Bangladesh Railway Class 2000

Bangladesh Railway Class 2000 is the earliest meter-gauge diesel electric locomotive class of Bangladesh Railway. These locomotives have been in service since 1953 which make them the oldest running locomotives in the history of Bangladesh Railway. A total of 40 locomotives of this class were imported. Most of these locomotives are no longer in service as only 7 of them are in running condition.

Bangladesh Railway Class 2000
2021 at Tongi Junction Railway Station, Tongi, Gazipur
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
DesignerElectro Motive Division
BuilderGeneral Motors Diesel
Order numberC-155
Serial numberA443–A482
ModelEMD B12
Build date1953–1956
Total produced40
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARA1A-A1A
 • UIC(A1A)(A1A)
Gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Wheel diameter40 in (1.016 m)
Length44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)
Loco weight71.2 tonnes (70.1 long tons; 78.5 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity3,000 litres (660 imp gal; 790 US gal)
Prime moverEMD 12-567C
Engine typeTwo-stroke
TransmissionDiesel-electric transmission
Gear ratio63:14
CouplersNorwegian coupling
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output1,125 hp (839 kW)
Tractive effortStarting: 40,500 lbf (180.15 kN) Continuous: 28,000 lbf (124.55 kN)
Career
OperatorsEastern Bengal Railway
Eastern Pakistan Railway
Bangladesh Railway
ClassMEG-11
Numbers2000–2039
Preserved1 (2000)
Disposition7 active

Builders details

The Class 2000 locomotives were built by General Motors Diesel at its London, Ontario plant, Canada. These 40 locomotives came to the Eastern Bengal Railway in 3 phases.[1] They were:

  • 1953: 2000–2009
  • 1954: 2010–2025
  • 1956: 2026–2039

These locomotives were painted and delivered in Eastern Bengal Railway yellow-black livery before changing to red and then to green/yellow-green after the Independence of Bangladesh in 1971.[2]

Technical details

The Class 2000 is an 1,125 hp Locomotive. The Electro Motive Division export model of his locomotive is EMD B12. It uses a 12-cylinder EMD 567 diesel prime mover. The wheel arrangement of this locomotive is A1A-A1A. The Class 2000 locomotives have a similar specification to the Vitoria-Minas Railroad Estrada de Ferro Vitória a Minas locomotives of Brazil.

Classification

The Bangladesh Railway specification of this locomotive is 'MEG-11'. Here, M stands for meter-gauge, E Stands for diesel electric, G stands for General Motors and 11 stands for locomotive horsepower (x100).

Usage

In the early days, Class 2000 locomotives were heavily used for prominent Bangladeshi trains like Ulka Express, Mohanagar Express, Parabat Express etc. Currently, class 2000 locomotives are being used for freight trains. Due to several mechanical constraints, they are not used in passenger service unless an emergency situation occurs. These locomotives always require turntables as they are the only single cab locomotive class of Bangladesh that has no rear hood.

The Class 2000 locomotive is considered a lifeline for freight services of Bangladesh Railway. It pulls containers, oil tankers and other departmental freight trains regularly across the country.

Running locomotives
  • 2015
  • 2017
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • 2025
  • 2030

Maintenance

The Class 2000 Locomotives are maintained by Diesel Workshop at Pahartali, Chittagong. These locomotives are not allowed to cross Bangabandhu Bridge due to mechanical restrictions. Therefore, they cannot go to Central Locomotive Workshop (CLW) at Parbatipur, Dinajpur for maintenance.

  • Locomotive 2015 (left)
  • Locomotive 2025

References
  1. Utah Rail. "GM Locomotives Built In Canada".
  2. "General Motors Diesel Ltd". Old Time Trains.


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