Swakopmund–Windhoek line

The railway line Swakopmund - Windhoek was a major railway line in Namibia. It was built from September 1897 and operated until 1990 under this route designation.

Today the route via Swakopmund to Walvis Bay also operates under the names of railway Windhoek Kranzberg and railway Kranzberg Walvis Bay in Cape gauge of Trans Namib.

600 mm narrow gauge railway

Construction

Since 1897, the transport system collapsed in German South West Africa after a rinderpest, a 600 mm narrow gauge railway with sufficient existing in Germany box sheeting was planned as a replacement. A railway was commissioned to build the route from the port of Swakopmund to Windhoek the former sanctuary German South-West Africa. The works were under the direction of four officers and were carried out by 290 soldiers and 800 local workers. The operation of the entire track was recorded on 19 June 1902.

Operation

For the civilian daily schedule had 34 locomotives will be kept under steam, 20 more were in reserve. Some of the locomotives were coupled as twin locomotives in pairs. There was

• 7 car, 1st class
• 2 car, 2nd class
• 5 baggage car
• 308 wagons ( loading weight: 5 tons )
• 83 Water Truck (as additional tender for steam locomotives)
• 50 Work and train master Cart

During the trip from Swakopmund to Windhoek took ten days in the period before the railroad, it was shortened by train first to three, to two days later. There was only daily traffic. Travelers had to stay in Karibib. The travel speed was - without the night - less than 14 km / h

Despite their relatively primitive technical equipment, the train brought significant transport services, particularly in the suppression of the uprising of the Herero and Nama 1904-1905.

Initially, the train was operated by the Imperial railway command, but placed under the civil administration of the protected area on April 1, 1907. The central workshop was in Karibib.

Kapspurbahn

1910/1911 of the Windhoek - Karibib section was on Cape gauge ( 1067 mm) umgespurt after this track was previously for the Lüderitz Railway and the railway line Windhoek - Keetmanshoop been selected. The choice of this gauge was due to the relative proximity of the South African network, which had been built in this gauge. When gauging the railway line Swakopmund - Windhoek Windhoek - Karibib in the section curve radii were also flattened and defused gradients, so that the line was maintained three kilometers longer, but their general course. The cost of this reconstruction corresponds to the initial construction costs and could only be applied because the diamond discoveries since 1908, the sanctuary gave the necessary financial leeway. The section of the state railway from Swakopmund to Karibib on Jakalswater remained first in the original 600 mm track and was only serviced twice per month in each direction. The control traffic between Swakopmund and Windhoek was conducted between Swakopmund and Karibib on the Otavibahn also exported to 600 mm. In Karibib all passengers had to go all the goods are transhipped. From here we went on the 1067- mm gauge on. This expansion allowed for the first time, with the express train of Otavibahn and a corresponding express the state railway line between the coast and capital ( and vice versa) back down in a day.

With the outbreak of the First World War, the German colonial forces evacuated the coast retreated inland, destroying both the Otavibahn as well as the state railway line towards Karibib to Rössing. The British were on their enclave Walvis Bay immediately after and built the Otavibahn towards Karibib in Cape gauge back on, with the last piece between Usakos and Karibib was realigned. The network of Otavibahn north of Usakos remained in 600 mm mode. The workshop for both modes is summarized in Usakos, which closed in Karibib. The old state railway line over Jakalswater was abandoned. Thus now insisted on the total distance between Swakopmund and Windhoek again continuous traffic now on 1067 mm track.