Narrow gauge Railways back in Action again in Sri Lanka

For  the second time in history of Sri Lankan Railways, narrow gauge Railways back in action from 4^th of February for a short period at Oyamaduwa, Deyata Kirula exhibition premises. Originally, narrow gauge railways were used in three sections of Sri Lanka where sharp curves were to be negotiated due to the geography of the region. The main difference of Narrow gauge was the width of the track and for narrow gauge standard was 2 feet 6 inches while for broad gauge it was 5 feet 4 inches. 

Originally these type of railways were used way back in 1906 connecting broad gauge from Nanu Oya to Ragala via Nuwara Eliya popularly called as Uda-Puswellawa or UPR line. However, among the narrow gauge lines the longest line lied along Kelani valley was last long for closer to century and popular one. This line had two stretches. The main line was from Fort to Openayake via Avissawella and Ratnapura. In addition, there was a branch line from Avissawella to Yatiyantota. Execept , the Openayake line, Avissawella to Yatiyantota and UPR lines were removed during the the second world war period by the British rulers due to lack of revenues. The Openayake line also shorten up to Ratnapura sometime back and in 1974, even terminus of KV line further shorten back to Avissawella and later to Homagama. Main reasons behind the extinction of Narrow gauge railways due to the lack speedy operations. This was due to the sharp regular curves along the tracks.  In order to overcome the lack of speed of Narrow gauge railways later part of the 1990s Fort to Avissawella stretch was converted to broad gauge. During this transformation, for a shorter period both lines were kept available using one rail in addition to broad gauge track.   The completion of this conversion took place in 1993 and after that rolling stock of narrow gauge were restricted to a shed only and some of them were sold as scrap and only few locomotives of steam and diesel  and one steam rail car were kept in the running shed at Dematagoda and did not even started these locomotives afterwards.

However, due to keen interest by the present GMR Mr. B.A.P Ariyaratne and with the blessings from Honourable Minister for TransportsMr. Kumara Welgama, team of railway technical staff under took this massive project to restore two locomotives to be operated in Deyata Kirula exhibition nearly 10 months before the exhibition.  The original plan was to restore two diesel locomotives (serial numbers 530 and 732) which were lying at running shed and to build two carriages using the old narrow gauge under frames. The major portion of this project was under took by Mr. Sanath Wickramaratne, the workshop manager and his team of shop 26, Dematagoda. Under his purvive two carriages and diesel mechanical locomotive 530 were restored as planned and diesel mechanical locomotive 732 was restored by shop foremen of Lalantha Fernando of shop 19. The restoration works were completed early January this year and the rolling stock was road lifted to Oyamaduwa from Dematagoda via A3 route on 21^rd of this month.

The initial trial runs on 750 m stretch at Oyamaduwa exhibition premises were done on 22^nd January. This was the first time narrow gauge train service was in operation in Sri Lankan soil after they were restricted to sheds in 1997. The two locomotives use in this project also have their inherent significant. The loco number 530 was imported in 1950 and this was the only remaining locomotive of this class in Sri Lanka. The loco number 732 Kawasaki was imported in 1974 for Plywood cooperation to transport logs from Sinharaja forest to Kosgama. However, after freedom front government loss subsequent elections this project was abandoned and 732 were handed over to Sri Lanka Railways. The Sri Lankan especially railway Fans will have the privilege of riding in Narrow gauge railways again from 04^th of February during the exhibition period. In future there are discussions going on currently to permanently operate then aiming of tourists. Sri Lanka Rail Fans Society salute all those behind this project specially their president Mr. Sanath Wickramarate who spare headed the project to a successes.