South West African Class Hb

Class of 15 Nammibian 0-6-2 locomotives

GSWA Class Hb 0-6-2T
South West African Class Hb 0-6-2T

No. 61 with optional coal and water tender, c. 1930

| Type and origin

Power type| Steam
Designer| Henschel and Son
Builder| Henschel and Son
Serial number| 7298–7300, 7623–7626, 7740–7745, 8610–8611
Model| Class Hb
Build date| 1905–1908
Total produced| 15
| Specifications

Configuration:
| ​
• Whyte| 0-6-2T
• UIC| C1n2t
Driver| 3rd coupled axle
Gauge| 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow
Coupled dia.| 33+7⁄8 in (860 mm)
Wheelbase| 13 ft 3+1⁄2 in (4,051 mm) ​
• Axle spacing
(Asymmetrical)| 1-2: 3 ft 4+1⁄2 in (1,029 mm)
2-3: 3 ft 5⁄8 in (930 mm)
• Coupled| 6 ft 4+3⁄4 in (1,949 mm)
Length:
| ​
• Over couplers| 25 ft (7,620 mm)
• Over beams| 22 ft 6+3⁄4 in (6,877 mm)
Width| 7 ft 2+1⁄2 in (2,197 mm)
Height| 10 ft 6 in (3,200 mm)
Adhesive weight| 17 LT 14 cwt (17,980 kg)
Loco weight| 22 LT 5 cwt (22,610 kg)
Tender type| 2-axle bogies
Fuel type| Coal
Fuel capacity| 15 long hundredweight (0.8 t)
Water cap.| 220 imp gal (1,000 L)
Firebox:| ​
• Type| Round-top
• Grate area| 11.2 sq ft (1.04 m2)
Boiler:
| ​
• Pitch| 4 ft 7+1⁄2 in (1,410 mm)
Boiler pressure| 171 psi (1,179 kPa)
Cylinders| Two
Cylinder size| 320 mm (12.6 in) bore
450 mm (17.7 in) stroke
Valve gear| Allan
Couplers| Buffer-and-chains
| Performance figures

Tractive effort| 10,263 lbf (45.65 kN) @ 75%
| Career

Operators| Otavi Mining and Railway Company
South African Railways
Class| Class Hb
Number in class| 15
Numbers| 51–65
Delivered| 1905–1908
First run| 1905
Withdrawn| 1942

The South West African Class Hb 0-6-2T of 1905 was a narrow gauge steam locomotive from the German South West Africa era.

Between 1905 and 1908, the German Administration in German South West Africa acquired fifteen Class Hb 0-6-2T locomotives for lease to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company. Six of these locomotives survived to be taken onto the roster of the South African Railways after the First World War.[1][2][3]

## Manufacturer

[edit]

By 1905, the rapid progress with the construction of the Otavi Railway called for heavier and more powerful locomotives. Between 1905 and 1908, fifteen 600 millimetres (23.6 inches) narrow gauge 0-6-2T tank and tank-and-tender steam locomotives were built for the German Administration in German South West Africa (GSWA) by Henschel and Son in Germany. They were designated Class Hb and numbered in the range from 51 to 65.[1][3][4]

The locomotives were leased to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company, who operated the narrow gauge Otavi Railway which was being constructed across the Namib Desert between Swakopmund and Tsumeb, to augment their mainline locomotive fleet.[1][3]

## Characteristics

[edit]

The locomotives used Allan valve gear and were equipped with dust covers to protect the motion from wind-blown sand in the Namib Desert. The "Hb" classification identified the locomotive type as the second class to have been built for GSWA by Henschel. They were delivered in four batches.[1][4]

* The first three tank locomotives were delivered in 1905, with works numbers in the range from 7298 to 7300 and numbered in the range from 51 to 53.[4]
* Four more followed in 1906, with works numbers in the range from 7623 to 7626 and numbered in the range from 54 to 57.[4]
* Two arrived in 1907, with works numbers 8610 and 8611 and numbered 64 and 65.[4]
* Six were delivered in 1908, with works numbers in the range from 7740 to 7745 and numbered in the range from 58 to 63. These last six locomotives were delivered as tank-and-tender engines, equipped with optional coal and water tenders.[4]

## Service

[edit]

Photographic evidence show that some of these locomotives were eventually permanently converted to tender engines by removing their side tanks.

During the First World War, the former German Colony came under South African administration and the railways in GSWA came under control of the Union Defence Forces. Control of all railway operations in South West Africa (SWA) was passed on from the Military to the Director of Railways in Windhoek on 1 August 1915. On 1 April 1922, all the railway lines and rolling stock in the territory became part of the South African Railways.[1][3]

Six of these locomotives, numbers 51, 54, 56, 61, 62 and 65, survived into the SAR era. They retained their German Colonial Hb classification and engine numbers while in SAR service. All but one were scrapped after they were withdrawn from service in 1942. Engine no. 56 has been preserved, coupled to a short period train at the Alte Feste museum in Windhoek.[1][2][3]

## Illustration

[edit]

In the main picture, engine no. 61 is shown with its side tanks still intact and with an optional coal and water tender.

* No. 56 without side tanks, c. 1925

* Class Hb without side tanks and with tender, c. 1925

## References

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South West African Class Hb.

1. ^ a b c d e f Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). Locomotives of the South African Railways (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 116\. ISBN 0869772112.
2. ^ a b Dulez, Jean A. (2012). Railways of Southern Africa 150 Years (Commemorating One Hundred and Fifty Years of Railways on the Sub-Continent – Complete Motive Power Classifications and Famous Trains – 1860–2011) (1st ed.). Garden View, Johannesburg, South Africa: Vidrail Productions. pp. 235, 387. ISBN 9 780620 512282.
3. ^ a b c d e Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1947). The Locomotive in South Africa – A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII – South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, October 1947. p. 859.
4. ^ a b c d e f Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow

* v
* t
* e

Steam Locomotives of South West Africa

600 mm gauge
(Narrow gauge)|

* Class Ha
* Class Hb
* Class Hc
* Class Hd
* Jung
* Zwillinge

3' 6" gauge
(Cape gauge)|

* 6-Coupled Tank
* 8-Coupled Tank
* 8-Coupled Tender
* 10-Coupled Tender

* List of South African locomotive classes
* South African locomotive history

* v
* t
* e

Locomotives of South Africa

Steam|

| 7' ¼" gauge|

* East London 0-4-0VB

* Table Bay 0-4-0ST
* Table Bay 0-4-0T
* Table Bay 0-4-0WT

|

Standard gauge|

* Cape 0-4-0T Blackie
* Cape 0-4-2
* Cape 2-4-0T

* CGR 0-4-0ST Aid

* Natal 0-4-0ST Durban
* Natal 0-4-0WT Natal
* Natal 4-4-0T Perseverance

Cape gauge
Tank engines|

* CGR 0-4-0ST 1873
* CGR 0-4-0ST 1874
* CGR 0-4-0ST 1881
* CGR 0-4-0ST 1881 Coffee Pot
* CGR 0-6-0ST
* CGR 0-6-0T
* CGR 2-6-0ST 1900
* CGR 2-6-0ST 1902
* CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1875
* CGR 1st Class 0-4-0ST 1876
* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0ST
* CGR 1st Class 4-4-0T
* CGR 2nd Class 4-4-0T
* CGR 3rd Class 2-6-0T
* CGR Railmotor

* CSAR Class C
* CSAR Class E
* CSAR Rack 4-6-4RT
* CSAR Railmotor

* Durban's Congella
* Durban's Edward Innes
* Durban's John Milne
* Durban's Sir Albert

* Port Elizabeth 0-4-0ST

* Kowie Railway 0-6-0T
* Kowie Railway 4-4-0T

* Metropolitan & Suburban 4-6-2T

* NGR 2-6-0T Durban & Pietermaritzburg
* NGR Class I 2-6-2T
* NGR Class K 0-4-0ST
* NGR Class K 0-6-0ST
* NGR Class K 2-6-0T

* NZASM 10 Tonner
* NZASM 13 Tonner
* NZASM 14 Tonner
* NZASM 18 Tonner
* NZASM 19 Tonner
* NZASM 32 Tonner
* NZASM 40 Tonner

* PPR 26 Tonner
* PPR 35 Tonner Portuguese

* SAR Class A
* SAR Class B
* SAR Class C
* SAR Class C1
* SAR Class C2
* SAR Class D
* SAR Class E
* SAR Class F
* SAR Class G
* SAR Class H
* SAR Class H1
* SAR Class H2
* SAR Class J
* SAR Class K
* SAR Railmotor
* SAR Dock 0-4-0ST
* SAR Dock 0-4-0T

* SWA 2-8-0T

Cape gauge
Tender engines|

* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 BP
* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1876 Kitson
* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1879
* CGR 1st Class 2-6-0 1891
* CGR 1st Class 4-4-0
* CGR 1st Class 4-4-0TT
* CGR 2nd Class 2-6-2TT
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1883
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1884
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1889
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1898
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1901
* CGR 3rd Class 4-4-0 1903
* CGR 4th Class 4-4-2
* CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1880
* CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882
* CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1882 Joy
* CGR 4th Class 4-6-0TT 1884
* CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1890
* CGR 5th Class 4-6-0 1891

* NGR Havelock
* NGR Class I

* SAR Class Exp 1
* SAR Class Exp 2
* SAR Class Exp 3
* SAR Class Exp 4
* SAR Class Exp 5
* SAR Class Exp 6
* SAR Class S
* SAR Class S1
* SAR Class S2
* SAR Class 1
* SAR Class 1A
* SAR Class 1B
* SAR Class 2
* SAR Class 2C
* SAR Class 3
* SAR Class 3A
* SAR Class 3B
* SAR Class 4
* SAR Class 4A
* SAR Class 5
* SAR Class 5A
* SAR Class 5B
* SAR Class 6
* SAR Class 6A
* SAR Class 6B
* SAR Class 6C
* SAR Class 6D
* SAR Class 6E
* SAR Class 6F
* SAR Class 6G
* SAR Class 6H
* SAR Class 6J
* SAR Class 6K
* SAR Class 6L
* SAR Class 6Y
* SAR Class 6Z
* SAR Class 7
* SAR Class 7A
* SAR Class 7B
* SAR Class 7C
* SAR Class 7D
* SAR Class 7E
* SAR Class 7F
* SAR Class 8
* SAR Class 8A
* SAR Class 8B
* SAR Class 8C
* SAR Class 8D
* SAR Class 8E
* SAR Class 8F
* SAR Class 8R
* SAR Class 8X
* SAR Class 8Y
* SAR Class 8Z
* SAR Class 9
* SAR Class 10
* SAR Class 10A
* SAR Class 10B
* SAR Class 10C
* SAR Class 10D
* SAR Class 11
* SAR Class 12
* SAR Class 12A
* SAR Class 12B
* SAR Class 13
* SAR Class 14
* SAR Class 14A
* SAR Class 14B
* SAR Class 14C 1st
* SAR Class 14C 2nd
* SAR Class 14C 3rd
* SAR Class 14C 4th
* SAR Class 15
* SAR Class 15A
* SAR Class 15B
* SAR Class 15C
* SAR Class 15CA
* SAR Class 15E
* SAR Class 15F
* SAR Class 16
* SAR Class 16A
* SAR Class 16B
* SAR Class 16C
* SAR Class 16D
* SAR Class 16DA 1928
* SAR Class 16DA 1930
* SAR Class 16E
* SAR Class 17
* SAR Class 18
* SAR Class 19
* SAR Class 19A
* SAR Class 19B
* SAR Class 19C
* SAR Class 19D
* SAR Class 20
* SAR Class 21
* SAR Class 23
* SAR Class 24
* SAR Class 25
* SAR Class 25NC
* SAR Class 26
* SAR Katanga

* SWA 2-8-0

Cape gauge
Articulated
engines|

* CGR Fairlie
* CGR Kitson-Meyer

* SAR Class FC
* SAR Class FD
* SAR Class GA
* SAR Class GB
* SAR Class GC
* SAR Class GCA
* SAR Class GD
* SAR Class GDA
* SAR Class GE
* SAR Class GEA
* SAR Class GF
* SAR Class GG
* SAR Class GH
* SAR Class GK
* SAR Class GL
* SAR Class GM
* SAR Class GMA
* SAR Class GO
* SAR Class HF
* SAR Class KM
* SAR Class MA
* SAR Class MB
* SAR Class MC
* SAR Class MC1
* SAR Class MD
* SAR Class ME
* SAR Class MF
* SAR Class MG
* SAR Class MH
* SAR Class MJ
* SAR Class MJ1
* SAR Class U

2' 6" gauge|

* Cape Copper John King & Miner
* Cape Copper Britannia
* Cape Copper Caledonia
* Cape Copper Clara
* Cape Copper Condenser
* Cape Copper Scotia

* Namaqua Copper Pioneer

* Walvis Bay 2-4-2T Hope

2' & 600mm
gauges|

* ACR Class NG-G16A

* CGR NG 0-4-0T
* CGR NG 0-6-0T
* CGR NG 4-6-2T
* CGR Type A 2-6-4T
* CGR Type C 0-4-0T

* NGR Class N 4-6-2T

* SAR Dutton
* SAR NG 0-4-0T
* SAR Class NG1
* SAR Class NG2
* SAR Class NG3
* SAR Class NG4
* SAR Class NG5
* SAR Class NG6
* SAR Class NG7
* SAR Class NG8
* SAR Class NG9
* SAR Class NG10
* SAR Class NG-G11
* SAR Class NG-G12
* SAR Class NG-G13
* SAR Class NG-G14
* SAR Class NG15
* SAR Class NG-G16

* SWA Class Ha
* SWA Class Hb
* SWA Class Hc
* SWA Class Hd
* SWA Jung
* SWA Zwillinge

Electric|

* Amcoal Class E38

* SAR Class ES
* SAR Class ES1
* SAR Class Exp-AC
* SAR Class 1E
* SAR Class 2E
* SAR Class 3E
* SAR Class 4E
* SAR Class 5E s1
* SAR Class 5E s2
* SAR Class 5E s3
* SAR Class 5E1 s1
* SAR Class 5E1 s2
* SAR Class 5E1 s3
* SAR Class 5E1 s4
* SAR Class 5E1 s5
* SAR Class 6E
* SAR Class 6E1 s1
* SAR Class 6E1 s2
* SAR Class 6E1 s3
* SAR Class 6E1 s4
* SAR Class 6E1 s5
* SAR Class 6E1 s6
* SAR Class 6E1 s7
* SAR Class 6E1 s8
* SAR Class 6E1 s9
* SAR Class 6E1 s10
* SAR Class 6E1 s11
* SAR Class 7E
* SAR Class 7E1
* SAR Class 7E2 s1
* SAR Class 7E2 s2
* SAR Class 7E3 s1
* SAR Class 7E3 s2
* Spoornet Class 7E4
* SAR Class 8E
* SAR Class 9E s1
* SAR Class 9E s2
* SAR Class 10E
* SAR Class 10E1 s1
* Spoornet Class 10E1 s2
* SAR Class 10E2
* SAR Class 11E
* SAR Class 12E
* Spoornet Class 14E
* Spoornet Class 14E1
* TFR Class 15E
* Spoornet Class 16E
* Spoornet Class 17E
* Spoornet Class 18E s1
* TFR Class 18E s2
* TFR Class 19E
* TFR Class 20E
* TFR Class 21E
* TFR Class 22E
* TFR Class 23E

Gas-electric|

* SAR Gas-electric

Diesel|

| Cape gauge
Diesel–electric|

* PRASA Class Afro 4000
* SAR Class DS
* SAR Class DS1
* SAR Class 31-000
* SAR Class 32-000
* SAR Class 32-200
* SAR Class 33-000
* SAR Class 33-200
* SAR Class 33-400
* SAR Class 34-000
* SAR Class 34-200
* SAR Class 34-400
* SAR Class 34-500
* SAR Class 34-600
* SAR Class 34-800
* SAR Class 34-900
* SAR Class 35-000
* SAR Class 35-200
* SAR Class 35-400
* SAR Class 35-600
* TFR Class 35-800
* SAR Class 36-000
* SAR Class 36-200
* SAR Class 37-000
* Spoornet Class 39-000
* TFR Class 39-200
* TFR Class 43-000
* TFR Class 44-000
* TFR Class 45-000

|

2' gauge
Diesel–electric|

* SAR Class 91-000

Cape gauge
Diesel–hydraulic|

* SAR Class 61-000

Cape gauge
Electro-diesel|

* Spoornet Class 38-000

* List of South African locomotive classes
* South African locomotive numbering and classification

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