The CLASS “M1” Locos with the wheel arrangement A1A’A1A’, build for Ceylon Railways by the British BRUSH BAGNALL TRACTION LTD in Loughborough UK between 1952 and 1955, mark a milestone in the British development of Main Line Diesel-electric Locomotives.
The locomotives weighed 89 tons and had a 1000 hp (746 kW) V12 Mirlees JS12VT four- stroke engine. Ceylon Railways (CGR) had a fleet of 25 of these Class M1 locomotives, which began introduction in 1953 and were removed from service from 1983 on.
Srilankan Railway Enthusiasts have waited long for the renovation of Sri Lanka`s first Main Line Diesel-electric Locomotive, the Class M 1 Loco No. 560. Railway Enthusiast Dr.Frank Wingler had put this Class "M1" Loco in 2010 as a 1 in 87 scale model in running condition back on the track.
Railway Enthusiast can now admire the renovated “Old Warrior” Class M1 at the NationalSri Lanka Railway Museum at Katugannawa, opened for public viewing on 14 th December 2014.
Further the Technical Paper delineates the problems with the France build Alstom Class M9 and modern Developments as advisable solutions for upcountry haulage with track friendly 4 Axle Diesel Locomotives.
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The Old Warrior Class M1, SLR,