Sri Lanka Railways M2

The Sri Lanka Railways M2 is a class of Diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in 1954 by General Motors Diesel, Canada, and Electro-Motive Division, US for the use in Sri Lanka Railways. This is considered as one of the most successful locomotives in Sri Lanka.
It is a General Motors Diesel (Canada) EMD G12 model using the EMD 567C, 1,425-horsepower (1,063 kW) engine.
From 1954, several batches of General Motors-manufactured locomotives were imported to Sri Lanka under "The Colombo Plan". Locally called a "Canadian" engine – there are actually two classes of Canadian Locomotives in Sri Lankan Railways; the other one is Class M4. Since these locomotives were imported under grants from the Canadian government, class M2 locomotives are named with Canadian province and city names. Out of all 14, The last two locomotives; No. 628 and No. 629, were made in the United States and imported for Cement Corporation, Sri Lanka. But they were later attached to Sri Lanka Railways' locomotive fleet. They were named after two local cities – Kankesanthurai and Galle – where the cement factories were located respectively.
First five of the 14 Locomotives were officially handed over to the Government of Sri Lanka in December 1954, at a Ceremony with the Participation of Prime Minister Sir John Kotelawala and Chief Mechanical Engineer B. D. Rampala.
Class M2 locomotives are classified in to 5 Sub classes and they were imported to Sri Lanka separately in 1954, 1958, 1959, 1961, and 1966 respectively.
Class M2 Locomotives entered service in January 1955. In 1955, Government of Sri Lanka introduced three main Luxury Express Passenger trains which from Colombo to Matara, Jaffna and Badulla. Due their female names, they were locally famous as the Three Sisters.
Other than these trains, Class M2s hauled many important Passenger, Freight and Oil trains. With their Introduction, Efficiency, and Comfortability of the Sri Lanka Railways was rapidly increased in 1960s, which was undoubtedly known as the Golden Age of Sri Lanka Railways.
From the 1950s, Class M2 locomotives has been used in Both passenger and freight trains on Sri Lanka's railways for over 60 years. Despite the introduction of more modern types of traction, as of 2024, a significant number are still in use.
Class M2 Locomotives were able to drive in every Railway Line in Sri Lanka except for the Kelani Valley Railroad due to its limitations. But on 7 July 2024, A Special Trial Ballast train hauled by Class M2A 591 Manitoba locomotive was driven in the Kelani Valley Railway line from Colombo to Avissawella order to check its efficiency and durability. The Trial was reportedly successful and another Special Ballast train was driven to Avissawella on 9 October 2024 hauled by Class M2 573 Quebec.
Other than these trains, Class M2 Locomotives are being used to haul Oil and Freight Trains across the Country. As of 2024, They are still used for Regional trains in Northern and Batticaloa Railway Lines.
Class M2 Locomotives celebrated their Golden Jubilee in service in 2004. A Special Train hauled by a Class M2 Locomotive reached Jaffna to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of its Service in 2014.