Class M10

Class M10a 942 at Gampaha

Class M10 Specifications:

Locomotive Class: M10

Sub Classes: M10a

Manufactured Country: India

Manufactured Company: Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) – Varanasi

Imported Year: 2012

Type of Locomotive: Diesel Electric

Prime Mover: ALCO V16 251 B-16 4 Stroke

Maximum Power: 2300hp

Maximum Speed: 120kmph

Axel Arrangement: Co-Co

Weight: 120 Tons

Length: 61 Feet

Fuel Capacity: 5000L

Colour: Blue & Yellow

No. of Locomotives Imported: 9 (M10-3, M10a-6)

Locomotive Numbers: 915 – 917(M10) & 940 – 945(M10a)

This locomotive also is somewhat similar to the Class M4, the Canadian ALCO locomotive & Class M8, the Indian DLW locomotive in appearance & some technical facts. Reason for that is the prime mover or the engine of M10 is made according to a plan of ALCO Company as the M8. The prime mover of this is completely similar to ALCO 251B model.

This loco is somewhat similar to the Indian WDM3D locomotive in appearance. First batch of these locomotives (3 units) arrived Sri Lanka in 2012 & second batch (6 units) arrived later. The first batch was categorized as Class M10 & second batch as Class M10a.

According to the manufacturer this is a dual purpose locomotive which can be used for both passenger & freight trains. M10 had some failures in trial runs at the beginning. Therefore SLR officials decided to use these trains for freight trains only. But now they are adopted to passenger services. However once SLR did a trial run using a M10a locomotive up to Kandy on 20^th September 2013 & it was successful. That was the first time M10s sent on the up country line & now these locomotives normally don’t go beyond Rambukkana.

M10s have both Air & Vacuum brake systems which means they can be coupled to any carriage easily. They also poses a computer system to analyse the components & control the locomotive. It also allows to obtain a status report to a flash drive through the provided USB port. This has 2 control panels in both sides & the driver can control the locomotive easily even if runs short hooded or long hooded. This is the longest & heaviest locomotive in Sri Lanka.

Due to the heavy weight this cannot run on up country line beyond nawalapitiya, light tracks like Matale line & Kelani Valley line. At present these locomotives are mainly used in northern & eastern lines. The main target of importing M10 class was using them for constructions of Talaimannar & Kankasanthurei lines. M10s are now used for many passenger services including Yal Devi, Jaffna Night Mail & Jaffna Night Express trains. This was the pilot loco for the Jaffna station opening ceremony.

There are some defects also in this locomotive. The body of these locomotive is made by recycled iron & therefore rusting takes place quickly. And this emits a lot of black smoke.