Sri Lanka Railways received Class M2 locomotive fleet from Canada under “Colombo Plan Aid – From Canada” between 1954-1966.
Introduction
General Motors EMD, made multi-purpose G8, G9 and G12 based Class M2 locomotives are considered as the most successful locomotives in Sri Lanka Railway history. Class M2 locomotives are also called as “Canadian Warriors”.
There are one main class and 4 subclasses (a,b,c,d) in Class M2 fleet. Class M2, M2a, M2b, M2c received as a gift from Canada but, Class M2d locomotives originally bought from the USA for cement factory usage but later assigned to stock Class M2 fleet of Sri Lanka Railways.
- The first set of M2 locomotives (Class M2, 569 to 573) introduced to Sri Lanka from 1954 to 1955
- The second set of locomotives (Class M2a, 591 to 593) arrived in 1956
- The third set of locomotives (Class M2b, 594 and 595) delivered in 1958
- The fourth set (Class M2c, 626 and 627) imported in 1961
- The last two (Class M2d, 628 and 629) delivered to Sri Lanka in 1966
All Class M2 locomotives except 628 and 629 named after Canadian provinces. Please refer to the table below for names and service status.
| Class | Number | Name | Year | Service Status |
| M2 | 569 | Ontario | 1954 | In Service |
| M2 | 570 | Alberta | 1954 | In Service |
| M2 | 571 | Saskatchewan | 1954 | Out of Service |
| M2 | 572 | British Colombia | 1954 | In Service |
| M2 | 573 | Quebec | 1955 | In Service |
| M2a | 591 | Manitoba | 1956 | In Service |
| M2a | 592 | Nova Scotia | 1956 | In Service |
| M2a | 593 | New Brunswick | 1956 | In Service |
| M2b | 594 | Prince Edward Island | 1958 | In Service |
| M2b | 595 | New Foundland | 1958 | In Service |
| M2c | 626 | Montreal | 1961 | In Service |
| M2c | 627 | Vancouver | 1961 | In Service |
| M2d | 628 | Kankasanthurai | 1966 | In Service |
| M2d | 629 | Galle | 1966 | In Service |
General Information
| Engine Class | M2 |
| Built Country | Canada |
| Builder | General Motors Diesel |
| Imported Year | 1954–1966 |
| Power Type | Diesel-electric |
| Engine Type | GM V12 G12-567c (CLass M2,M2a,M2b,M2c) GM V12 G12-567e (Class M2d) |
| Power Output | 1425hp (CLass M2,M2a,M2b,M2c) 1310hp (Class M2d) |
| Maximum Speed | 112 Kmph |
| Axel Arrangement | A1A-A1A (CLass M2,M2a,M2b,M2d) Bo-Bo (Class M2c) |
| Weight | 79 Tons |
| Livery | Silver, blue and a yellow trip |
| Total Produced | 14 (13 in service) |
Special Events/Notes
- Class M2 569, 570, 571 landed Sri Lanka on 2nd and 3rd December 1954
- Class M2 569 went on the first trial on 10th December 1954
- Class M2 571 went on the first trial on 15th December 1954
- Class M2 570 went on the first trial on 30th December 1954
- Class M2 572 went on the maiden journey with Ruhunu Kumari on 24th October 1955
- Class M2 572 went on the maiden journey with Udarata Manike on 24th April 1956
- Class M2 570 trapped in Kankasanthurei from 1992 to 1996 due to the civil war after hauling the last night mail train to Kankasanthurei. Brought to Colombo by ship as parts, re-assembled and went back on track thanks to the mechanical staff of Sri Lanka Railways
- Class M2 570 faced minor damages land mine in Punani on 7th June 2007
- Class M2 570 severely damaged as a result of Pothuhera train accident on 30th April 2014
- Class M2 571 completely destroyed on 14th September 1985 near Pollipothana due to a bomb blast by terrorists (The only loco not in service)
- Class M2 591 caught by Tsunami in Telwatte on 26th December 2004 and added back to service exactly after 4 years
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