Sri Lanka Railways M1

Last updated

Sri Lanka Railways class M1
SLR Class M1.jpg
M1 No.560
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
Builder Brush Bagnall Traction
Serial number3025–3049 [1]
Build date1952 [1]
Total produced25 [1]
Specifications
Configuration:
   AAR A1A-A1A
   UIC (A1A)(A1A)
Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Loco weight88 long tons (89 t; 99 short tons)
Fuel type Diesel
Prime mover Mirlees JS12VT [2]
Engine type V12, 4 stroke diesel [2]
Performance figures
Power output1,000 hp (746 kW)
Career
OperatorsCeylon Government Railway
» Sri Lanka Railways
Class M1
Numbers539–563 [1]
First run1953–1956
Withdrawn1983
Sources: [3] except where noted

The M1 locomotive was a class of locomotives, used by Sri Lanka Railways, imported from 1953, and manufactured by Brush Bagnall Traction.

Contents

The locomotives weighed 88 long tons (89 t) had a 1,000 hp (746 kW) V12 Mirlees JS12VT four-stroke engine. The Sri Lanka railway had a fleet of 25 of these Class M1 locomotives which began introduction in 1953 and were removed from service from 1983. [2]

Locomotive number 560 is the subject of a restoration attempt. [4]

M-1 Locomotive at Kadugannawa Sri Lanka Class M-1 Locomotive at Sri Lanka railway museum Kadugannawa 20150621 164402.jpg
M-1 Locomotive at Kadugannawa Sri Lanka

Introduction

In the 1950s Sri Lankan Railways was seeking replacements for old rolling stock, routine replacement of which had been delayed by World War II. Specifications were for 25 locomotives with 750 hp (559 kW) power at the wheel, available from 12 mph (19 km/h) upwards, and up to an altitude of 6,200 ft (1,900 m). [5] The train was expected to be used for suburban trains centered on Colombo, as well as mail trains in the north of the country, and trains in hill areas: approximately requirements were for a vehicle capable of pulling 550 long tons (560 t; 620 short tons) at 18 mph (29 km/h) on a gradient of 1 in 44 (2.27%) on track with 5-chain (330 ft; 101 m) reverse curves; preferably within an 80 long tons (81 t; 90 short tons) locomotive weight on 6 axles (A1A-A1A). Several firms tendered for the contact; American suppliers were unable to enter a competitive bid due to the devaluation of both the rupee and British pound. [6]

Brush offered a locomotive with 1,000 hp (746 kW) power, and a generator output of 625 hp (466 kW), capable of multiple working, [7] and was awarded the contract. [5] Five locomotives were supplied (deliveries beginning Jan. 1953) for operational testing – Brush had not been able to fully stress test the units in England due to an absence of a full scale 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) test track.

Class M1 locomotive restored at National railway museum, Kadugannawa National railway museum, Kadugannawa.JPG
Class M1 locomotive restored at National railway museum, Kadugannawa

During testing engine overheating was found to be a serious problem on the steeply graded and curving mainline. Other issues requiring attention included fuel pump problems including air-locks, and bogie frame cracking. The electrical circuit for torque control was also modified. [8]

The remaining twenty locomotives, with modifications required to resolve the issues found during testing were delivered from May 1954, at a rate of approximately 1 per month. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

Brush Traction was a manufacturer and maintainer of railway locomotives in Loughborough, England whose operations have now been merged into the Wabtec company's Doncaster UK operations.

The AAR wheel arrangement system is a method of classifying locomotive wheel arrangements that was developed by the Association of American Railroads. Essentially a simplification of the European UIC classification, it is widely used in North America to describe diesel and electric locomotives. It is not used for steam locomotives,, which use the Whyte notation instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail HS4000</span>

HS4000 Kestrel was a prototype high-powered mainline diesel locomotive that was built in 1967 by Brush Traction, Loughborough, as a technology demonstrator for potential future British Rail and export orders. The locomotive number is a combination of the initials of Hawker Siddeley and the power rating of its Sulzer diesel engine (4,000 hp), making it the most powerful locomotive built by the company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CIE 101 Class</span>

The Córas Iompair Éireann 101 Class locomotives, numbered B101-B112, were built in 1956 by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company. They were fitted with Sulzer 6LDA28 engines of 960 hp (720 kW), with four Metropolitan-Vickers MV137 traction motors. They were of A1A-A1A wheel arrangement, weighed 75 tonnes and had a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NIR 1 Class</span> Irish diesel locomotive

The Northern Ireland Railways DH class was a class of three diesel-hydraulic shunting locomotives obtained in 1969. All three have now been withdrawn, and two have since been rebuilt for work in Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class D2/11</span>

The British Rail Class D2/11 was a British class of locomotive designed in 1958 by Brush Traction and Beyer, Peacock & Company, which co-operated to produce five prototype diesel-electric shunting locomotives of 0-4-0 wheel arrangement. They were intended to demonstrate a new generation of diesel shunters for industrial and mainline use. Two were loaned to British Railways for trials and one, number D2999, was subsequently purchased by BR. However, no large scale orders resulted from these demonstrators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorkshire Engine Company Janus</span>

The Yorkshire Engine Company Janus is a line of 0-6-0 wheel arrangement, diesel-electric locomotives that weighed 48 long tons and had a maximum speed of 23 mph (37 km/h). The two Rolls-Royce C6SFL diesel engines gave a total power output of 400 hp (300 kW). Each engine had its cooling system at the outer end, and its generator at the inner end. There were two traction motors, each being powered by one generator, thus simplifying the electrical system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail 18000</span>

British Rail 18000 was a prototype mainline gas turbine-electric locomotive built for British Railways in 1949 by Brown, Boveri & Cie. An earlier gas-turbine locomotive, 18100, had been ordered from Metropolitan-Vickers by the Great Western Railway but construction was delayed due to World War II; a second, 18000, was thus ordered from Switzerland in 1946. It spent its working life on the Western Region of British Railways, operating express passenger services from Paddington station, London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 80</span> Prototype 25 kV AC electric locomotive

Class 80 was the TOPS classification allocated by British Rail to the prototype 25 kV AC electric locomotive. This locomotive was built by Metropolitan-Vickers, initially as a prototype gas turbine-electric locomotive, numbered 18100. British Rail allocated the number E1000 to the locomotive following its conversion from gas turbine propulsion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ALCO PA</span> American locomotive class

The ALCO PA was a family of A1A-A1A diesel locomotives built to haul passenger trains. The locomotives were built in Schenectady, New York, in the United States, by a partnership of the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) and General Electric (GE) between June, 1946 and December, 1953. Designed by General Electric's Ray Patten, they were of a cab unit design; both cab-equipped lead A unit PA and cabless booster B unit PB models were built. While externally the PB models were slightly shorter than the PA model, they shared many of the same characteristics, both aesthetically and mechanically. However, they were not as reliable as EMD E-units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel Waggon Works</span> Manufacturer of steam vehicles

Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd was a British company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire that made steam-powered lorries, railway locomotives, and later, diesel engined lorries, buses and locomotives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gas turbine locomotive</span> Type of railway locomotive

A gas turbine locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a gas turbine. Several types of gas turbine locomotive have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conveyed to the driving wheels (drivers). A gas turbine train typically consists of two power cars, and one or more intermediate passenger cars.

The Erie-built was the first streamlined, cab-equipped dual service diesel locomotive built by Fairbanks-Morse, introduced as direct competition to such models as the ALCO PA and FA and EMD FT. F-M lacked the space and staff to design and manufacture large road locomotives in their own plant at Beloit, Wisconsin, and was concerned that waiting to develop the necessary infrastructure would cause them to miss out on the market opportunity for large road locomotives. Engineering and assembly work was subcontracted out to General Electric, which produced the locomotives at its Erie, Pennsylvania, facility, thereby giving rise to the name "Erie-built."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class D16/2</span> Class of 3 1600/2000-hp 1Co-Co1 diesel-electric locomotives

British Railways Class D16/2 was a class of prototype diesel locomotives built by British Railways at Ashford Works and introduced in 1950–1951, with a third example being introduced in 1954. They had been designed by Oliver Bulleid for the Southern Railway and were authorised in February 1947 but did not appear until after nationalisation. The diesel engine and transmission were supplied by English Electric, but the Bulleid influence was obvious. The box-like body style closely resembled Bulleid's electric locomotives and was quite different from the usual English Electric style, typified by British Rail Class D16/1 which in turn was strongly influenced by contemporary American design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ALCO FA</span> American locomotive class

The ALCO FA was a family of B-B diesel locomotives designed to haul freight trains. The locomotives were built by a partnership of ALCO and General Electric in Schenectady, New York, between January 1946 and May 1959. Designed by General Electric's Ray Patten, they were of a cab unit design; both cab-equipped lead FA and cabless booster FB models were built. A dual passenger-freight version, the FPA/FPB, was also offered. It was equipped with a steam generator for heating passenger cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Pacific GTELs</span> Fleet of gas turbine-electric locomotives

The Union Pacific GTELs were a series of gas turbine-electric locomotives built by Alco-GE and General Electric between 1952-1961 and operated by Union Pacific from 1952 to 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B. D. Rampala</span> Sri Lankan mechanical engineer

Bamunusinghearachchige Don Rampala, was a chief mechanical engineer and later general manager of Sri Lanka Railways. He was the first native Sri Lankan to hold the post of chief mechanical engineer. In 1956, the Institution of Locomotive Engineers in London recognised Rampala as the finest diesel engineer in Asia at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">China Railways DF11</span> Chinese diesel locomotive class

The Dongfeng -11 diesel locomotives (DF11)(Chinese:东风11), is a semi-high-speed diesel locomotive, from China Qishuyan Locomotive Works Manufacturing Co. used by the China Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Locomotives of Sri Lanka Railways</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NZR DSA class</span>

The NZR DSA class locomotive was a type of 0-6-0DM diesel-mechanical locomotives built by three different manufacturers: W. G. Bagnall, Hunslet, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Vulcan Foundry for the Drewry Car Co. They were built between 1953 and 1967.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hughes 1996, p. 92.
  2. 1 2 3 "Diesel Locomotives of Sri Lanka : Locomotive classification". www.srilankanlocos.com. M1. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013.
  3. Ravi Fernando (30 August 2001). "The unforgettable 'M1' locomotive". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Retrieved 7 November 2013. Also reprinted at gyan.slrfc.org
  4. "Brush Bagnall Sri Lanka - Restoration Website". brushlanka.slrfc.org. Class M1 Locomotive Restoration web site. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  5. 1 2 Rapala 1956, p. 325.
  6. Rapala 1956, pp. 325–7.
  7. Rapala 1956, pp. 328–9.
  8. Rapala 1956, pp. 331–2.
  9. Rapala 1956, p. 339.

Sources