The railway was laid with 18-pound rails to gauge of 24 inches and had a total length of approximately 13 miles when completed.
No great difficulty was experienced during the construction of the line. Equipment for the railway consisted of one locomotive and several cars supplied by Kerr Stuart in 1895. The line was used for transporting of guano from Cape Cross.
1897 State Northern Railway. Construction of the line between Swakopmund and Windhoek began in September 1897. About 1000 workers were employed. The reason for construction was outbreak of Renderpest (lethal decease of cattle and oxen). In October 1899 rails reached Karibib, in June 1902 - Windhoek. The costs of this railway line was DM 15,000,000 and although it was operated by the military, it was made available for civilian use as well. Duration of the trip from Windhoek to Swakopmund was reduced from 10 (with oxen) to 3 days. State line (Staatsbahn) was completed in 1902. Length was 382 km with a gauge of 600 mm (German standard).
1897-99. The construction of the first public railway line by the British Government in Walvis Bay was completed. The engine named ''Hope No. 652'' served 1899-1915. There was a terminal 18 km from Swakopmund named ''Plum''.
1903-1906 Otavi Railway. Construction of this line by German private company OMEG (Otavi - Minen und Eisenbahngesellschaft) mining copper began in October 1903. From the
beginning
of construction there was a labour problem. It was not possible to continue using of
Herero labour because of the uprising and the only available alternative was to import
European labour. An Italian contractor was contacted and he arrived with 300 of his
countrymen. Later another 750 Italians and 500 Owambos were employed as well. For the
purpose of maintenance the line was divided into sections 25 kilometres in length under a
care of a section foreman who had under him several white men and 8-12 natives. They were
paid a DM 1 a day and their food. The contract price of the railway was DM 20,000,000 with
a length of 570 km and standard 600 mm gauge.1907-08. The construction of Otavi-Grootfontein line by the South-West Company which was a mother company of OMEG.
1905-08. The construction of South line connecting Luderitzbught (Luderitz) with Keetmanshoop via Seeheim, from where the line was continued to Kalkfontein Süd (now Karasburg). The gauge was laid at 1067 mm standard (present standard).
1910-12. The construction of the line between Windhoek and Keetmanshoop. Construction began from both ends of line. The same time a line between Karibib and Windhoek was rebuilt to 1067 mm gauge. The length of the line was 340 miles.
1915. The line between Nakop and Kalkfontein-Süd was built. The same year lines between Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Usakos were completed to 1067 mm gauge.
