Author: Rasika Wickramanayaka
Published by the Author
450pp; hardbound with dust jacket
Rasika Wickramanayaka has produced a handsome hard cover volume dedicated entirely to a single theme, namely the narrow gauge railways of then Ceylon, which had hitherto not received the thorough examination it so deserves in the annals of rail transportation in Sri Lanka. Though several tomes had been written on Sri Lanka’s railways in the past, almost all have referred to the narrow gauge railways ‘in passing’, not even David Hyatt’s epic works, ‘The Railways of Sri Lanka’, considered the most complete works to-date on the island’s railways.
Rasika, a Chartered Architect and Certified Project Manager, had been a railway enthusiast since childhood, especially on the narrow gauge, and has drawn on over fifteen years of thorough research and accumulation of a vast storehouse of information on the subject to create this remarkable publication.
It is indeed a work of supreme passion and a testimony to the author’s enthusiasm, courage, and determination, to delve into a realm none had contemplated before in such a comprehensive approach.
After an introduction to the railways of Sri Lanka, the author, in Chapter 2, goes on to describe the construction of the 2’ 6” narrow gauge Uda Pussellawa Railway (UPR), work on which commenced in November 1900. Running from Nanu Oya to Ragalla via Nuwara Eliya, the entire line was completed in July 1904. Manyfacts including the deliberations entered into by the colonialadministration prior to construction, cost estimates, its operation and final closure in August 1948, are enumerated in fascinating manner. The gauge of 2’ 6” appears to have been chosen in view of the difficult terrain, steep gradients and expected low traffic volumes on the railway.
The rolling stock is not forgotten and is explained in detail including the unique Class H1, 2-4-0+0-4-2 Beyer-Garratt locomotive, one of the smallest Garratts ever to be constructed by that famed Garratt builder Beyer-Peacock of Manchester, England. The well-known Kelani Valley (KV) and Sabaragamuwa Railway is then covered, again in much detail.
Agitations
The agitations of the planters of the area for a railway to transport their produce make captivating reading as do the many proposals for the routes.
The first phase of the KV line from Fort to Avissawella had been accomplished in September 1902 and thence the second phase to Yatiyantotain September 1903. The extension from Avissawella to Ratnapura could not be completed till April 1912, and then beyond to Opanake till May 1919. The motive power and rolling stock employed on the KV line are covered extensively while the Chapter also deals with other narrow gauge railways serving various industrial complexeson the island. Chapter 3 is devoted entirely to the Sabaragamuwa Railway with extensive coverage of the aspects of construction, stations and bridges being provided.
The halcyon days of the line are described vividly where rubber and other plantations in the region relied entirely on the line to get their produce across with motor roads still not having made their inroads in grabbing traffic away, which finally led to the downfall and ultimate demise of this charming railway. A methodical discussion is provided on the gradual and inevitable decline of the line and some of the efforts, though seemingly lackadaisical in nature, made by the railway administration in attempting to arrest the deterioration. By the end of 1978, the entire line beyond Avissawella had been removed.
The author in Chapter 4 discusses the ‘broad gauging’ of the line between Maradana and Avissawella, commenced in February 1991 and completed in August 1997, by the addition of a heavier 80 lb per yard rail on the outside to enable 5’ 6” broad gauge trains to be run.
As the author states, many of the curves on the line remained unaltered and thus the speed of the broad gauge trains at these curves had to be restricted to no more than 19.2 mph, thereby negating any speed advantages that may have been envisaged.
The chapter also deals significantly with efforts made at preserving some of the narrow gauge motive power and rolling stock. It is interesting to note that a Class V2 Sentinel-Cammell steam railcar, constructed in 1928, was operable till 2008 and at the time, was considered the only such operable narrow gauge steam railcar in the world.
The writer of this review remembers approaches made by a heritage organisation in Britain to procure and remove this vehicle to Britain. The final Chapter, Chapter 5, amongst other material, provides eyewitness accounts and personal anecdotes associated with the narrow gauge and accidents that had occurred.
Extensive details
The book is also replete with more than 250 pages of appendices containing numerous timetables, extensive details on motive power and rolling stock inclusive of rare drawings, track layouts and gradient sheets, maps, and photographs some of which had not been seen before.
“Narrow Gauge Railways of Ceylon” is the only known detailed history of such railways in the island in a single volume dedicated to the topic. It is a remarkable contribution to railway literature, and is an offering to thoughtful followers of railways, a reference work, especially to those with a penchant for detail.
No question, it should find a ready nook on the bookshelves of enthusiastic Sri Lankan rail buffs and indeed of international narrow gauge aficionados alike.