Sri Lanka Railways M7 Explained

Sri Lanka Railways Class M7
Powertype:Diesel
Builder:Brush Traction
Builddate:1981
Totalproduction:16
Length:12.8abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Locoweight:66 tons
Primemover:GM 8-645E
Enginetype:V8 2 stroke diesel
Transmission:Diesel-electric
Maxspeed:80km/h
Poweroutput:994HP
Operator:Sri Lanka Railways
Numinclass:16
Fleetnumbers:799 ~ 814
Deliverydate:1981
Disposition:Active, except N0. 803
Notes:N0. 803 was condemned

Class M7 is a type of diesel-electric locomotive built for Sri Lanka Railways by Brush Traction, UK, and imported in 1981. This locomotive has the shortest length, least power and least weight compared to other diesel locomotives of Sri Lanka.[1]

History

Three locomotives (803, 813, 814) were painted in a special color scheme and later was painted in normal livery.

In 1999 M7 locomotive No. 803 met with an accident and was seriously damaged and condemned.

Usage

This locomotive was introduced as a shunter by the manufacturer, Brush Traction. In Sri Lanka, these are mostly used in short passenger services. M7s are not permitted on the Main Line because of the low power and lack of dynamic braking but it can be run on all the other of the railway lines in Sri Lanka including the Kelani Valley Line.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ෴M7 දුම්රිය එන්ජිම - සාමාන්ය ධාවන කටයුතු වලට යොදාගන්නා කුඩාම එන්ජිම෴. January 28, 2011. Loco Lanka.