{{Short description|Class of 15 Nammibian 0-6-2 locomotives}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use South African English|date=November 2013}} {{Infobox locomotive | name = GSWA Class Hb 0-6-2T<br>South West African Class Hb 0-6-2T | image = Class Hb 0-6-2T no 61.jpg | alt = | caption = No. 61 with optional coal and water tender, c. 1930 | hatnote = | powertype = Steam | designer = [[Henschel & Son|Henschel and Son]] | builder = Henschel and Son | ordernumber = | serialnumber = 7298–7300, 7623–7626, 7740–7745, 8610–8611 | buildmodel = Class Hb | builddate = 1905–1908 | totalproduction = 15 | rebuilder = | rebuilddate = | numberrebuilt = | whytetype = {{whyte|0-6-2|T}} | uicclass = C1n2t | driver = 3rd coupled axle | gauge = {{Track gauge|600mm}} narrow | leadingdiameter = | coupleddiameter = {{convert|33+7/8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | trailingdiameter = | tenderdiameter = | minimumcurve = | wheelbase = {{convert|13|ft|3+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | engine total = | leading = | coupled = {{convert|6|ft|4+3/4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | trailing = | tender total = | tenderbogie = | pivotcentres = | wheelspacing = '''1-2:''' {{convert|3|ft|4+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<br>'''2-3:''' {{convert|3|ft|5/8|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | length = | over couplers = {{convert|25|ft|mm|0|abbr=on}} | over bufferbeams= {{convert|22|ft|6+3/4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|7|ft|2+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|10|ft|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | frametype = | axleload = | leadingbogie/pony= | coupled all = | coupled 1 = | coupled 2 = | coupled 3 = | coupled 4 = | coupled 5 = | coupled 6 = | coupled 7 = | coupled 8 = | trail bogie/pony= | tenderbogieload = | tenderaxle = | weightondrivers = {{convert|17|lt|14|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | locoweight = {{convert|22|lt|5|lcwt|kg|sigfig=4|abbr=on}} | tenderweight = | locotenderweight = | tendertype = 2-axle bogies | fueltype = Coal | fuelcap = {{convert|15|lcwt|t|1|abbr=on}} | watercap = {{convert|220|impgal|L|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} | tendercap = | sandcap = | fireboxtype = Round-top | firearea = {{convert|11.2|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} | boiler = | boilertype = | pitch = {{convert|4|ft|7+1/2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} | diameterinside = | lengthinside = | smalltubediameter= | largetubediameter= | boilerpressure = {{convert|171|psi|kPa|0|abbr=on}} | safetyvalvetype = | feedwaterheater = | totalsurface = | tubearea = | archarea = | fluearea = | tubesandflues = | fireboxarea = | superheatertype = | superheaterarea = | generator = | cylindercount = Two | cylindersize = {{convert|320|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} bore<br>{{convert|450|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} stroke | frontcylindersize= | rearcylindersize = | hpcylindersize = | lpcylindersize = | valvegear = [[Stephenson valve gear#Allan straight link valve gear|Allan]] | valvetype = | valvetravel = | valvelap = | valvelead = | transmission = | trainheating = | locobrakes = | trainbrakes = | safety = | coupling = [[Railway coupling#Buffers and chain|Buffer-and-chains]] | maxspeed = | poweroutput = | tractiveeffort = {{convert|10263|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} @ 75% | factorofadhesion = | locobrakeforce = | operator = [[Otavi Mining and Railway Company]]<br>[[South African Railways]] | operatorclass = Class Hb | powerclass = | numinclass = 15 | fleetnumbers = 51–65 | officialname = | nicknames = | axleloadclass = | deliverydate = 1905–1908 | firstrundate = 1905 | lastrundate = | withdrawndate = 1942 | preservedunits = | restoredate = | scrapdate = | currentowner = | disposition = | notes = }}
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 {{whyte|0-6-2|T}} 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.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne">{{Paxton-Bourne|page=116}}</ref><ref name="Dulez 150">{{Dulez 150|pages=235, 387}}</ref><ref name="SAR&H Oct 1947">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.</ref>
==Manufacturer== By 1905, the rapid progress with the construction of the Otavi Railway called for heavier and more powerful locomotives. Between 1905 and 1908, fifteen {{convert|600|mm|in|1|abbr=off}} narrow gauge {{whyte|0-6-2|T}} tank and tank-and-tender steam locomotives were built for the German Administration in German South West Africa (GSWA) by [[Henschel & Son|Henschel and Son]] in Germany. They were designated Class Hb and numbered in the range from 51 to 65.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="SAR&H Oct 1947"/><ref name="Henschel">Henschel-Lieferliste (Henschel & Son works list), compiled by Dietmar Stresow</ref>
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.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="SAR&H Oct 1947"/>
==Characteristics== 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.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Henschel"/> * 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.<ref name="Henschel"/> * Four more followed in 1906, with works numbers in the range from 7623 to 7626 and numbered in the range from 54 to 57.<ref name="Henschel"/> * Two arrived in 1907, with works numbers 8610 and 8611 and numbered 64 and 65.<ref name="Henschel"/> * 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.<ref name="Henschel"/>
==Service== 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 [[South African Defence Force|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.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="SAR&H Oct 1947"/>
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.<ref name="Paxton-Bourne"/><ref name="Dulez 150"/><ref name="SAR&H Oct 1947"/>
==Illustration== In the main picture, engine no. 61 is shown with its side tanks still intact and with an optional coal and water tender. <gallery mode=packed heights="180px"> File:Class Hb 0-6-2T.jpg|No. 56 without side tanks, c. 1925 File:Class Hb tender locomotive.jpg|Class Hb without side tanks and with tender, c. 1925 </gallery>
==References== {{Commons category|South African Class Hb (0-6-2)|South West African Class Hb|position=left}} {{Reflist}} {{Locomotives of South West Africa}} {{Locomotives of South Africa}}
[[Category:SWA locomotives|0920]] [[Category:0-6-2 locomotives]] [[Category:C1′ n2t locomotives]] [[Category:Henschel locomotives]] [[Category:600 mm gauge railway locomotives]] [[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1905]] [[Category:1922 in South Africa]] [[Category:Scrapped locomotives]]