Sri Lanka Railways M2

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 type Diesel-electric
Builder General Motors Diesel, Canada (12)
Electro-Motive Division, USA (2)
Serial number A608–A609, A720–722, A894–A896, A1325–1326, A1920–A921, 31211–31212
Model EMD G12
Build date 1954–1966
Total produced 14 (now 12 in running condition)
Specifications
UIC classification (A1A)(A1A)
Bo′Bo′ in M2c sub class
Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Axle load 19.75 t (19.44 long tons; 21.77 short tons)
Locomotive weight 79 t (78 long tons; 87 short tons)
Fuel type Diesel
Prime mover EMD 567C
Engine type V12 Two-stroke diesel
Cylinders 12
Performance figures
Maximum speed 112 km/h (70 mph)
Power output 1,425 hp (1,063 kW)
1,310 hp (980 kW) in M2d sub class
Locomotive brake Vacuum (Dynamic on M2c and M2d sub classes)
Career
Operator(s) Ceylon Government Railway
» Sri Lanka Railways
Class M2
Number in class 14 (includes M2-5, M2a-3, M2b-2, M2c-2, M2d-2)
Number(s) See table
Official name See table
Nicknames Canadian
First run 1954

Colombo Plan Aid

  • Number 571 "Saskatchewan" was destroyed due to terrorist's bomb
  • Number 570 "Alberta hauled the last "Yal Devi" train to Kankasanthurei. After war began it was trapped there. Later decomposed and shipped to Colombo. 2014 destroyed in Pothuhera train accident.
  • Number 591 "Manibota" was damaged due to Tsunami waves on 26 December 2004. Now in use
  • Livery :Original Livery Red Yellow Strip and Brown, later changed to Silver,thin black strip,Light blue, thick yellow strip and Dark blue,

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

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

Sub Classes

Sub Class Builder Weight Specifications Axel Arrangement Year No.of Locomotives No's
M2A General Motors Diesel 79 tonnes GM V12 G12-567c A1A-A1A 1959 3 591, 592, 593
M2B General Motors Diesel 79 tonnes GM V12 G12-567c A1A-A1A 1958 2 594, 595
M2C General Motors Diesel 79 tonnes GM V12 G12-567c Bo-Bo 1961 2 626, 627
M2D Electro-Motive Division 79 tonnes GM V12 G12-567e A1A-A1A 1966 2 628, 629

In Service

This have 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

Gallery

M2 628 
Class M2 No. 628 - Kankasanthurai 
Class M2 Hauling Udarata Menike train Over Scenic Hill Country 
Class M2 593 - New Brunswick 

References

  1. ↑ "CLASS M2". Sri Lanka Railways Info Page. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Hughes 1996, pp. 92, 95.