OMEG built a 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow gauge railway extending 567 kilometres (352 mi) from Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast to the mines of Tsumeb. Construction began in 1903 and reached Tsumeb three years later.[2] The first 225 kilometres (140 mi) of railway required 110 steel bridges to cross deeply eroded gullies through sparsely vegetated arid terrain. Most were deck plate girders.[3] The railway, known as the Otavibahn, was the longest 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) gauge railway in the world at its time of construction.[2]
During World War I, German troops had moved inland by the time South African troops reached Swakopmund in January, 1915. German forces destroyed the railroad as they retreated, and South African forces reconstructed a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge line over the route to Karabib in 1915. German troops surrendered following defeat at Otavi in July, 1915; and service was re-established over the remaining 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow gauge line from the railway shops at Usakos with freight transfer facilities at Karabib.
Nationalization and conversion to Cape gauge
The Otavi line was nationalized in 1923. Train service was interrupted by a locust infestation in 1924 until steam nozzles were installed on locomotives to sweep the insects off the rails before their crushed bodies could reduce traction under the locomotive wheels. The worst flooding in forty years caused extensive washouts in 1925.
The Tsumeb mines closed in 1933.[6] German rearmament activity reopened the mines from 1936 until the South African government closed the mine as enemy property in 1940.[7][8] Tsumeb mines reopened again in 1946.[9] The remainder of the line was regauged to 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge in 1961[10] and became part of the TransNamib.
South African Railways 2 ft (610 mm) gauge SAR NGG 16 Class Garratt, preserved in operating condition on the Welsh Highland Railway. This later version of the locomotives used from 1927 to 1933 is the model considered for use in 1958.
The first locomotives designed for regular service were fifteen 22-tonne (21.7-long-ton; 24.3-short-ton) 0-6-2T built by Arn. Jung.[11]Henschel & Sohn built twelve locomotives similar to the Jung design and three 0-6-0T.[11] Twenty 8-wheel auxiliary tenders carrying 8 cubic metres of water and 3.5 tonnes (3.4 long tons; 3.9 short tons) of coal were built to enable these tank locomotives to complete longer runs.[11][12] Henschel & Sohn built three HD class 2-8-2 in 1912 with separate 8-wheel tenders for long-distance running.[13] These locomotives weighed 59 tonnes (58 long tons; 65 short tons) (including the 26-tonne (25.6-long-ton; 28.7-short-ton) tender) and remained in service for 50 years as the 2-8-2 type became standard for the railway.
By 1913, train service included 4 express trains, 14 mixed trains, and 29 freight trains each week.[5] Express and mixed trains included a baggage car, a car for African passengers, and a coach for first and second class passengers.[5] The passenger cars carried concrete ballast in a depressed center section to minimize the possibility of wind tipping a lightly loaded car off the rails.[14] Express trains stopped only at designated stations, but other trains would stop at intermediate points when transport was required.[5] Equipment included:
An executive business car with a kitchen, a bathroom, and an office convertible to a bedroom at night.[12][15] There were also some self-powered steam rail cars with a coal bunker, a mail compartment, 2 compartments for Europeans, and 4 for Africans.[16]
The gasoline engine "Crown Prince".
Share Warrant to Bearer of the Otavi Mining and Railway Company, 1921
A special 7-tonne (6.9-long-ton; 7.7-short-ton) rail motor coach was built for an anticipated visit of Kronprinz Wilhelm in 1914. A 6-cylinder Daimler-Benz gasoline engine gave the car a speed of 38 metres per second (120 ft/s) (137 km/h or 85 mph) and the title of the fastest 2 ft (610 mm) gauge rail car.[13] World War I intervened to prevent Wilhelm's visit, and the car was used as an inspection vehicle after the war.
Two Henschel & Sohn 4-6-2 locomotives built in 1914 had disappeared during the war;[13] but Baldwin Locomotive Works delivered a 4-6-2 in 1916. A coach converted for meal service from 1916 to 1931 is believed to be the only 2 ft (610 mm) gauge dining car ever operated.[17]
Six more Henschel & Sohn 2-8-2 were delivered in 1922.[13] These locomotives were designated South African Railways (SAR) NG5 class. Three SAR NGG 13 Class 2-6-2+2-6-2 Garratt locomotives were used from 1927 until 1933. Henschel & Sohn delivered three SAR NG15 Class 2-8-2 locomotives in 1931. Four sleeping cars were built for the railroad in 1938;[18] when Henschel & Sohn delivered three more 2-8-2 SAR NG15 Class. Fifteen more SAR NG15 Class 2-8-2 locomotives were delivered as three groups of five in 1949, 1952, and 1957. Purchase of additional Garratt locomotives was briefly considered in 1958 but cancelled due to the upcoming track gauge conversion to 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge.
Andrews, Dick (1991). "Extra Narrow Gauge Junction: Otavi Ry., State Northern Ry. in South Africa [sic]". Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette. 16 (1): 63–66.
Moir, S.M. & Crittenden, H. Temple. Namib Narrow Gauge. Lingfield, Surrey, England: The Oakwood Press.
Shaw, Frederic J. (1958). Little Railways of the World. Berkeley, Calif.: Howell-North. 261 p. OCLC 988744.
otavi, mining, railway, company, otavi, minen, eisenbahn, gesellschaft, omeg, railway, mining, company, german, south, west, africa, today, namibia, founded, april, 1900, berlin, with, disconto, gesellschaft, south, west, africa, company, major, shareholders, . The Otavi Mining and Railway Company Otavi Minen und Eisenbahn Gesellschaft or OMEG was a railway and mining company in German South West Africa today s Namibia It was founded on 6 April 1900 in Berlin with the Disconto Gesellschaft and the South West Africa Company as major shareholders 1 Otavi RailwayHistoryOpened1906TechnicalLine length567 km 352 mi Track gauge3 ft 6 in 1 067 mm Old gauge600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in Minimum radius150 m 492 ft Route mapWalvis BayKuisebSwakopSwakopmund Jetty 2 mSwakopmund MoleTurning loop Swakopmund0 Swakopmund23 Namib43 Rossing60 ArandisTreckkopje78 Karup94110 Ebony120 StingbankStingbank Bridge134 Aukas151 UsakosMain workshopsKhan RiverTurning loop Kranzberg167 Kranzbergto WindhoekEtiroEtiro bridge198 Erongo211 Kanona236 OmaruruEsibtal bridgeTop 1589 m260 Epako285 Otue307 KalkfeldOkowakuatjiviAvand343 Erundufrom Outjo379 Otjiwarongo403 Okawe428 Okaputa462 Komukanti497 Otavito Grootfontein523 Korab546 Bobosfrom Oshikango567 TsumebTsumeb Copper mine Contents 1 Construction 2 Nationalization and conversion to Cape gauge 3 Rolling stock 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksConstruction Edit OMEG railway prior to 1915 OMEG built a 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in narrow gauge railway extending 567 kilometres 352 mi from Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast to the mines of Tsumeb Construction began in 1903 and reached Tsumeb three years later 2 The first 225 kilometres 140 mi of railway required 110 steel bridges to cross deeply eroded gullies through sparsely vegetated arid terrain Most were deck plate girders 3 The railway known as the Otavibahn was the longest 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in gauge railway in the world at its time of construction 2 Construction coincided with the Herero and Namaqua Genocide Delays resulted from labor shortages and military heeresfeldbahn operations 4 A 91 kilometer branch was completed in 1908 from Otavi to mines near Grootfontein 5 During World War I German troops had moved inland by the time South African troops reached Swakopmund in January 1915 German forces destroyed the railroad as they retreated and South African forces reconstructed a 3 ft 6 in 1 067 mm narrow gauge line over the route to Karabib in 1915 German troops surrendered following defeat at Otavi in July 1915 and service was re established over the remaining 600 mm 1 ft 11 5 8 in narrow gauge line from the railway shops at Usakos with freight transfer facilities at Karabib Nationalization and conversion to Cape gauge EditThe Otavi line was nationalized in 1923 Train service was interrupted by a locust infestation in 1924 until steam nozzles were installed on locomotives to sweep the insects off the rails before their crushed bodies could reduce traction under the locomotive wheels The worst flooding in forty years caused extensive washouts in 1925 The Tsumeb mines closed in 1933 6 German rearmament activity reopened the mines from 1936 until the South African government closed the mine as enemy property in 1940 7 8 Tsumeb mines reopened again in 1946 9 The remainder of the line was regauged to 3 ft 6 in 1 067 mm narrow gauge in 1961 10 and became part of the TransNamib Steam railcar supplied to the Otavi Railway OMEG tank locomotive with high side gondola near Tsumeb about 1931 South African Railways 2 ft 610 mm gauge SAR NGG 16 Class Garratt preserved in operating condition on the Welsh Highland Railway This later version of the locomotives used from 1927 to 1933 is the model considered for use in 1958 Arnold Jung Locomotive from 1905 of the Otavi Mining and Railway Company in Tsumeb NamibiaRolling stock EditThe first locomotives designed for regular service were fifteen 22 tonne 21 7 long ton 24 3 short ton 0 6 2T built by Arn Jung 11 Henschel amp Sohn built twelve locomotives similar to the Jung design and three 0 6 0T 11 Twenty 8 wheel auxiliary tenders carrying 8 cubic metres of water and 3 5 tonnes 3 4 long tons 3 9 short tons of coal were built to enable these tank locomotives to complete longer runs 11 12 Henschel amp Sohn built three HD class 2 8 2 in 1912 with separate 8 wheel tenders for long distance running 13 These locomotives weighed 59 tonnes 58 long tons 65 short tons including the 26 tonne 25 6 long ton 28 7 short ton tender and remained in service for 50 years as the 2 8 2 type became standard for the railway By 1913 train service included 4 express trains 14 mixed trains and 29 freight trains each week 5 Express and mixed trains included a baggage car a car for African passengers and a coach for first and second class passengers 5 The passenger cars carried concrete ballast in a depressed center section to minimize the possibility of wind tipping a lightly loaded car off the rails 14 Express trains stopped only at designated stations but other trains would stop at intermediate points when transport was required 5 Equipment included 96 low side ore gondolas 55 high side gondolas 20 limestone gondolas 20 boxcars 12 tank cars 4 stock cars 3 passenger coaches An executive business car with a kitchen a bathroom and an office convertible to a bedroom at night 12 15 There were also some self powered steam rail cars with a coal bunker a mail compartment 2 compartments for Europeans and 4 for Africans 16 The gasoline engine Crown Prince Share Warrant to Bearer of the Otavi Mining and Railway Company 1921 A special 7 tonne 6 9 long ton 7 7 short ton rail motor coach was built for an anticipated visit of Kronprinz Wilhelm in 1914 A 6 cylinder Daimler Benz gasoline engine gave the car a speed of 38 metres per second 120 ft s 137 km h or 85 mph and the title of the fastest 2 ft 610 mm gauge rail car 13 World War I intervened to prevent Wilhelm s visit and the car was used as an inspection vehicle after the war Two Henschel amp Sohn 4 6 2 locomotives built in 1914 had disappeared during the war 13 but Baldwin Locomotive Works delivered a 4 6 2 in 1916 A coach converted for meal service from 1916 to 1931 is believed to be the only 2 ft 610 mm gauge dining car ever operated 17 Six more Henschel amp Sohn 2 8 2 were delivered in 1922 13 These locomotives were designated South African Railways SAR NG5 class Three SAR NGG 13 Class 2 6 2 2 6 2 Garratt locomotives were used from 1927 until 1933 Henschel amp Sohn delivered three SAR NG15 Class 2 8 2 locomotives in 1931 Four sleeping cars were built for the railroad in 1938 18 when Henschel amp Sohn delivered three more 2 8 2 SAR NG15 Class Fifteen more SAR NG15 Class 2 8 2 locomotives were delivered as three groups of five in 1949 1952 and 1957 Purchase of additional Garratt locomotives was briefly considered in 1958 but cancelled due to the upcoming track gauge conversion to 3 ft 6 in 1 067 mm narrow gauge See also EditSlippery rail South African Class NG 15 2 8 2 Swakopmund Windhoek line Two foot gauge railways in South Africa Mansfeld Mining Railway a copper ore railway in Germany White Knob Copper Electric Railway a copper ore railway in the United States BHP Nevada Railroad a copper ore railway in the United StatesNotes Edit Dierks Klaus Chronology of Namibian History 1900 Retrieved 23 July 2010 a b Shaw 1958 pp 37 38 Shaw 1958 p 38 Andrews 1991 p 63 a b c d Shaw 1958 p 39 Shaw 1958 pp 46 47 Shaw 1958 pp 43 45 Otavi Minerals Otavi de 21 June 2000 Retrieved 28 August 2013 Newmont Mining Corporation FundingUniverse Retrieved 28 August 2013 Andrews 1991 p 66 a b c Shaw 1958 p 45 a b Andrews 1991 p 65 a b c d Shaw 1958 p 47 Andrews Dick 1991 Extra Narrow Gauge Junction Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette Benchmark Publications March April 63 66 Shaw 1958 p 42 Shaw 1958 p 36 Shaw 1958 p 43 Shaw 1958 p 49References EditAndrews Dick 1991 Extra Narrow Gauge Junction Otavi Ry State Northern Ry in South Africa sic Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette 16 1 63 66 Moir S M amp Crittenden H Temple Namib Narrow Gauge Lingfield Surrey England The Oakwood Press Shaw Frederic J 1958 Little Railways of the World Berkeley Calif Howell North 261 p OCLC 988744 External links EditDocuments and clippings about Otavi Mining and Railway Company in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Otavi Mining and Railway Company amp oldid 1042640896, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
