The restoration programme.
Ownership.
No. 560 belongs to the Sri Lanka Railway Authority
(originally the Ceylon Government Railway). She is parked at a siding at SLRA's
yard at Dematogoda in Colombo.
Unlike in Britain or the USA, it is not our intention
to purchase the locomotive and restore her to run on our tracks or the main
SLRA way. This would not be physically or financially possible in Sri Lanka.
The intent is to show the SLRA that there is enough
interest in this locomotive, as part of the country's heritage, to make it
worth their while to restore no. 560 to running condition.
It is proposed that the restoration programme be
carried out in two stages.
Stage One- Static
exhibit/display.
Under this stage, the loco body and bogies would be
refurbished to give her an "as new" appearance. No. 560 would then be
hauled and parked (on her bogies/wheels not plinthed) at a location, say Fort
Station or Maradana Station where members of the public, both Sri Lankan and
overseas visitors may appreciate her.
The idea is to protect the locomotive from
deteriorating any further by painting and refurbishment. Also to minimise any
risk of her being cut up for scrap as someone may feel it is just another piece
of junk rotting away in the yard.
Seeing is believing, they say and with the number of
visitors, it is hoped that public interest would encourage the SLRA to move
quickly to the next stage.
Stage Two- A working
locomotive.
No. 560 would have to be re-engined and all the
mechanical and electrical parts brought to working condition for her to move
under her own power. Fortunately stocks of original parts are still being held
by the SLRA. More importantly, staff within the railways are willing and able
to get no. 560 back on track, it is the political will that is missing to date.
These engineers and fitters have successfully
re-engined Class M5 Japanese built diesel-electrics as well as the Class W
Henschel built diesel-hydraulic locomotives. Earlier on they even built their
own Class M3 locos from parts of other machines.
Once tested and certified for mainline running, it is
envisioned that no. 560 would haul special trains for rail enthusiasts from
around the world. Being a British built locomotive, many British railfans and
others would like to ride in a train hauled by her- some have already expressed
an interest. It is unrealistic to expect the SLRA to overhaul a locomotive just
for excursion trains so it is probable that no. 560 would earn her keep and
return the investment by working light trains when not on specials.
In the past, attempts have been made to get no.560
back on track but were unsuccessful due to lack of sufficient support for the
scheme to be acceptable by the authorities. With this website, we are looking
to your world-wide support to get us the green light and flag off the
restoration works.
Some members of the Brushlanka
restoration Club was fortunate enough to get an appointment with Transport
Minister A H M Fowzie.
After listening to our humble
appeal and proposal he assured us that this locomotive will not be scrapped and
he would try to
Get her running. He wanted the
members to find private or corporate sponsors who would contribute materials to
get the restoration process
Started.
The members have requested in
writing to the GMR to appoint a suitable person from SLR to coordinate with us
with the requirements.
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