Class B1A-251 Steam Locomotive

The History

Steam-powered locomotives were still in use in the late ’70s both in Narrow and Broad gauge rail tracks in Sri Lanka. These great metal horses have hauled trains along the up-country line heavy gradients until the Diesel locomotives came and replaced them.

B1 LOCOMOTIVE 262 KING GEORGE VI ON THE KADUGANNAWA INCLINE: Impressive views of this
locomotive passing immediately underneath Lion Rock.

At Sensation Rock. The date is unknown but probably in the 1950s or 60s.

251 is lucky!

251 Class B1A at Maradana East – ( One of the oldest 251 colour photographs we have ever seen | by Mike Tisdale )

What has happened to the others?

Maintaining steam locomotives was not that easy. But the diesel locomotives are so easy to maintain compared to the steam ones. So B.D. Rampala,one of the World’s greatest mechanical engineers and GM of CGR during 1955-70 put forward the Dieselisation program to develop the quality of the railway service. As a result of Dieselisation program that commenced in 1969 all the steam locomotives were retired from service. Unfortunately, most of the retired steam locos were sold for steel and no one was there to take care of them.

Please note: There are 3 steam locomotives currently in the operational state. We will write a separate article for that.

The VICEROY Special

A nostalgic trip with period fittings and modern conveniences is gained by traveling in the Viceroy Special. This is a steam hauled charter train regularly used by overseas visitors. The Viceroy project was spearheaded by Cliff Jones of UK and Hemasiri Fernando of JF Tours & Travel. During the Second World War, Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India and Supreme Commander of All Forces in the South East Asian Command (SEAC) had his headquarters in Kandy (in the central hills of Ceylon). He regularly used a special train called the SEAC Special. This was the inspiration for the name Viceroy Special. The original colonial Viceroy coaches have now been discarded due to metal fatigue and a set of Chinese coaches adapted as a replacement though not with the same level of character.