Since 1897, the existing ox wagon transport system at the time, collapsed after a rinderpest outbreak in German South West Africa, and was designed to be replaced with a 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow-gauge railway using sufficiently available feldbahn equipment from Germany.

A railway was commissioned from the Swakopmund port to Windhoek of the former colony German South West Africa.

Despite the relatively primitive technical equipment, the train brought significant better transport services, particularly during the Herero and Namaqua Genocide in 1904-1905.

When converting the railway Swakopmund–Windhoek–Karibib section, curve radii were flattened and gradients were eased, so that the line was three kilometers longer, but on a more general course.

The section of the state railway from Swakopmund to Karibib on Jakalswater remained at the original 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in) narrow gauge and was only serviced twice per month in each direction.

In Karibib all passengers had to change trains and all the goods were transshipped to the 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow-gauge railway line.