrkF1oHO8eCbkebg4/s1600-rw/The+Blue+Train+in+South+Africa+from+between+the+1920s+and+%252750s+%252825%2529.jpg) |
Interior of a First Class Couple, ca. 1950s |
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