Locomotives and train sets of Sri Lanka Railways consist mostly of diesel locomotives and multiple units. Steam locomotives are no longer used, except on heritage trains, such as the Viceroy Special.
The first locomotives pulled trains on the original segment of the Main Line, on 540NaN0 connecting Colombo and Ambepussa.[1] In 1953, Sri Lanka Railways enhanced its service to more power with diesel locomotives.[2] Since then, various types of diesel locomotives were added to the service.
Sri Lanka's first railway locomotive was Leopold, in 1864. It was one of seven 4-4-0 locomotives built that year for the Ceylon Government Railway by Robert Stephenson & Company (nos. 1–5) and Beyer, Peacock & Company (nos. 6 and 7). Many more steam locomotives were added to the system, through to the 1950s. All the steam locomotives bar three were manufactured in the United Kingdom; the exceptions were three 4-4-0s built at the railway's Maradana Works near Colombo in 1900 and 1905. In 1938, locomotives were reclassified, based on wheel arrangement and gauge. Sub-classification was based on weight, modifications, heating type, boiler capacity, or other features.[3]
Throughout its history, Ceylon Government Railway had 410 steam locomotives.[4]
The Railways upgraded its service to diesel locomotives, under the leadership of B. D. Rampala in the mid 1950s.[2] In 1953, the first locomotives from British builder Brush Bagnall were imported. Since then, the Railways have imported locomotives from Canada, Japan, West Germany, India, France, and China[5] [6] [7]
In the 1990s, Sri Lanka Railways converted the narrow gauge Kelani Valley line into broad gauge. This was the last narrow gauge line left in Sri Lanka, and its conversion to broad gauge put the fleet of narrow gauge locomotives out of use. All operational locomotives in the country today are broad gauge.
As of March 2022, Sri Lanka does not have commercially operational electric locomotives or train sets. Electrification has been proposed, to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.[8]
Sri Lanka's locomotives have appeared in several different liveries over the years.
The steam locomotives were mainly black.
With the introduction of diesel locomotives, coloured liveries appeared. Typical for many locomotives is a livery that has thick horizontal bands of dark blue, light blue, silver and a yellow stripe. Also common for many locomotives is a livery of horizontal bands of green, brown, and a yellow stripe.
The DMUs are painted in various liveries, unique to their classes. Typically, they feature horizontal bands of colour running their entire length and a solid colour on the front and back ends.
M6 ICE locomotives have a unique ICE livery of brown and orange.
Steam locomotives were numbered from 1 upwards, reaching 161 in 1911. Whereafter replacement locomotives were given the same number as the locomotive that they replaced with an "R" prefix; until such time as the old locomotive, now running with an "O" prefix, was finally withdrawn. This system was abandoned in 1928, with new locomotives being numbered from 249 upwards, and reaching 336 by 1940, and 362 in 1951 when the last steam locomotive — a 4-8-0 from WG Bagnall — was delivered.
Narrow gauge locomotives were numbered in the same list as broad-gauge locomotives. Diesel locomotives and multiple unit numbering started from 500 – an Armstrong Whitworth 122 hp 0-4-0 diesel-electric shunter delivered in 1934 – and reached 840 in 1991. and included one locomotive experimentally converted to electric traction.[3] [9]
Steam locomotives were used on regular services until the 1970s.[2] [3]
| Class | Numbers | Type | Quantity | Manufacturer | Year | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–15, 24–25, 28–29, 39–40, 43–47 | 26 | Robert Stephenson & Company (5) Beyer, Peacock & Company (7) Kitson & Company (14) | 1864–1880 | align=left | 5-foot driving wheels | |||
| 20–23, 26–27 | 6 | Beyer, Peacock & Company (4) Kitson & Company (2) | 1868–1872 | align=left | 6-foot driving wheels; 16″×22″ cylinders | |||
| 63–71, 89–92 | 13 | 1892–1895 | align=left | 6-foot driving wheels; 17″×24″ cylinders | ||||
| 16–19, 41–42 | 6 | 1868–1878 | align=left | |||||
| 30–31 | 2 | 1868 | align=left | Ex Breakwater branch; absorbed in 1874; a third loco was not taken into stock | ||||
| 32–38, 48 | 8 | Robert Stephenson & Company (3) Kitson & Company (5) | 1876–1880 | align=left | ||||
| 30–31, 1 (second) | 3 | CGR Maradana Works | 1900–1905 | align=left | 5-foot driving wheels; 16″×24″ cylinders | |||
| 163 | 1 | 1913 | align=left | Crane tank | ||||
| A1 | 18–19, 41–42 | 4 | 1913–1921 | align=left | ||||
| A2 | 155–156 | 2 | 1911 | align=left | Renumbered 16–17 | |||
| A3 | 275–278, 296–297, 334–336, 357–362 | 15 | Hunslet Engine Company (6) WG Bagnall (9) | 1928–1951 | align=left | |||
| B1 | 4, 30, 242–262, 279–290 294–295 347–342 351–356 | 49 | Beyer, Peacock & Company (25) Armstrong Whitworth (12) Robert Stephenson & Company (12) | 1927–47 | align=left | “Governor” class – many named; no. 30 Sir Thomas Maitland, runs the Viceroy Special service.[11] | ||
| B2 | 1, 3, 25–29, 39–40, 43–47 193–196, 204–213, 222–228 | 35 | Kitson & Company (3) Robert Stephenson & Company (11) Vulcan Foundry (21) | 1925–1925 | align=left | No. 213 preserved and operational | ||
| B3 | 8–11, 22, 169–171, 185–192 | 16 | 1913–1914 | align=left | ||||
| B4 | 72–75, 147–147, 158–159 | 9 | Neilson & Company (4) Kitson & Company (5) | 1893–1912 | align=left | |||
| B5 | 76–80 | 5 | Neilson & Company (3) Vulcan Foundry (2) | 1894 | align=left | |||
| B6 | 49–62 | 14 | Kitson & Company (10) Vulcan Foundry (4) | 1882–1890 | align=left | |||
| B7 | 81–88 | 8 | 1894 | align=left | ||||
| B8 | 214–219, 232–240 | 18 | Hunslet Engine Company (13) RW Hawthorn, Leslie & Company (2) Nasmyth, Wilson & Company (3) | 1922–27 | align=left | |||
| B9 | 140–141 | 2 | 1908 | align=left | Renumbered 134–135 | |||
| B10 | 109–119 | 11 | 1901 | align=left | ||||
| C1 | 241, 343–350 | 9 | 1927, 1945 | align=left | 1945 locos later converted to oil firing | |||
| D1 | 270–274 | 5 | 1928 | align=left | “College” class – most named; All scrapped | |||
| D2 | align=left | All scrapped | ||||||
| D3 | 12–15, 20–21, 131–139, 150–151, 164–168 | 22 | Robert Stephenson & Company (20) RW Hawthorn, Leslie & Company (2) | 1907–1914 | align=left | 131–139 renumbered 32–37, 131–133; 150–151 renumbered 38, 40; 12 rebuilt as class D1 and numbered 298 in 1930; D3 class saturated, reclassified D2 when superheated; All scrapped | ||
| E1 | 23–24, 93–94, 101 162, 179–183, 197–200 | 15 | Dübs & Company (3) North British Locomotive Company (5) Hunslet Engine Company (7) | 1898–1915 | align=left | |||
| F1 | 265–269 | 5 | 1928 | align=left | All scrapped | |||
| F2 | 2, 5–7, 144–157, 172–173 | 20 | Vulcan Foundry (5) North British Locomotive Company (15) | 1911–1913 | align=left | 144–151 delivered as 152–154, 157–161; F2 saturated, reclassified F2 when superheated; All scrapped | ||
| F3 | 95–100, 124–129 | 12 | Dübs & Company (6) Kitson & Company (2) North British Locomotive Company (4) | 1900–1903 | align=left | All scrapped | ||
| H1 | 293 | 1 | 1930 | align=left | Narrow gauge | |||
| J1 | 220–221, 263–264, 291–292 | 6 | 1924–1929 | align=left | Narrow gauge | |||
| J2 | 142–146, 160–161, 174–178, 184, 201–202 | 15 | Hunslet Engine Company (11) North British Locomotive Company (4) | 1908–1919 | align=left | Narrow gauge; 142–146 renumbered 136–140 | ||
| K1 | 102–108 | 7 | 1900–1901 | align=left | Narrow gauge; Kelani Valley Tanks; Two were used for the film "Bridge on the River Kwai"[12] [13] | |||
| L1 | 120–123, 130, 203 | 6 | Sharp, Stewart & Company (4) Hunslet Engine Company (2) | 1920 | align=left | Narrow gauge; Uda Pussellawe tanks | ||
| R1 | 301–313 | 13 | 1925–1927 | align=left rowspan=4 | Some were later fitted with small under-floor diesel units and were reclassified as T2 | |||
| R2 | 317–320 | 4 | 1928 | |||||
| R3 | 321–327 | 7 | 1928 | |||||
| R4 | 314–316 | 3 | 1928 | |||||
| V1 | 328–330 | 3 | 1927 | align=left | Narrow gauge | |||
| V2 | 331–333 | 3 | 1928 | align=left | Narrow gauge |
| Class | Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| M | align=left | Diesel Electric Locomotives | |
| W | align=left | Diesel Hydraulic Locomotives | |
| G & Y | align=left | Shunters | |
| N & P | align=left | Narrow Gauge Locomotives | |
| S | align=left | Diesel Multiple Units | |
| T | align=left | Diesel Rail Cars |
Diesel locomotives of Sri Lanka Railway are categorized into several classes and their sub classes.
| Class | Photo | Numbers | Type | Quantity | Manufacturer | Year | Model | Power | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 539–563 | A1A-A1A de | 25 | 1952 | — | 1000 hp | Currently not in service | ||||
| 569–573 591–595 626–629 | A1A-A1A de (12) Bo-Bo (2) | 14 | General Motors Diesel (12) Electro-Motive Division (2) | 1954–1966 | 1400 hp | Except one (571 Saskatchewan) all others are still in active service | ||||
| 589–590 | Bo-Bo de | 2 | Sri Lankan Railways | 1956–1958 | 360 hp | Engines (180 hp × 2) taken from S1 class | ||||
| 743–756 | Co-Co de | 14 | 1975 | 1750 hp | ||||||
| 767–782 | Bo-Bo de | 16 | 1979 | 1150 hp | M5A: Re-engined locally using MTU V12 in 1991; M5B: Re-engined locally using Paxman V12 in 1997; M5C: Re-engined locally using Caterpillar 3516 DITA. | |||||
| 783–798 | A1A-A1A de | 16 | 1979–1980 | 1650 hp | ||||||
| 799–814 | Bo-Bo de | 16 | 1981 | 1000 hp | ||||||
| M8 (841-848), M8A (877,878) | Co-Co de | M8 (8), M8A (2) | M8 (1995), M8A (2001) | M8 (2600 hp), M8A (1950 hp) | Sub Class M8A: Only 2 locomotives were introduced | |||||
| 864–873 | Co-Co de | 10 | 2000 | AD32C | 1800 hp | Several units out of service shortly after introduction due to cost of spares and repair. | ||||
| M10 (914-916), M10A (940-945) | Co-Co de | M10 (3), M10A (6) | 2012 | WDM3D (With Alco 251 series 12 diesel engine) | 2300 hp | Sub class M10A was introduced in 2013 which is a technical variant.[15] | ||||
| M11 (949-958), | Co-Co | M11 (10) | 2018 | WDG4D(With EMD 12-710 diesel engine) | 3200 hp | |||||
| Class | Photo | Numbers | Type | Quantity | Manufacturer | Year | Power | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 630–674 | B-B dh | 45 | 1968–1969 | 1150 hp | 10 rebuilt with Caterpillar engines and reclassified W3. Only 2 locomotives are in operation. | ||||
| 703–716, 729 | B-B dh | 15 | 1968–Present | 1500 hp | 729 ex demonstrator, ran as DR V150.001; imported 1970. Several re-furbished and in operation. | ||||
| 631…674 | B-B dh | 10 | Sri Lankan Railways | 1997–Present | 1150 hp | 10 rebuilt from class W1 with Caterpillar engines. Mainly used in up country line. | |||
| Class | Photo | Numbers | Type | Quantity | Manufacturer | Year | Power | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 0–4–0 de | 1 | 1934 - 2006 | 122 hp | Sulzer engine. Not in use. | ||||
| 531–538 | Bo-Bo de | 8 | 1950- 2000 | 625 hp | Paxman V8 engine. Not in use. | ||||
| 675–702 | 0-6-0 dh | 28 | 1968- 1973 | 530 hp | Still in operation. | ||||
| 721–728 | D dh | 8 | Sri Lanka Railways | 1972–1973 | Paxman V12 engine. Not in operation. | ||||
| 564–568 | 1C1 dh | 5 | 1952–53 | 500 hp | Not in use. | ||||
| 730–732 | B-B dh | 3 | 1973 | 600 hp | GM Detroit Diesel V16 engine. Ordered by Sri Lanka Veneers & Plywood. Not in use. | ||||
| 527–530 | 0-6-0 dm | 4 | 1950 | 120 hp | Not in use. | ||||
S1–S8 Diesel Hydraulic Multiple Units, S9–S14, S14A Diesel Electric & Electro-Diesel Multiple Units
| Class | Photo | Numbers | Type | Quantity | Manufacturer | Year | Power | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501–503 | 4-car | 3 | 1938 | 400 hp | Named Silver Foam, Silver Spray, and Silver Mist. Not in operation, and power cars scrapped. | ||||
| 574–588 | 15 | 1958 | 500 hp | Not in operation and the power cars were scrapped. | |||||
| 596–620 | 25 | 1959 | 880 hp | Not in operation. | |||||
| 621–624 | 5 | 1961 | 1000 hp | Out of service. | |||||
| 717–720 | 5-car | 2 sets | 1970 | 880 hp | Hitachi Tourist excursion train. Now one is in Airport Express service, operated by Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited. | ||||
| 733–742 | 10 | 1974 | 1150 hp | Very similar in appearance to S7. Operated mainly on the broad gauged Kelani Valley line. Currently used as presidential train. | |||||
| 757–766 | 10 | 1977 | 1000 hp | Very similar in appearance to S6. Operated mainly on the broad gauged Kelani Valley line. Not in regular operations. | |||||
| 821–840 | 20 | 1991 | 1150 hp | Currently in operation. | |||||
| 849–863 | 20 | 2000 | 1150 hp | Currently in operation. | |||||
| 879-893 | 15 | 2008 | Currently in operation. | ||||||
| 894–913 | 20 | ICF | 2011–2012 | 1360 hp | [18] Designed with multi class accommodation. | ||||
| 917–939 | 22 | 2012 | 2000 hp | Power cars are single-ended locomotives without passenger interiors. Imported in two variants, one for run on commuter services and other run on long distance services. | |||||
| 959–970 | 6 (double sets) | ICF | 2017-2019 | 1800 hp | Power car is a single-ended locomotive without passenger interiors. | ||||
| 971–988 | 9 sets (2 power cars per set) | 2019-2020 | 1950 hp | Power cars are single-ended locomotives without passenger interiors. | |||||
| 989–992 | 4(power cars) | 2019-2020 | 1950 hp | ||||||
| S13A | 993–996 | 2 (double sets) | ICF | 2019-2021 | 1800 hp | Power car is a single-ended locomotive without passenger interiors. All trailer coaches are Air-conditioned Chiar cars. | |||
The various Railbus units that are currently operated are not listed below.
| Class | Photo | Numbers | Type | Quantity | Manufacturer | Year | Model | Power | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 504–526 | 23 | 1947 | 200 hp | align=left | Coupled in Twin Units. Not in use. | |||||
| (1950) | align=left | Converted steam rail car in 1950. Not in use | ||||||||
| RB1 to .. | Rail Bus | SLR Rathmalana Works | (1995) | Based on Tata 1210/48 & Ashok Leyland Viking 193 Bus Chassis | TATA :- NA 692 DI 97 hpAshok Leyland :- 0.400 - 110 hpWO6E1- 119hpHAL6ETI - 113 hp | A total of 14 Rail Buses were builtbetween 1995 and 2002 with numbers RB1 to RB14. |