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Class M5c 776 at Gampaha Black Bridge
Class M5 Specifications:
Locomotive Class: M5
Sub Classes: M5a, M5b, M5c
Manufactured Country: Japan
Manufactured Company: Hitachi
Imported Year: 1979
Type of Locomotive: Diesel Electric
Prime Mover: M5: MTU-IKEGAI 12V 4-Stroke
M5a: MTU-12V 396TC13
M5b: PAXMAN Valenta 12 RP200L
M5c: Caterpillar 3516-DITA
Maximum Power: 1500hp
Maximum Speed: 60mph
Axel Arrangement: Bo-Bo
Weight: 66 Tons
Colour: Red & Green (Original)
M5a: Light green with an orange colour strip
M5b: Red coloured face, Green coloured body with a yellow strip
M5c: Maroon colour with a yellow strip
No. of Locomotives Imported: 16
Locomotive Numbers: 767-782
After steam locomotives were withdrawn from the service, SLR took steps to import many locomotives from different countries to avoid locomotive shortage. These M5 locomotives also have been imported as a result of the above incident. This has the “Dual Cabin” facility, which allows the driver to drive the locomotive both ways without turning (M1 locomotives also had this facility).
These engines was less in weight than the other locomotives. But had greater power. M5s was used mostly in the up country. The bus-like design allowed the driver to get a clear view of the rail road. This too helped these locos to be popular in up country tracks.
However in few years after these locomotives operated in Sri Lanka, different technical issues kept rising. Following is a reason which lead to the failure of M5s. The prime mover of these locomotives was MTU-IKEGAI & it was a Japanese product although the real owners & designers was a German company called MTU. IKEGAI Company took the original plan from the MTU Company & they re-built it by themselves. The lack of experience when re-building the prime mover or the engine is considered as a reason for this failure.
Due to above reasons all the M5s were taken out from the service. Few years later most of these engines was replaced by different engines under the Transport Rehabilitation Project (Railways). Replacing the prime mover is not an easy task. Most of the things should be planned from the beginning. However all of this replacements was done by Sri Lankan Engineers.
Out of the all locomotives M5 No.769 was repaired at the first phase. Its prime mover was replaced by MTU-12V 396TC13, a Class S8 spare engine which has a low power of 800kW. As a result M5a sub class was introduced & this was the only locomotive of M5a class. However this locomotive is now out of service because of an electrical system failure & the engine of this loco was removed & installed to a S8. And now SLR going to scrap it.
In the second phase 4 locomotives was selected & was fitted with PAXMAN Valenta 12 RP200L engines. These engines had a power of 1300kW. Locomotive numbered 768, 772, 777 & 778 was repaired in this phase. These four was categorized as M5b & the colour of the locomotives got changed to red & green.
Eight more locomotives was selected & repaired in the 3rd phase of the program. Here the engine or the prime mover used was Caterpillar 3516-DITA manufactured by CAT Company. These engines had a power of 1620kW. Locomotives no.767, 771, 776, 779, 781, 782, 770 & 775 was repaired in this phase, painted in maroon colour & categorized into M5c sub class.
Out of M5c locomotives No.775 was developed with an Air Brake system. The ambition of this was to run it with Chinese carriages imported to Sri Lanka around 2010. But it was unsuccessful.
No. 774 locomotive which was withdrawn in 1990 is still at Rathmalana workshop yard. SLR still have not come to a final decision to repair these locomotives. No.773 was withdrawn due to an accident in Rambukkana & No.780 too is out of the service due to a derailment in Balana. Following table shows the information about all 16 M5 locomotives.
Locomotive Number |
Class |
Notes |
767 |
M5c |
|
768 |
M5b |
|
769 |
M5a |
|
770 |
M5c |
For the railway museum |
771 |
M5c |
|
772 |
M5b |
|
773 |
Accident in Rambukkana | |
774 |
At Ratmalana | |
775 |
M5c |
Added air brakes |
776 |
M5c |
|
777 |
M5b |
|
778 |
M5b |
|
779 |
M5c |
|
780 |
Derailed | |
781 |
M5c |
|
782 |
M5c |
Credits to Gehan Chandika & Nipuna Dodanthenna
Photo Gallery

Running up country. This was the original appearance of M5s.
Photo: Mr. Pamuditha

Class M5a 769. The only loco in M5a class.
Photo: Mr. Pamuditha

M5a 769
Photo: Mr. Pamuditha

Class M5a 769 at Ratmalana Workshop yard

Class M5b 772

Class M5b 768

M5 locomotives at Electric Locomotive Shed, Maradana

Class M5c 782

Control Panel of M5

M5b 777 at Veyangoda

Class M5c 781 at Gampaha

Class M5b 777 at Veyangoda

A M5c traveling over the 9 arch bridge
Photo: Sri Lanka Railway Museum
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