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Getting the M1 back on track
By Ravi Fernando

MI locomotive profile
Purchased between 1953 to 1956
Engine nos: 539 to 563 (25 nos)
Service period: Nearly 31 years.
Withdrawn from service: Between 1980 to 1984
Engine type: Diesel Electric
Weight: 88 tons
Power: 1000 Mirlees V12

First main line diesel locomotive used in every main line passenger transport in Ceylon. Only successful locomotive which was in operation for nearly three decades other than the Canadian Locos M2 and M4

Railways fascinate most of us. When we were small we played with toy trains. When we were teenagers we travelled on the footboards, prohibited and dangerous, though it was. Even though at present the Ceylon Government Railway (CGR) has gone from bad to worse, many of us still love to travel by train.

When dieselization was first begun in 1953, the CGR classified its first mainline locomotives as class "M" 1. From the introduction of diesel locomotives in 1953 up to 2003, there have been nine classes or different models of locomotives.

Twenty-five M1 class locomotives were purchased in 1953 with numbers ranging from 539 to 563. Purchased from Brush Bagnall Co. U.K., these locomotives had a beautiful red livery. When the first locomotive was brought in 1953, the modifications were successfully done during test runs by the famous railway engineer B.D. Rampala.

The M1 ran on every main line in the country, over 30 years from 1953 to 1983.
During 1977-78 one can remember how our beautiful double decker buses were condemned and sold. Like them, these locomotives were condemned and withdrawn from service in 1983, the reasons given being lack of spare parts, maintenance and profitability in running them.

Then in 1979 the Railway Department purchased the Hitachi locomotives which were a total failure. Later except for a few, all the engines were re-engined. Nobody complained about their profitability then.

The purchase of the French locomotives was controversial due to their price and performance. One popular belief is that the ever-reliable Canadian class M2 locomotives will be in service, even after the withdrawal of the French locomotives. Of 14 locomotives, which were purchased in 1954, except one, which was destroyed due to a bomb blast, 13 of the Canadian locomotives are still in service.

Likewise if the M1 locomotives had not been condemned in 1983 they would still be running. The M1 locomotive is part of our country's railway history. In Britain, railway enthusiasts dedicate their time and money to preserve old locomotives. They spend as much as five years to completely rehabilitate a single locomotive.

How many in our country show any interest on such projects? As a railway enthusiast, when I first saw the M1 in 2000 at the Dematagoda Running Shed, I wrote to former ministers of transport A.H.M. Fowzie and Dinesh Gunawardena. Both were positive about the rehabilitation of this locomotive. With high hopes I again wrote to Minister Marapone of the new UNF government but have not had a response.

Many letters were written to big companies about this locomotive rehabilitation project, but only the Chairman of Singer, Sri Lanka Hemaka Amarasuriya showed interest.

The M1 locomotive is ideal for tourism. It is the first main line diesel locomotive which was purchased by the railway. It possesses a historic value like the Viceroy steam locomotives. Many tourists come to Sri Lanka especially to ride in the Viceroy Special. The Railway Department has earned extra income by leasing this to a private company over the past 15 years.

Due to its unique shape, sound and history, the M "1" locomotive would be a good investment for a private company which could preserve and rehabilitate this historic locomotive and use it as a tourist train. The Railway Department should extend its fullest support for such an endeavour.

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