PMT SAR Train parade   

This page is dedicated to the modelling efforts of the members of PMT.  We have some very skilful modellers in our club, and it can be seen from the quality and variety in scratchbuilt and kitbashed models.  On the scenery side, we are also not lacking, with some very beautifully sceniced modules to display.

In December 2002, PMT had a SAR parade.  This was organised to give PMT club members an opportunity to show off their South African Railways models.  This event was a big success, with a great variety of models from many differrent modellers being entered.  Please note that this was not a competition, but rather a show case event.  Also, some models are relatively common, many SAR modellers might have any number of these.  We simply mention the owner of the model photographed.

Here is a look at the models that was on display.  The location for the photos was chosen for the amount of available natural light, and the hill in the background.  Please look here for some more module photos used in the PMT layouts.  A article also appeared in the PMT signal, our quarterly club magazine.  The info on this page was taken from that atrticle.  Thanks to Alwyn Carstens and Les Pivnik for the technical details.

Photo	Owner (or Builder if different)	Description
		These are only here to give an answer to the question of how the Frateschi diesels compare with the rest of the SAR stuff available. In my opinion, it does not look too bad. The class 6E is a repainted Life-Like on a modified Athearn chassis and mechanism.  The class 36 diesel is actually to a slightly different scale (i think somewhere in the region of 1:76 rather that 1:87(HO)
	Alwyn Carstens	A model of the Emil Kassler 14 tonner loco of the NZASM. Scratchbuilt on a Rivarossi chassis and mechanism.  The real life loco served from 1890 and was withdrawn from service in 1903. In 1936 it was declared a national monument. The coaches are from the Pennings models, old South African coaches.
	Alwyn Carstens	Class 8Z, the last of the CGR (Cape Government Railway) locos, purchased in 1904 and withdrawn from service around 1935. The model was built by modifying a Frateschi.
	Alwyn Carstens	GMA/M Garrat. This loco served the SAR into the 1980's! This 4-8-2+2-8-4 is one of the most popwerful locos that ran on SA rails.  The model is a DJH brass and white metal kit assembled by Alwyn.  It is equipped with directional lighting, a smoke unit, and a switch to change the direction the loco will run, so that you do not have to lift it off the track to change its running direction!
	Alwyn Carstens	Class 16E. Mainly used as a Passenger service loco, this is considered the SARs fastest steam loco.  This is also one of the most economical locos used. The loco was designed in 1934 by Watson, and 6 were built.  Alwyn modified a Märklin loco, bought at a swop meet as scrap! The second water tank is modified from a normal tender. The Lima passenger stock belongs to Matthew van Rensburg, and has their roofs converted to the older style.
	Ivan de la Rey	Class 19D and Rovos Rail. The Rovos 19Ds are called Bianca (2702) and Brenda (2701) and Shaun(3360). Ivan dreams of the day he can acquire a model of one of the classes actually used by Rovos.  This train is painted with the actual paint that the real train is painted with.
	Matthew van Rensburg	Class 23. Designed by W.A.J. Day, this loco was taken into service in 1938.  It was built at the onset of the 2nd world war, and Europe was saving their best quality steel.  Thus, this loco had a 5inch thick chassis, which still managed to get cracked!  The model was scratch built by Matthew and Theo Kruger.
	Alwyn Carstens	Class 25C.  By recycling, this condensing loco could save up to 60% on its water consumption.  The tender has 5 steam powered fans to cool the recycled water. The model is a convertion from a Mountain class.   The cab had to be rebuilt, and the deflector plates was added.  The smoke box also had to be extended. The tender had to be extended to represent the condensator. The extension was scratch built. Both loco and tender are equipped with lights and a smoke unit is fitted.
	Alwyn Carstens	Class 26. The 'Red Devil'. Class 25 no 3450, was modified in 1981 to a design by L.D Porta. It used 35% less coal than a normal 25, and 27% less water, yet it produced 50% more power at the drawbar! Alwyn modified a Mantua loco.  Front and rear lights were fitted, and a smoke unit.
	Bertus Olivier	Class 31 Diesel. GE model U12B, it had a 4 stroke V-8 turbo engine, and 4 GD761 motors in the bogies. The model was scratchbuilt, and runs on a Athearn SW-7 chassis.
	Most SAR fans in the club	Class 34 Diesel. One os Souoth Africa's most numerous locos, it is used for just about every type of work. Repainted Frateschi model.
		Iscor Class 34. Repainted Lima model.  These locos were purchased by ISCOR for the Saldanha - Sishen project.
	Bertus Olivier	Class 35 Diesel. This branch line loco was taken into use around 1972. It is equipped with dynamic brakes. Bashed from Lima Class 34, both the chassis and shell had to be shortened.
	Albert van Deventer	Class 38 Diesel Electric. This multi purpose loco, was taken into service in 1992, to be used on both passenger and goods service.  IT is equipped with air and vacuum brakes.  Built by Union Carraige and Wagon to a Siemens design. Scratch built from styrene on an Athearn chassis. Albert is known for his highly accurate models, with many hand crafted detail parts.
	Bertus Olivier	Class 1E. Taken into service in 1924, this loco uses 3Kv DC, and has 4 axle mounted 224kW motors.  The model was scratchbuilt from styrene, and runs on an Athearn SW-7 chassis.  Bertus has 2 of these models, since they mostly worked in pairs or sets of 3.  However, on light pickup goods, and local passenger services, they did run single.
	Alwyn Carstens	Class 3E with Vapour car. The loco is a product of the Metropolitan-Vickers company in England.  A total of 28 of these locos worked between 1948 and 1985. It is the only non-steam loco in South Africa to be equipped with both steam and electrical heating for passenger stock. The loco is a Penning model, built by Alwyn and fitted to a Lima chassis.  It has front and rear lighting.  The steam car behind the loco was scratch built by Alwyn.
	Alwyn Carstens	Class 4E. The only electric in SA to have pilot wheels on both bogies.  This was the most powerful loco on 3'6" rails in its time.  This class worked the rails from 1952 up to 1984. Scratchbuilt from styrene. The chassis is a Athearn, but the pilot wheels had to be scratch built and fitted.
	Charles van Rooyen	Class 5E. The loco runs on 3kV DC. This is a mainline loco used for both passenger and goods service. The models are by Lima. Apart from replacing the Lima chassis with Athearn chassis and mechanisms, these locos all sport digital decoders.
	Theo Kruger	Blue Train. South Africa's most luxurious train. These coaches was made by Life-Like. They are very, very rare.
	Albert van Deventer	Class 6E. A modification/upgrade of the class 5E locos, this class has body stabilisers, and a less rounded body that than the 5Es.  The model is by Life-Like. Albert repainted and and detailed his locos, and fitted them on Athearn chassis. Also note the side stabiliser bars that were added.
	Willie Smit	Classs 6E1 bullet nose. This was an experiment in the process of designing the class 12E. This loco with modified gear ratios, set the South African rail speed record at 245km/h.  Converted from Lima 5E, this is as far as I know, the only model of this loco.
	Albert van Deventer	Class 7E. Mainly designed for goods service, this loco runs on SA's 35kV AC lines. The 7E1 differs from the 7E/7E2/7E3, in that it only has a driving cab on one end.  Scratchbuilt from styrene, with machined brass details. Again Albert used an Athearn chassis.
	Matthew van Rensburg	Class 10E. Another of SA's modern heavy freight locos.  This class runs on 3kV DC.  This is one of the CMD models 10E brass locos on an Athearn chassis.
	Matthew van Rensburg	Metro Blits. The train was intended as a high speed commuter service between Pretoria and Johannesburg. The locos were geared for speeds up to 150km/h. Two locos (one on each end of the train) handled the train. Only 5 locos were built. This is a very rare model, built by Lima.
	Charles van Rooyen	Class 12E. After the demise of the Metroblitz, the 5 class 12E locos had their gearing changed, and now handles the prestigious Blue Train.  Charles modified 2 Life-Like 6Es to represent the class 12Es. Again remotored using an Athern chassis.
	Alwyn Carstens	Parcel car. These cars were used since 1928 to stop at every post office along the Capetown to Simonstown line, get post, and deliver mail from previously passed stations.  Mail is sorted while traveling to the next stop.  The car was built from wood, and operated on 3kV DC.  Alwyn scratchbuilt his model from styrene, running on a Lima modified chassis.  It is equipped with lights (LEDs).
	Charles van Rooyen	MLPS (main line passenger services).  This is the long distance passenger division of the SAR/Spoornet. Charles repainted Lima stock.
	Charles van Rooyen	Shosholoza Meyl, the new color scheme for the MLPS trains.  Charles repainted Lima stock.
	Bertus Olivier	Oscar Hulse dubble decker coach. The only dubble decker coach used in South Africa, and is considered to be the grandfather of many American and Europen dubble Decker designs.  Bertus scratchbuilt his model, using styrene.
	Alwyn Carstens	5M Metros.  These steel suburban trains were delivered in 1959 in this skyblue livery. This is a repainted Lima suburban set.
		5M Metros. The later deliveries sported this 'Gulf Red' with 'Quaker Grey'  color scheme.  This model is by Lima.
	Alwyn Carstens	5M Metro. The current suburban color scheme. On the older version, the doors were grey.  Complaints that passengers had trouble seeing the doors, forced METRO to paint the doors yellow.  Lima suburbans repainted in metro livery.
	Charles van Rooyen
	Alwyn Carstens	Private restaurant coach to run with Metro sets as it is used in the Simonstown area, and is operated by Biggsy's.  There are no connections to the rest of the train, you have to purchase a special ticket to gain access.  Alwyn modified this model from a Lima Metro coach.
	Bertus Olivier	Kitbashed from Bachman model. 6 axle well car (Afrikaans: Put Trok). Type U-12
	Charles van Rooyen	Kitbashed from a comercial rtr model (Athearn?) model. Another type of well car, using 4 axles.

If you like what you saw here, then click through to the SAR models that were NOT at the show!

For a very comprehensive list of SAR/Spoornet models available, and suggestions of where they might be found, clicking this link.  The list is kept by Leon Croucamp.  If you know of any omissions/updates/corrections, please e-mail me.