South West African Class Ha
| Industry | Locomotive manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1810 |
| Headquarters | Kassel , Germany |
South West African Class Ha 0-6-2T
The Class Ha 0-6-2T steam locomotive, introduced in 1904, originated during the period of German administration in German South West Africa.
That year, the German authorities procured a total of ten Class Ha 0-6-2T tank engines specifically for leasing purposes to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company. Following the conclusion of the First World War, only a single unit from this batch remained in service and was subsequently incorporated into the fleet of the South African Railways.
Manufacturer
In 1903, Henschel and Son in Germany constructed ten narrow gauge steam locomotives with a 0-6-2 wheel arrangement, measuring 600 millimetres (23.62 inches) gauge, for the German authorities in German South West Africa (GSWA). Upon their arrival in 1904, these engines were classified as Class Ha.
These locomotives were subsequently leased to the Otavi Mining and Railway Company, which operated a narrow gauge line traversing the Namib Desert between Swakopmund and Tsumeb.
Conflicting reports exist regarding their original engine numbers. Henschel assigned numbers ranging from 11 to 20 on the cabside plates, but the railway later renumbered them from 21 to 30. This change was likely due to the existing fifteen Jung-built locomotives already occupying numbers 1 through 15.
Characteristics
While these locomotives shared similar dimensions with the earlier Jung models, they featured larger boilers and utilized Allan valve gear. The "Ha" classification indicated that this was the first locomotive class manufactured by Henschel specifically for GSWA.
Locomotive no. 27, along with possibly others, underwent modifications at the Usakos Workshop to serve on the Otavi Railway’s express passenger routes. This conversion involved removing the side tanks and coal bunker and attaching a separate tender. Comparable alterations were also applied to two of the Jung locomotives.
Service
Following the outbreak of the First World War, South African forces assumed control over the former German colony, including its railway infrastructure. Management of GSWA railways transferred from military authorities to the Director of Railways based in Windhoek on 1 August 1915. Later, on 1 April 1922, all railway lines and equipment within the territory were incorporated into South African Railways (SAR).
Of the original ten Class Ha engines, only number 22 survived into SAR administration after World War I. It continued to carry its German Colonial Ha class designation and retained its original engine number during SAR service.
Other locomotive models
Besides the primary locomotives, the Otavi Railway also operated at least two additional types, although details about them remain limited. Despite being commonly attributed to Henschel, these locomotives do not appear in the official Henschel production records.[1]
- In 1903, a compact side-tank locomotive paired with a four-wheeled tender was delivered. Its chimney featured an inverted conical spark arrestor. While the exact wheel configuration is unknown, the boiler pressure was maintained at 176 pounds per square inch (1,213 kilopascals), generating a tractive effort of 4,930 pounds-force (21.9 kilonewtons) at 75% boiler pressure. The tender could hold 2 long tons 10 hundredweight (2.5 tonnes) of coal, and the side tanks had a water capacity of 1,210 imperial gallons (5,500 litres).[2]
- Also in 1903, two small shunting locomotives were introduced. These featured a 2-2-2 Patentee wheel arrangement and were assigned numbers 28 and 29. Each was equipped with two cylinders measuring 12 inches (305 millimetres) in bore and 13 inches (330 millimetres) in stroke, driving wheels with a diameter of 33+7⁄8 inches (860 millimetres), and operated at a boiler pressure of 176 pounds per square inch (1,213 kilopascals). Their tractive effort at 75% boiler pressure was also 4,930 pounds-force (21.9 kilonewtons), while their service weight was 18 long tons (18,290 kilograms).[2]
Given that construction of the 600 millimetres (23.62 inches) narrow-gauge Otavi Railway began in November 1903, it is likely that these two locomotive types were procured specifically for construction purposes.[3][4]
In 1914, Henschel dispatched two 4-6-2 locomotives to Swakopmund intended for use on the Otavi Railway, bearing works numbers 12829 and 12830. They were designated to be numbered 31 and 32; however, these units were lost at sea when the ship transporting them sank.[1]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedHenschel - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedSAR&H Oct 1947 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedDulez 150 - ↑ 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 West Africa. South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, August 1947. p. 667.