SRI LANKA RAILWAY PAGE THE GM EMD G12 CLASS M2 LOCOMOTIVES

THE CLASS M2 STORY ALBERTA DARLING BRUSH BAGNALLS THE HENSCHELS FIRST TRAIN TRAIN ACCIDENTS THE DECLINE BOOKS RAIL JOURNEYS MLW LOCO DRAWING

THE GM EMD G12 CLASS M2 LOCOMOTIVES The GM EMD G12 locos of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) first appeared on the scene in 1954 and although not the first Diesel Electrics in Ceylon, made an immediate impact. Most remember them for the distinctive livery, loud exhaust note and the triple air horns, but railway enthusiasts know them to be the most reliable locos in the history of Ceylon-Sri Lanka. The locos were assembled at the General Motors Electro-Motive Division assembly line at London, Ontario, Canada and the first CGR loco was named "Ontario". All the locos were part of an aid package for the "Colombo Plan". This information ("Colombo Plan Aid From Canada") can clearly be seen on the name plates which are fixed on either side of the long hood. In spite of their age most are still running. The only casualty was No 571 "Saskatchewan" which was blown up in the north during the on-going civil war. The locos were painted in a distinctive colour scheme of silver, light blue and dark blue with a yellow "speed whisker" and red buffers and cowcatchers. In keeping with all GM EMD export locos they had "export trucks" (bogies) with sand boxes. In addition to the name plates on the long hoods they had number plates (complete with class and load designations) on the sides of the cab. In keeping with American loco styling number windows on either side of the head lamps was a distinctive feature. The head lamps were twin "over and under" types. Unlike with the G12s exported to Mexico, the CGR G12 had no bells. They were all given the class designation M2 but had sub-class designations.(See table, below) M2 LOCO NUMBERS, NAMES AND CLASS DESIGNATIONS CLASS M2 No NAME Class M2A No NAME Class M2C No Name 569 Ontario 591 Manitoba 626 Montreal 570 Alberta 592 Nova Scotia 627 Vancouver 571 Saskatchewan 593 New Brunswick Class M2D 628 Kankesanturai 572 British Columbia Class M2B 594 Prince Edward Island 629 Galle 573 Quebec 595 Newfoundland

Se*y little numbers? Daddy's Little Girls. Mummy's Little Boys..... The G12s mean different things to different people. Like with cars they have a human side to them. People think of them as human beings. Just like "Herbie" the Volkswagen Beetle. For example, to us at MadPage "Ontario" is male and the Patriarch or the Grand Old Man of the clan. "Alberta" is of course a lovable little girl! (ahhh!). We are pleased to know that she is still running. " New Foundland" and "New Brunswick" are brothers of course...Well, what do you think? MORE

Page first published on the 26th of November 2001