501:
751:
608:
238:
19:
1023:
737:
468:
The 600mm gauge industrial railway of the diamond fields, between
Kolmannskuppe and Bogenfels, was electrified from 1911, and thus became, to this day, the only electric railway in Namibia. As the diamond mining was always moving further south, the northern part of the line as far as
169:
part of the
African continent was not very productive for agriculture. Initially, overland transport was operated entirely by ox-cart. A small mining rail line opened at Cape Cross in 1895. Soon afterwards, the ox-cart transport system totally collapsed, in the wake of a
708:
was built in
Windhoek. This made operations very much easier, because water is in short supply in Namibia, and the coal needed to heat the water in the steam locomotives also had to be procured from the
500:
1117:
123:
The German colonial railway was taken over by the
Railways of South Africa after World War I, and linked into the network of South Africa. After the independence of Namibia,
1152:
1461:
1027:
1362:
1132:
1302:
1292:
1466:
1307:
1127:
595:
railway – to achieve a secure supply route for the South
African troops. In 1916, the line was connected to the German network at Kalkfontein (now
1252:
1237:
1222:
1242:
1054:
866:
1317:
1167:
1107:
1137:
968:
Die
Eisenbahnen in den einst deutschen Schutzgebieten: Ostafrika, SĂĽdwestafrika, Kamerun, Togo und die Schantung-Eisenbahn: damals und heute
1282:
1267:
1247:
1212:
1207:
1157:
1102:
1077:
1337:
1277:
1272:
1227:
1082:
1063:
688:), with the new line being laid parallel to the existing line, but largely on new foundations; the new line was in operation from 1961.
1471:
1312:
1217:
1202:
1147:
1087:
171:
1388:
587:
Neighbouring South Africa was also an enemy of the German Empire. From there, a new railway was constructed – as an extension of the
1322:
1122:
1005:
902:
880:
1435:
1431:
313:
79:
1192:
1427:
1097:
1197:
956:
The
Railways of the former German Protectorates in Africa and their Rolling Stock = the Rolling Stock of the German Railways 7
1367:
1287:
1177:
1112:
979:
952:
Die
Eisenbahnen der ehemaligen deutschen Schutzgebiete Afrikas und ihre Fahrzeuge = Die Fahrzeuge der deutschen Eisenbahnen 7
940:
921:
1342:
1162:
1142:
1092:
1418:
1414:
1405:
1396:
1327:
1297:
1332:
1187:
269:
1392:
1262:
1182:
1172:
1232:
615:
Under South
African/British occupation, the following lines were established (listed by first year of full operation):
254:
1047:
396:
774:
764:
620:
299:
177:
As it was necessary to react quickly to the now extremely precarious transport situation, decisions were made:
159:
128:
972:
German colonial railways: East Africa, Southwest Africa, Cameroon, Togo and the
Shantung Railway: then and now
662:
345:
22:
698:
377:
1040:
584:) gauge; the workshop for both gauges was consolidated in Usakos, and the one in Karibib was closed.
562:, and the section between Usakos and Karibib was realigned. The network north of Usakos remained in
473:
was abandoned in 1931, and some of its materials were used for the extension of the railway towards
607:
998:
Railways in Namibia, 110 years of the rail transport system in the former German South West Africa
769:
710:
127:
took control of the national rail network, which, by that time, had long since been converted to
451:
1001:
975:
936:
917:
898:
876:
478:
411:
150:
The basic structure of the Namibian railway system dates from the time when the country was a
325:
514:
military unit retreated from the coast, and withdrew into the inland. In the process, the
484:
The industrial railway no longer exists today; the lifting of the line was carried out by
470:
994:
Bahnen in Namibia, 110 Jahre Schienentransportsystem im ehemaligen Deutsch SĂĽdwest-Afrika
704:
From 1959, steam locomotives were gradually replaced by diesel locomotives, for which an
221:
to entrust a railway brigade with the construction work, which began in September 1897.
1032:
1455:
756:
742:
155:
38:
875:]. Berlin, Leipzig, Göschen: (Reprint: Leipzig 2007: Holzminden Reprint-Verl.).
237:
18:
834:
799:
705:
510:
336:
264:, the following lines had been developed (listed by first year of full operation):
117:
241:
Inscription on Namibian goods wagon, built by Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-NĂĽrnberg (
838:
803:
530:, as far as Rössing. British troops immediately moved forward from the British
443:
389:
385:
261:
732:
722:
535:
474:
373:
182:
124:
68:
34:
596:
485:
381:
364:
958:]. Frankfurt am Main: Verkehrswissenschaftliche Lehrmittelgesellschaft.
1022:
215:
186:
72:
697:
From August 1915 the Namibian railway network was operated de facto by
611:
Passenger train in Namibia at the time of the South African occupation.
592:
538:, and by the end of 1914 they had built a 37 km (23 mi) long
531:
527:
360:
295:
37:
in 1895. The first major railway project was started in 1897 when the
588:
559:
242:
151:
109:
736:
658:
1921: Otjiwaronge–Outjo 600mm gauge (based on German preparations).
644:
606:
499:
489:
447:
332:
236:
225:
Train services on the whole of the new line, which was called the
113:
253:
was aimed partly at military strategic objectives following the
166:
1036:
935:(2nd ed.). Kempton Park, South Africa: Janus Publishing.
824:
According to Schroeter; Bravenboer does not mention this line.
868:
Die Kolonialbahnen mit besonderer BerĂĽcksichtigung Afrikas
458:
gauge (project started, but not completed due to the war).
873:
The Colonial Railways with particular reference to Africa
1000:] (in German). Somerset West: TrevorB Editions.
1376:
1351:
1070:
116:between 1903 and 1906, and a branch from Otavi to
249:Construction of the railways connecting with the
895:The First 100 Years of State Railways in Namibia
701:, and this arrangement became official in 1922.
181:to build a railway line from the German port of
805:The Development of the Namibian Railway Network
840:The Development of the Namibia Railway Network
82:(O.M.E.G.) was established. It built another
1048:
508:With the outbreak of World War I, the German
8:
632:1915: Swakopmund–Karibib: Reconstruction in
78:Parallel to this government initiative, the
931:Moir, S. M.; Crittenden, H. Temple (1982).
725:took control of the national rail network.
1055:
1041:
1033:
893:Bravenboer, Brenda; Rusch, Walter (1997).
680:north of Usakos was gradually regauged to
477:. The southern section was operated with
966:Schroeter, Helmut; Ramaer, Roel (1993).
837:, "The South African Period 1915–1989",
464:Industrial railway of the diamond fields
229:(State Railway), began on 19 June 1902.
17:
791:
504:Windhoek-Keetmanshoop line, circa 1916.
257:, and partly at economic requirements.
33:began with a small mining rail line at
298:–Windhoek section regauged in 1911 to
7:
1462:History of rail transport by country
1064:History of rail transport in Africa
1028:History of rail transport in Namibia
31:history of rail transport in Namibia
721:After the independence of Namibia,
75:. By 1902 the line was completed.
14:
802:, "The German Period 1895–1915",
1363:Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
1133:Democratic Republic of the Congo
1021:
916:. Adelaide: Rigby. p. 233.
749:
735:
80:Otavi Mining and Railway Company
1467:History of transport in Namibia
897:. Windhoek: TransNamib Museum.
619:1914: Walvis Bay–Swakopmund in
255:uprising of the Herero and Nama
1:
974:]. Krefeld: Röhr-Verlag.
914:Atlas of the World's Railways
546:) railway to Swakopmund. The
397:Windhoek–Keetmanshoop railway
912:Hollingsworth, J B (1980).
172:rinderpest epidemic in 1897
1488:
992:Schweizer, Beat H (2007).
950:Schroeter, Helmut (1961).
550:was also reconstructed in
1472:Rail transport in Namibia
775:Rail transport in Namibia
765:History of rail transport
39:German Colonial Authority
1118:Central African Republic
682:3 ft 6 in
667:3 ft 6 in
663:Windhoek–Gobabis railway
649:3 ft 6 in
647:(border)–Kalkfontein in
634:3 ft 6 in
622:3 ft 6 in
552:3 ft 6 in
540:3 ft 6 in
401:3 ft 6 in
350:3 ft 6 in
301:3 ft 6 in
270:Swakopmund–Windhoek line
160:German South West Africa
130:3 ft 6 in
987:(in German and English)
865:Baltzer, Franz (1916).
436:) gauge (questionable).
23:Karibib Railway Station
699:South African Railways
612:
505:
246:
141:German colonial period
26:
1278:SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe
1138:Republic of the Congo
1030:at Wikimedia Commons
610:
503:
496:World War I and after
240:
108:, from Swakopmund to
67:(State Railway) from
21:
643:1915/1916: (De Aar)–
1353:States with limited
233:Network development
933:Namib Narrow Gauge
770:History of Namibia
613:
506:
386:industrial railway
247:
104:) gauge line, the
27:
1449:
1448:
1380:other territories
1153:Equatorial Guinea
1026:Media related to
603:Network expansion
214:) gauge military
192:to use existing,
1479:
1441:
1440:(United Kingdom)
1436:Tristan da Cunha
1432:Ascension Island
1424:
1411:
1402:
1378:Dependencies and
1071:Sovereign states
1057:
1050:
1043:
1034:
1025:
1011:
988:
985:
962:
959:
946:
927:
908:
889:
886:
851:
850:
849:
847:
831:
825:
822:
816:
815:
814:
812:
796:
759:
754:
753:
752:
745:
740:
739:
687:
683:
672:
668:
654:
650:
639:
635:
628:
623:
583:
581:
580:
576:
573:
565:
557:
553:
545:
541:
457:
435:
433:
432:
428:
425:
417:
406:
402:
355:
351:
328:–Karibib branch.
320:
307:
302:
293:
291:
290:
286:
283:
275:
213:
211:
210:
206:
203:
195:
136:
131:
103:
101:
100:
96:
93:
85:
62:
60:
59:
55:
52:
44:
1487:
1486:
1482:
1481:
1480:
1478:
1477:
1476:
1452:
1451:
1450:
1445:
1444:
1439:
1422:
1409:
1400:
1381:
1379:
1372:
1356:
1354:
1347:
1066:
1061:
1019:
1014:
1008:
991:
986:
982:
965:
960:
949:
943:
930:
924:
911:
905:
892:
887:
883:
864:
860:
855:
854:
845:
843:
833:
832:
828:
823:
819:
810:
808:
798:
797:
793:
788:
783:
755:
750:
748:
741:
734:
731:
719:
695:
685:
681:
676:From 1958: the
670:
666:
652:
648:
637:
633:
626:
621:
605:
578:
574:
571:
569:
568:1 ft
567:
563:
555:
551:
543:
539:
498:
479:diesel traction
466:
455:
430:
426:
423:
421:
420:1 ft
419:
415:
404:
400:
353:
349:
318:
305:
300:
288:
284:
281:
279:
278:1 ft
277:
273:
235:
208:
204:
201:
199:
198:1 ft
197:
193:
148:
143:
134:
129:
98:
94:
91:
89:
88:1 ft
87:
83:
57:
53:
50:
48:
47:1 ft
46:
42:
12:
11:
5:
1485:
1483:
1475:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1454:
1453:
1447:
1446:
1443:
1442:
1425:
1412:
1403:
1389:Canary Islands
1385:
1384:
1382:
1377:
1374:
1373:
1371:
1370:
1365:
1359:
1357:
1352:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1074:
1072:
1068:
1067:
1062:
1060:
1059:
1052:
1045:
1037:
1018:
1017:External links
1015:
1013:
1012:
1006:
989:
980:
963:
947:
941:
928:
922:
909:
903:
890:
881:
861:
859:
856:
853:
852:
826:
817:
790:
789:
787:
784:
782:
779:
778:
777:
772:
767:
761:
760:
746:
730:
727:
718:
715:
694:
693:Mandate period
691:
690:
689:
674:
659:
656:
641:
630:
604:
601:
522:, and the old
518:destroyed the
497:
494:
465:
462:
461:
460:
439:
438:
437:
393:
390:diamond fields
378:Elisabethbucht
370:
369:
368:
342:
341:
340:
329:
309:
234:
231:
223:
222:
219:
190:
147:
144:
142:
139:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1484:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1459:
1457:
1437:
1433:
1429:
1426:
1420:
1416:
1413:
1407:
1404:
1398:
1394:
1390:
1387:
1386:
1383:
1375:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1360:
1358:
1350:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1193:Guinea-Bissau
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1069:
1065:
1058:
1053:
1051:
1046:
1044:
1039:
1038:
1035:
1031:
1029:
1024:
1016:
1009:
1007:3-907579-99-2
1003:
999:
995:
990:
983:
977:
973:
969:
964:
957:
953:
948:
944:
938:
934:
929:
925:
919:
915:
910:
906:
904:0-86976-401-2
900:
896:
891:
884:
882:9783826202339
878:
874:
870:
869:
863:
862:
857:
842:
841:
836:
835:Dierks, Klaus
830:
827:
821:
818:
807:
806:
801:
800:Dierks, Klaus
795:
792:
785:
780:
776:
773:
771:
768:
766:
763:
762:
758:
757:Africa portal
747:
744:
743:Trains portal
738:
733:
728:
726:
724:
716:
714:
712:
707:
702:
700:
692:
686:1,067 mm
679:
675:
671:1,067 mm
664:
660:
657:
653:1,067 mm
646:
642:
638:1,067 mm
631:
627:1,067 mm
624:
618:
617:
616:
609:
602:
600:
598:
594:
590:
585:
561:
556:1,067 mm
549:
544:1,067 mm
537:
533:
529:
525:
521:
517:
513:
512:
502:
495:
493:
491:
487:
482:
480:
476:
472:
463:
459:
453:
449:
445:
440:
413:
409:
408:
405:1,067 mm
398:
394:
391:
387:
383:
379:
375:
374:Kolmannskuppe
371:
366:
362:
358:
357:
354:1,067 mm
347:
343:
338:
334:
330:
327:
323:
322:
316:
315:
310:
306:1,067 mm
303:
297:
271:
267:
266:
265:
263:
258:
256:
252:
244:
239:
232:
230:
228:
220:
218:material, and
217:
191:
188:
184:
180:
179:
178:
175:
173:
168:
163:
161:
157:
156:German Empire
153:
145:
140:
138:
135:1,067 mm
132:
126:
121:
119:
115:
111:
107:
81:
76:
74:
70:
66:
40:
36:
32:
24:
20:
16:
1428:Saint Helena
1399:
1303:South Africa
1293:Sierra Leone
1257:
1098:Burkina Faso
1020:
997:
993:
971:
967:
955:
951:
932:
913:
894:
872:
867:
858:Bibliography
844:, retrieved
839:
829:
820:
809:, retrieved
804:
794:
720:
717:Independence
706:engine-house
703:
696:
677:
614:
586:
558:) as far as
547:
523:
519:
516:Schutztruppe
515:
511:Schutztruppe
509:
507:
483:
467:
441:
346:LĂĽderitzbahn
337:Grootfontein
312:
259:
250:
248:
226:
224:
176:
164:
149:
122:
120:in 1907/08.
118:Grootfontein
105:
77:
64:
30:
28:
15:
1355:recognition
1308:South Sudan
1198:Ivory Coast
961:(in German)
888:(in German)
564:600 mm
456:600 mm
444:Otjiwarongo
416:600 mm
365:Kalkfontein
319:600 mm
274:600 mm
262:World War I
194:600 mm
84:600 mm
43:600 mm
1456:Categories
1410:(Portugal)
1368:Somaliland
1288:Seychelles
1253:Mozambique
1238:Mauritania
1223:Madagascar
1178:The Gambia
1113:Cape Verde
981:3884901842
942:062005915X
923:0727003054
781:References
723:TransNamib
536:Walvis Bay
524:Staatsbahn
486:bulldozers
475:Oranjemund
251:Staatsbahn
245:) in 1910.
227:Staatsbahn
183:Swakopmund
146:Beginnings
125:TransNamib
69:Swakopmund
65:Staatsbahn
41:built the
35:Cape Cross
25:, ca. 1920
1243:Mauritius
711:Transvaal
678:Otavibahn
597:Karasburg
548:Otavibahn
520:Otavibahn
452:Okahakana
414:shuttle,
407:) gauge.
382:Bogenfels
372:ca 1911:
314:Otavibahn
294:) gauge,
158:known as
137:) gauge.
106:Otavibahn
1434: /
1430: /
1423:(France)
1417: /
1395: /
1391: /
1343:Zimbabwe
1318:Tanzania
1168:Ethiopia
1163:Eswatini
1143:Djibouti
1108:Cameroon
1093:Botswana
846:7 August
729:See also
582: in
526:towards
434: in
412:Rehoboth
308:) gauge.
292: in
216:Feldbahn
212: in
187:Windhoek
102: in
73:Windhoek
63:) gauge
61: in
1419:RĂ©union
1415:Mayotte
1406:Madeira
1401:(Spain)
1397:Melilla
1328:Tunisia
1298:Somalia
1283:Senegal
1268:Nigeria
1258:Namibia
1248:Morocco
1213:Liberia
1208:Lesotho
1158:Eritrea
1128:Comoros
1103:Burundi
1078:Algeria
593:Prieska
577:⁄
532:enclave
528:Karibib
429:⁄
388:of the
367:branch.
361:Seeheim
339:branch.
326:Onguati
321:gauge.
296:Karibib
287:⁄
207:⁄
154:of the
97:⁄
56:⁄
1438:
1421:
1408:
1338:Zambia
1333:Uganda
1273:Rwanda
1228:Malawi
1188:Guinea
1083:Angola
1004:
978:
939:
920:
901:
879:
811:3 July
661:1929:
589:De Aar
560:Usakos
490:trucks
471:Pomona
442:1914:
410:1912:
395:1912:
359:1909:
344:1907:
331:1908:
324:1905:
311:1906:
268:1902:
152:colony
110:Tsumeb
1393:Ceuta
1313:Sudan
1263:Niger
1218:Libya
1203:Kenya
1183:Ghana
1173:Gabon
1148:Egypt
1088:Benin
996:[
970:[
954:[
871:[
786:Notes
645:Nakop
448:Outjo
333:Otavi
165:This
114:Otavi
1323:Togo
1233:Mali
1123:Chad
1002:ISBN
976:ISBN
937:ISBN
918:ISBN
899:ISBN
877:ISBN
848:2017
813:2007
488:and
167:arid
112:via
29:The
665:in
599:).
534:of
356:).
260:By
243:MAN
185:to
71:to
1458::
713:.
673:).
655:).
640:).
629:).
570:11
492:.
481:.
454:,
422:11
399:,
384:,
348:,
317:,
280:11
272:,
200:11
174:.
162:.
90:11
49:11
1056:e
1049:t
1042:v
1010:.
984:.
945:.
926:.
907:.
885:.
684:(
669:(
651:(
636:(
625:(
591:-
579:8
575:5
572:+
566:(
554:(
542:(
450:–
446:–
431:8
427:5
424:+
418:(
403:(
392:.
380:–
376:–
363:–
352:(
335:–
304:(
289:8
285:5
282:+
276:(
209:8
205:5
202:+
196:(
189:,
133:(
99:8
95:5
92:+
86:(
58:8
54:5
51:+
45:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
