# South West African Class Hb

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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Company South African Railways Class Class Hb Number in class 15 Numbers 51–65 Delivered 1905–1908 First run 1905 Withdrawn 1942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](/source/German_South_West_Africa) acquired fifteen Class Hb [0-6-2](/source/0-6-2)[T](/source/Side_tank_locomotive) locomotives for lease to the [Otavi Mining and Railway Company](/source/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

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 [0-6-2](/source/0-6-2)[T](/source/Side_tank_locomotive) tank and tank-and-tender steam locomotives were built for the German Administration in German South West Africa (GSWA) by [Henschel and Son](/source/Henschel_%26_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](/source/Otavi_Mining_and_Railway_Company), who operated the narrow gauge Otavi Railway which was being constructed across the [Namib Desert](/source/Namib_Desert) between [Swakopmund](/source/Swakopmund) and [Tsumeb](/source/Tsumeb), to augment their mainline locomotive fleet.[1][3]

## Characteristics

The locomotives used [Allan valve gear](/source/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

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](/source/South_African_Defence_Force). Control of all railway operations in South West Africa (SWA) was passed on from the Military to the Director of Railways in [Windhoek](/source/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](/source/Alte_Feste)* museum in Windhoek.[1][2][3]

## Illustration

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [South West African Class Hb](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:South_African_Class_Hb_(0-6-2)).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Paxton-Bourne_1-5) Paxton, Leith; Bourne, David (1985). *Locomotives of the South African Railways* (1st ed.). Cape Town: Struik. p. 116. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0869772112](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0869772112).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Dulez_150_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Dulez_150_2-1) 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](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9 780620 512282](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9_780620_512282).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SAR&H_Oct_1947_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SAR&H_Oct_1947_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-SAR&H_Oct_1947_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-SAR&H_Oct_1947_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-SAR&H_Oct_1947_3-4) 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.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Henschel_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Henschel_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Henschel_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Henschel_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Henschel_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Henschel_4-5) 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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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [South West African Class Hb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_West_African_Class_Hb) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_West_African_Class_Hb?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.