Kelani Valley 4-6-4 Locomotives in Ceylon

Class J2 (Locobase 10746)

Data from "Narrow Gauge Tank Locomotive, Kelani Ry," The Locomotive Magazine, Vol XV , 15 December 1909, pp. 228. See also Eng. Udaya Peeligama, "A Concise History Of Motive Power Development On Sri Lankan Railways", presented on the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka-New South Wales Chapter website at [], posted 7 September 2018, last accessed 3 August 2021; and [] for a brief history of the railway. Hunslet supplied eleven of the class, North British Locomotive Company contributed four.

The KV ran for 47 3/4 miles from Maradana Junction near Colombo to Yatyantota and stopped at 11 intermediate stations (among these were Minhana (presently Nugegoda), Pannipitiya, Padukka, Waga, Kosgama, Avissawella, Dehiowita, and Karawanella). Rail weight was a relatively robust 47 3/4 lb/yard (ca. 24 kg/metre) and the rails were flanged. Curve radii were as tight as 237 ft and adverse gradients ran as high as 1 in 80 (1.25%).

To handle such conditions, the consulting engineers Messrs Gregory Eyles & Waring ordered this quintet, although the LM report does not tell us who the builder was. Hunslet had supplied other locomotives to the line and Locobase believes they were the likely company.

They had long boilers with two cylindrical sand domes flanking the steam dome (which stood over the center coupled driver). Placing bogies at both ends of the locomotive spread the weight over more axles while reducing the rigid wheelbase.