Sri Lanka Railways M2

The Sri Lanka Railways Class M2 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in 1954 by General Motors Diesel, Canada, and Electro-Motive Division, USA. This is considered one of the most successful locomotives in Sri Lanka.[1]

Sri Lanka Railways class M2
M2 # 570 Alberta which hauled the last "Yal Devi" train to Kankasanthurei. After war began it was trapped there. Later decomposed and shipped to Colombo. Now in use.
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderGeneral Motors Diesel, Canada (12)
Electro-Motive Division, USA (2)
Serial numberA608–A609, A720–722, A894–A896, A1325–1326, A1920–A921, 31211–31212
ModelEMD G12
Build date1954–1966
Total produced14 (now 13 in running condition)
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UIC(A1A)(A1A)
Bo′Bo′ in M2c sub class
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Axle load19.75 t (19.44 long tons; 21.77 short tons)
Loco weight79 t (78 long tons; 87 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Prime moverEMD 567C
Engine typeV12 Two-stroke diesel
Cylinders12
Loco brakeVacuum (Dynamic on M2c and M2d sub classes)
Performance figures
Maximum speed112 km/h (70 mph)
Power output1,425 hp (1,063 kW)
1,310 hp (980 kW) in M2d sub class
Career
OperatorsCeylon Government Railway
» Sri Lanka Railways
ClassM2
Number in class14 (includes M2-5, M2a-3, M2b-2, M2c-2, M2d-2)
NumbersSee table
Official nameSee table
First run1954
Colombo Plan Aid
  • Number 571 "Saskatchewan" was destroyed by a terrorist's bomb.
  • Number 570 "Alberta” hauled the last "Yal Devi" train to Kankasanthurei. After the civil war began it was trapped there. Later it was dismantled and shipped to Colombo. In 2014 it was damaged in the Pothuhera train accident. Repaired and back in use.
  • Number 591 "Manitoba" was damaged due to tsunami waves on 26 December 2004. Now in use.

It is a General Motors Diesel (Canada) EMD G12 model using the EMD 567C, 1,425-horsepower (1,063 kW) engine.

Description

Introduction

From 1954, several batches of General Motors-manufactured locomotives were imported to Sri Lanka under "The Colombo Plan". Locally called a "Canadian" engine – there are actually two classes of Canadian engines in SLR – the other one is Class M4. Since these engine were imported under grants from the Canadian government, class M2 locomotives are named with Canadian province and city names. The last two locomotives were made in the United States and imported for Cement Corporation, Sri Lanka. But they were later attached to Sri Lanka Railways’ locomotive fleet. They were named after two local cities – Galle and Kankasanthurei – where the cement factories were located.

Entering into Service

The class entered service in January 1955. The Ruhunu Kumari train started using M2 572 British Columbia on 24 October 1955, the first long distance luxury passenger train service in Sri Lanka. The same loco hauled the first Udarata Manike Colombo - Badulla train on 23 April 1956, and on the same day the Yal Davi started, hauled by M2 569 Ontario, in the far north of the country.

Sub Classes
Sub ClassBuilderWeightSpecificationsAxle ArrangementYearNo.of LocomotivesNo's
M2AGeneral Motors Diesel79 tonnesGM V12 G12-567cA1A-A1A19593591, 592, 593
M2BGeneral Motors Diesel79 tonnesGM V12 G12-567cA1A-A1A19582594, 595
M2CGeneral Motors Diesel79 tonnesGM V12 G12-567cBo-Bo19612626, 627
M2DElectro-Motive Division79 tonnesGM V12 G12-567eA1A-A1A19662628, 629

In Service

This class has been used on both passenger and freight trains on Sri Lanka's railways for over 50 years. Despite the introduction of more modern types of traction, as of 2013 a significant number are still in use.

Locomotive Fleet
Table of locomotives[2]
Class Number Name Serial No. Imported Year
M2 569 Ontario A608 1954
M2 570 Alberta A609 1954
M2 571 Saskatchewan A720 1954
M2 572 British Columbia A721 1954
M2 573 Quebec A722 1955
M2a 591 Manitoba A894 1956
M2a 592 Nova Scotia A895 1956
M2b 593 New Brunswick A896 1956
M2b 594 Prince Edward Island A1325 1958
M2b 595 Newfoundland A1326 1958
M2c 626 Montreal A1920 1961
M2c 627 Vancouver A1921 1961
M2d 628 Kankesanthurai 31211 1966
M2d 629 Galle 31212 1966

Accidents & Incidents
  • Number 570 was trapped in Kankasanthurei from 1992 to 1996 due to the civil war after hauling the last night mail train to Kankasanthurei. Brought to Colombo by ship as parts, re-assembled and put back on track.
  • Number 571 Saskatchewan was completely destroyed on 14 September 1985 near Pollipothana due to a bomb blast by terrorists.
  • Number 570 Alberta faced minor damage when a land mine exploded in Punani on 7 June 2007 and severely damaged as a result of Pothuhera train accident on 30 April 2014
  • Number 591 Manitoba was damaged on 26 December 2004 when pulling the Matara Express and was hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami, and added back to service after four months. This locomotive was repainted to depict a sea wave on its livery.
  • Number 628 Kankasanthurai was badly damaged by a land mine, but was rebuilt[3]
  • M2 628
    M2 628
  • Class M2 No. 628 - Kankasanthurai
    Class M2 No. 628 - Kankasanthurai
  • Class M2 Hauling Udarata Menike train Over Scenic Hill Country
    Class M2 Hauling Udarata Menike train Over Scenic Hill Country
  • Class M2 593 - New Brunswick
    Class M2 593 - New Brunswick

References
  1. "CLASS M2". Sri Lanka Railways Info Page. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  2. Hughes 1996, pp. 92, 95.
  3. Jayaratne, Upali O. (March–April 2015). "The Colombo Plan and Canadian Locomotives". Canadian Railway Modeler. 20 (1): 16–17, 20–21.
  • "Class M2 Locomotive". www.ceylonrailway.com.
  • Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1.
  • Lanka Railway Digest.
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