Old Ceylon Railway Pictures

Old Ceylon

This site contains pictures of old Ceylon, including pictures of the Ceylon Government Railway (CGR) during the early days.

There are several pictures of the Kadugannawa Incline during construction and also a picture of a narrow gauge Beyer Garratt locomotive from the Udu Pussellawa Railway (UPR).

Worth a visit.  
CLICK THIS LINK

Dynamic Brakes and Dynamic Braking on Diesel Electric Locomotives

Dynamic Brakes and Dynamic Braking on Diesel Electric Locomotives

by

Gyan C A Fernando

The dynamic brake grids and blower cowling on the short hood of No 628 Class M2 “Kankesanthurai” of the Sri Lankan Railway

The Wrong Type of Snow

“The Wrong Type of Snow” 

British Rail's Contribution to the English Language!

by

Gyan C. A. Fernando

Cartoon by N Senthilkumaran

In the winter of 1990-1991, when I was residing in Britain, there was a sudden cold snap. A few inches of snow fell and the temperature dropped well below zero. Nothing unusual but good old British Rail came to a grinding halt. (More: Click link at bottom)

Governors on Diesel Locomotive Engines

Governors on Diesel Locomotive Engines

 

Speed control governors on the prime movers of diesel locomotives

By

Gyan Fernando

Introduction

A vital component of all diesel engines is a mechanical or electronic governor which regulates the idling speed and maximum speed of the engine by controlling the fuel supply.

Governors

The major function of the governor is determined by the application of the engine.

In an engine that is required to get up to and run at only a single speed regardless of load, the governor is called a constant-speed type governor.

Estación Central General Artigas, Montevideo, Uruguay

Estación Central General Artigas,

Montevideo, Uruguay

 George Stephenson is alive and well in Montevideo!

I visited Estación Central General Artigas on the 4th of October 2008.

My pictures of the station and the statue of George Stephenson are here PICTURES

Estación Central General Artigas 

is the former central railway station of Montevideo, Uruguay, situated in Aguada.

Designed by the Italian engineer and architect Luigi Andreoni, it was opened to the public on the 15th of July 1897 and was closed on 1 March 2003.

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Burma's Railway System

BURMA’S RAILWAY
SYSTEM

Yangon Central Station

This is a good historical account of Burma's (Myanmar's) Railway System

BURMARAILWAY.pdf 

Railway Signaling

Railway Signaling

 

A rather dated but good article. Worth a read.

http://jayan.tripod.com/go/railway/

Railway Halts of Sri Lanka:Penrhos

Railway Halts of Sri Lanka

Penrhos

Penrhos (PRP) is another small estate or plantation halt.

 

The Magic of Class M2 Locomotives

The Magic of Class M2 Locomotives

By

Anonymous

When I see Kumaran's M2 drawings it brings me nostalgia.

Lanka Railway Digest

The First Railfan Magazine in Sri Lanka

http://www.facebook.com/LankaRailwayDigest

The Battle of Santa Clara

A Tribute to Che Guevara

 

The Battle of Santa Clara

How Che Guevara derailed a Troop Train

By

Gyan C. A. Fernando

(In memory of "Che" and published on the 14th of June, his birthday) 

StudioSenthil: Trains

StudioSenthil: Trains: Originally drawn for another website which I am winding down. Trains and cartoons have both been interests since childhood. The Ghan-run...

Railway Halts of Sri Lanka: Hyndford

 

 Railway Halts of Sri Lanka 

Other Estate Halts and Platforms

Hyndford

Hyndford (HYP) is a rather decrepit estate or plantation halt, badly maintained and further disfigured by political posters. 

The fact that some of the local poor people still use this halt, is a good enough reason for maintaining it as a halt.

The Last Train to San Fernando

What’s In a Song?

The Last Train to San Fernando

by

Gyan Fernando

Some people who lived through the 1960s might remember the song “Last Train to San Fernando” popularised by Johnny Duncan and the Bluegrass Boys. This song was released in 1957. At about the same time there was another version of the same song by Jamaica Johnny & His Milagro Boys.

Steam Locomotives in Cuba

Cuban Steam Locomotives

at
Marcelo Salado, Remedios, Cuba

My visit to Remedios, Cuba.

By 

Gyan C. A. Fernando

The Villa Clara Province of Cuba is better known for Che Guevara and his revolutionary activities. A little known tourist attraction here is the Museo de Agroindustria Azucarero Marcelo Salado (Museo del Vapor)

Brush Electrical Machines of Loughborough

Brush Electrical Machines of Loughborough

Brush or Brush Bagnall were the builders of the first mainline diesel electric locomotives of the Ceylon Government Railway, the Class M1 locomotives. 

The Stranded Locomotive, Uyuni

 

The Stranded Locomotive, Uyuni, Bolivia

by
Gyan C. A. Fernando

Whilst it looks an odd sight, if you understand the Bolivian mentality well enough it is not a strange sight at all!

On the bleak Bolivian Altiplano, at an elevation of  3700 m (12,139 ft), is the town of Uyuni. As far as Railway enthusiasts go, Uyuni is famous for the “Train Cemetery”.

The Train Cemetery

The Train Cemetery 

Resposar en Paz

by

Gyan C. A. Fernando

On the Bolivian Altiplano, at an elevation of 3700 m (12,139 ft) is the town of Uyuni, an isolated community. It is however, a major railway hub.

Trans-Siberian Part Six: Ulanbaator and Beyond

A Trans-Siberian-Mongolian Journey

A long, long Railway Journey

Part Six: Ulaanbaatar and beyond 


by
Gyan C. A. Fernando


Ulaanbaatar

Massive statue of Genghis Khan

It is the 16th of August and we are now in Ulaanbaatar, the Capital of Mongolia. 

Trans-Siberian Part Five: On the Trans-Mongolian

A Trans-Siberian-Mongolian Journey

A long, long Railway Journey

Part Five: Trans-Mongolian

Logo on Trans-Mongolian

By

Gyan C. A. Fernando

After a sad farewell to Gala I get on the Trans-Mongolian. I suppose I have no choice because my visa runs out in 24hrs!
 All of us are in good spirits one way or the other.
I am to share a compartment with Austen and his wife Marilyn, and Maggie. I suppose it is bad luck on their part to draw me as their flat-mate!