90-year-old railway veteran keeps history alive with model trains in Roodekrans

Neusol ‘Soon’ Klee, a 90-year-old former railway worker, has spent decades building model locomotives and preserving his lifelong fascination with trains. His collection and handbuilt models reflect a 44-year career at the railways and a hobby that began in childhood.

From childhood fascination to a railway career

Klee grew up in Heidelberg, living “two blocks from the railway line” and said he and his older brother would sit watching trains. He later moved with his family to Volksrust, where they lived on farms.

He began his railway career in Volksrust in 1953, starting as a cleaner and eventually becoming a train driver. He retired in 1997 after 44 years with the railways.

Building models: boats first, trains next

Klee says his model-making started on the farm, where “there were only dams and streams, so I built a lot of little boats.” He began building models in 1958 and started collecting model trains in 1965, five years after he married.

His first train set was a Märklin set. He described his collection as including “10 or 11 large models that I built myself, and somewhere between 10 and 15 Märklin sets.”

Collection and special pieces

Klee’s models cover different types of locomotiveselectric, diesel and steamand include many imports, particularly from Germany. He mentioned a steam locomotive he built that “holds a very sad memory for me. You could load it with coal.” He has also built other models such as a Gautrain and a German boat.

Recognition and broadcast feature

Klee’s work will be featured on the kykNET programme Kwêla next month as part of the Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch’s Love Your Neighbourhood series, which highlights members of the community.

On his passion

“We just always liked trains. I suppose it was the Creator’s doing. He simply places that within you. It’s enjoyable work, but it’s hard work!”

Local news context

According to The Citizen (Roodepoort Record), Klee’s story is part of community coverage in Roodepoort. The Roodepoort Record/ Northsider is described by The Citizen (Roodepoort Record) as “the leading source of community news in Roodepoort,” with a combined distribution of 74 700 copies delivered free of charge to households every Thursday.

Editorial note

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