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 connecting Colombo and Ambepussa. In 1953, Sri Lanka Railways enhanced its service to more power with diesel locomotives. Since then, various types of diesel locomotives were added to the service.

History Sri Lanka's first railway locomotive was Leopold, introduced 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 but 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.http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/locos1.html Steam Locomotives

Throughout its history, Ceylon Government Railway had 410 steam locomotives.

The Railways upgraded its service to diesel locomotives, under the leadership of B. D. Rampala in the mid-1950s. 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.http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/locos3.html Suburban Diesel Push-Pull types

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.

Liveries Sri Lanka's locomotives have appeared in several different liveries over the years.

The steam locomotives were mainly painted in 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 Diesel Multiple Units (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.

ICE livery M6 ICE locomotives have a unique ICE livery of brown and orange.

Numbering

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. It included one locomotive experimentally converted to electric traction.http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/locos4.html Mainline Diesel Hydraulic & Narrow Gauge

Steam locomotives Steam locomotives were used on regular services until the 1970s. ClassPhoto Numbers Type Quantity Manufacturer YearGaugePreserved? Notes scope="rowgroup" rowspan="8" 1–15, 24–25,28–29, 39–40,43–47 4-4-0 26 Robert Stephenson & Company (5)Beyer, Peacock & Company (7)Kitson & Company (14) 1864–1880 Broad Gauge (5ft 6in)No 5-foot driving wheels 20–23, 26–27 4-4-0 6 Beyer, Peacock & Company (4)Kitson & Company (2) 1868–1872 No 6-foot driving wheels; 16″×22″ cylinders 63–71, 89–92 4-4-0 13 Dübs & Company 1892–1895 No 6-foot driving wheels; 17″×24″ cylinders 16–19, 41–42 0-6-0 6 John Fowler & Co 1868–1878 No 30–31 0-4-0ST 2 Robert Stephenson & Company 1868 No Ex Breakwater branch; absorbed in 1874; a third loco was not taken into stock 32–38, 48 4-4-0T 8 Robert Stephenson & Company (3)Kitson & Company (5) 1876–1880 No 30–31,1 (second) 4-4-0 3 CGR Maradana Works 1900–1905 No 5-foot driving wheels; 16″×24″ cylinders 163 0-6-0CT 1 RW Hawthorn, Leslie & Company 1913 No Crane tank A1 18–19, 41–42 4-8-0 4 Kitson & Company 1913–1921 No A2 155–156 2 Kitson & Company 1911 No Renumbered 16–17 A3 275–278,296–297,334–336,357–362 15 Hunslet Engine Company (6)WG Bagnall (9) 1928–1951 No B1 4, 30,242–262,279–290294–295347–342351–356 4-6-0 49 Beyer, Peacock & Company (25)Armstrong Whitworth (12)Robert Stephenson & Company (12) 1927–47 Yes “Governor” class – many named. No. 30 Sir Thomas Maitland, runs the Viceroy Special service.Viceroy Vintage Train Tours B2 1, 3, 25–29,39–40, 43–47193–196,204–213,222–228 35 Kitson & Company (3)Robert Stephenson & Company (11)Vulcan Foundry (21) 1925–1925 Yes No. 213 preserved and operational B3 8–11, 22,169–171,185–192 16 Kitson & Company 1913–1914 No B4 72–75,147–147,158–159 9 Neilson & Company (4)Kitson & Company (5) 1893–1912 No B5 76–80 5 Neilson & Company (3)Vulcan Foundry (2) 1894 No B6 49–62 14 Kitson & Company (10)Vulcan Foundry (4) 1882–1890 No B7 81–88 8 RW Hawthorn, Leslie & Company 1894 No B8 214–219,229–240 18 Hunslet Engine Company (13)RW Hawthorn, Leslie & Company (2)Nasmyth, Wilson & Company (3) 1922–27 No B9 140–141 2 Hunslet Engine Company 1908 Yes Renumbered 134–135. One preserved as a static display at Colombo Fort railway station. B10 109–119 11 Dübs & Company 1901 No C1 241,343–350 2-6-2+2-6-2 9 Beyer, Peacock & Company 1927, 1945 Yes 1945 locos later converted to oil firing Had a sub-class "C1a" D1 270–274 2-6-4T 5 Robert Stephenson & Company 1928 No “College” class – most named; All scrapped D2 No 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 No 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, 93–94,101162,179–183,197–200 0-6-0T 15 Dübs & Company (3)North British Locomotive Company (5)Hunslet Engine Company (7) 1898–1915 Yes Most rebuilt as 0-6-2T. No. 93 built in 1898 is the oldest surviving steam locomotive in the country – now preserved at the National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa. F1 265–269 0-6-2T 5 Robert Stephenson & Company 1928 No All scrapped F2 2, 5–7,144–157,172–173 4-4-0 20 Vulcan Foundry (5)North British Locomotive Company (15) 1911–1913 No 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 No All scrapped H1 293 1 Beyer, Peacock & Company 1930 Narrow Gauge (2ft 6in)No All scrapped J1 220–221,263–264,291–292 4-6-4T 6 Hunslet Engine Company 1924–1929 J2 142–146,160–161,174–178,184,201–202 15 Hunslet Engine Company (11)North British Locomotive Company (4) 1908–1919 142–146 renumbered to 136–140. K1 102–108 4-4-0T 7 Hunslet Engine Company 1900–1901 Known as the Kelani Valley Tanks. Two were used for the film "Bridge on the River Kwai" L1 120–123,130,203 0-4-2T 6 Sharp, Stewart & Company (4)Hunslet Engine Company (2) 1920 Yes Known as the Uda Pussellawe tanks. R1 301–313 Steam railcar 13 Sentinel 1925–1927 Broad Gauge (5ft 6in)No Some were later fitted with small under-floor diesel units and were reclassified as T2. R2 317–320 4 Sentinel 1928 R3 321–327 7 Sentinel 1928 R4 314–316 3 Clayton 1928 V1 328–330 3 Sentinel 1927 Narrow Gauge (2ft 6in) V2 331–333 3 Sentinel 1928

Diesel locomotives

Class Type M Diesel Electric Locomotives W Diesel Hydraulic Locomotives G & Y Shunters N & P Narrow Gauge Locomotives S Diesel Multiple Units T Diesel Rail Cars

Class M — Diesel Electric Locomotives Source:http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/locos2.html Mainline Diesel-Electrics

Diesel locomotives of Sri Lanka Railway are categorized into several classes and their sub classes. Class Photo Sub Class Numbers Type Quantity Manufacturer Year Model Power Operational? Notes M1 539–563 A1A-A1A 25 Brush Traction 1952 1000 hp No One is preserved at the National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa. M2 M2 569–573 A1A-A1A 5 General Motors Diesel 1954–1966 G12 1400 hp Yes Except one (No. 571 Saskatchewan) all others are in operation. Locomotive No. 591 Manitoba was involved in the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami train wreck, the largest single rail disaster in world history by death toll.M2A591–5933M2B594,5952M2C626,627Bo-Bo2M2D628,629A1A-A1A2Electro-Motive Division M3 589–590 Bo-Bo 2 Sri Lankan Railways 1956–1958 360 hp No Engines (180 hp × 2) taken from S1 class. M4 743–756 Co-Co 14 Montreal Locomotive Works 1975 MX-620 1750 hp Yes M5 M5 767–782 Bo-Bo 16 Hitachi 1979 1640 hp YesSome of the original M5 locomotives were rebuilt into new subclasses owing to mechanical issues:

M5A: Re-engined locally using MTU V12 in 1991; has been condemned. M5B: Re-engined locally using Paxman V12 in 1997. M5C: Re-engined locally using Caterpillar 3516 DITA.M5A7691Sri Lanka Railways1150 hpM5B768, 772, 777, 7784M5C767, 771, 776, 779, 781, 782, 77571600 hp M6 783–798 A1A-A1A 16 Thyssen-Henschel 1979–1980 G22 1650 hp Yes M7 799–814 Bo-Bo 16 Brush Traction 1981 1000 hp Yes M8 M8 841-848 Co-Co 8 Banaras Locomotive Works 1995 WDM-2 2600 hp YesM8A877, 878220012200 hp M9 864–873 Co-Co 10 Alstom 2000 AD32C 1800 hp YesSeveral units out of service shortly after introduction due to cost of spares and repair. M10 M10 915-917 Co-Co 3 Banaras Locomotive Works 2012 WDM-3D (With Alco 251 series 12 diesel engine) 2300 hp YesSub class M10A was introduced in 2013 which is a technical variant.http://slrailwiki.wikinet.org/wiki/Class_M10 Class M10M10A940-9456M11 949-958 Co-Co 10 Banaras Locomotive Works 2018 WDG-4D (With EMD 12-710 diesel engine) 3200 hp Yes

Class W — Diesel Hydraulic Locomotives Source: Class Photo Sub class Numbers Type Quantity Manufacturer Year Power Operational? Notes W1 630–674 B-B 45 Rheinstahl Henschel 1968–1969 1150 hp Yes 10 rebuilt with Caterpillar engines and reclassified W3. Only 2 locomotives are in operation. W2 W2 703–716,729 B-B 15 LEW 1968–1972 1440 hp Yes 729 ex demonstrator, ran as DR V150.001; imported 1970. Several re-furbished and in operation.W2A7151Sri Lanka Railways2015Rebuilt with a Paxman Valenta V12 engine. W3 631, 636, 638, 647, 659, 665, 666, 667, 669, 673 B-B 10 Sri Lanka Railways 1997–Present 1150 hp Yes 10 rebuilt from class W1 with Caterpillar engines. Mainly used in up country line.

Classes G and Y — Shunters (also known as Switchers) Sources:http://www.infolanka.com/org/mrail/locos5.html Diesel Railcars & Shunters Class Photo Numbers Type Quantity Manufacturer Year Power Livery Notes G1 500 0–4–0 DE 1 Armstrong Whitworth 1934 - 2006 122 hp No Sulzer engine. One is preserved at the National Railway Museum, Kadugannawa. G2 531–538 Bo-Bo DE 8 North British Locomotive Company 1950- 2000 625 hp NoPaxman V8 engine. Y 675–702 0-6-0 DH 28 Hunslet Engine Company 1968- 1973 530 hp Yes Still in operation. Y1 721–728 D DH 8 Sri Lanka Railways 1972–1973 NoPaxman V12 engine.

Classes N and P — Narrow Gauge Locomotives Source: