Bangladesh Railway Class 2500 is a class of metre-gauge diesel-electric locomotives operated by Bangladesh Railway. Built by Hitachi of Japan in 1982, a total of 18 units were produced. Classified as MEH-14, the locomotives are powered by an ALCO 251B-6 engine producing . The class is used in both passenger and freight services across Bangladesh's metre-gauge railway network.
Specifications
The Class 2500 locomotives are rated at and use the Hitachi model designation HFA13A. They have a Co-Co wheel arrangement and are fitted with an ALCO 251B-6 inline six-cylinder, four-stroke diesel engine with turbocharging. The engine operates within a speed range of 400 to 1,100 rpm and has a compression ratio of 12.5:1.
The locomotives are mounted on ALCO trimount bogies and have a total weight of , with an axle load of . The fuel tank capacity is .
The design and specifications are broadly similar to those of the Bangladesh Railway Class 2300, Bangladesh Railway Class 2400 and Bangladesh Railway Class 2800 locomotive classes.
History
The Class 2500 locomotives were introduced in 1982 as part of Bangladesh Railway's expansion of its metre-gauge diesel locomotive fleet. During this period, Bangladesh Railway relied extensively on diesel-electric locomotives based on ALCO-derived designs for both passenger and freight operations.
Like other locomotive classes in Bangladesh, the Class 2500 forms part of an aging rolling stock fleet that has required ongoing maintenance and modernization efforts in recent decades.
Classification and numbering
The class designation MEH-14 follows Bangladesh Railway's locomotive classification system, where:
M indicates metre gauge E indicates diesel-electric transmission H indicates the manufacturer, Hitachi 14 denotes a power rating of 1,400 horsepower
The locomotives are numbered sequentially from 2501 to 2518.
Service
Class 2500 locomotives are employed in both passenger and freight operations on the metre-gauge network of Bangladesh Railway. They are typically allocated to services requiring moderate power and are used on a variety of routes across the network. These locomotives operate within a railway system that has faced challenges related to aging diesel fleets and maintenance capacity.
The primary depot for the class is Kamalapur in Dhaka, although locomotives may be transferred between depots depending on operational requirements.
Maintenance
Maintenance of the Class 2500 locomotives is carried out at the following facilities:
Central Locomotive Workshop (CLW), Parbatipur, Dinajpur District Diesel Workshop, Pahartali, Chattogram
References
External links