Locomotives of Bangladesh
Bangladesh Railway operates diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic locomotives. There are 1,000 mm (meter gauge) and 1,676 mm (Indian gauge) gauge diesel locomotives in Bangladesh Railway. Steam locomotives were active till the '80s. Currently no steam locomotives are in service, some of them has been preserved.
![](../I/m/BR_2705.jpg)
Steam locomotives
Steam locomotives were in service when rail network started in the then East Bengal of Indian Subcontinent on 15 November 1862.[1] They were the dominant type of locomotive of that time and even with the introduction of diesel powered locomotives in 1953, they served the railway of Bangladesh till the '80s. Currently no steam locomotives are in operation. Most of them has been scrapped. A small number of them are preserved in Bangladesh.[2] Here are some steam locomotive classes that were operated by EBR/PER/BR:
Narrow-gauge (762 mm)
The 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge locomotives are from the Rupsa-Bagerhat railway which was the only 2 ft 6 in gauge line in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) when colonial India was partitioned in 1947. It was re-gauged to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge in 1970.
Class CB
These locomotives were manufactured by The Vulcan Foundry Ltd., England. They were withdrawn in 1970.[3] Two units are preserved, CB7 at Paksay Railway HQ, Iswardi, Pabna with an attached coach behind and CB8 at Pahartoli Workshop, Chittagong.
![](../I/m/Narrow_Guage_loco_at_Paksey.jpg)
![](../I/m/First_Ever_Steam_Engine_of_Bangladesh.jpg)
Specifications:
Power type: Steam
Whyte Notation: 2-4-0
Gauge: 746 mm
Class: CB
Locale: Khulna-Bagerhat Section
Withdrawn: 1970
Preserved: 2 (CB7 at Paksay Railway HQ, Pabna; CB8 at Pahartoli Works, Chittagong)
Disposition: Withdrawn
Class CS
These locomotives were manufactured by W. G. Bagnall Ltd., Stafford, England. The whyte notation is 2-4-0T. Locomotive no. 15 was withdrawn in 1969 and preserved at Saidpur Works, Nilphamari.
Specifications:
Power type: Steam
Builder: W. G. Bagnall, England
Build date: 1936
Whyte Notation: 2-4-0T
Gauge: 746 mm
Length: 5.689 m
Width: 2.286 m
Height: 3.2 m
Loco weight: 11.76 Tonnes
Tractive effort: 2.05 Tonnes
Class: CS
Locale: Khulna-Bagerhat Section
Withdrawn: 1969
Preserved: 1 (CS15 at Saidpur Works, Nilphamari)
Disposition: Withdrawn
Meter-gauge (1,000 mm)
Class YD
25 Class YD locomotives (meter-gauge) were manufactured for East Pakistan by Nippon Sharyo Ltd., Nagoya, Japan and delivered in 1952. The whyte notation is 2-8-2. Among them, locomotive no. 718 is preserved at Rail Bhaban, Dhaka which was withdrawn in 1983.
![](../I/m/Dhaka_Head_Quarter.jpg)
Specifications:
Power type: Steam
Builder: Nippon Sharyo Ltd., Nagoya, Japan
Build date: 1952
Total produced: (For East Pakistan) 25
Whyte Notation: 2-8-2
Gauge: meter-gauge
Couplers: Norwegian coupling
Class: YD
Withdrawn: 1983
Preserved: 1 (YD718 at Rail Bhaban, Dhaka)
Disposition: Withdrawn
Broad-gauge (1,676 mm)
Class SGC-Z
These locomotives were manufactured by The Vulcan Foundry Ltd., England. The whyte notation is 0-6-0. They used to serve the Paksay Division of EBR. In 1936, Locomotive no. 240 was converted to oil and used by Saidpur Workshop for shunting purpose. This locomotive was withdrawn in 1983 and preserved at Rail Bhaban, Dhaka.
![](../I/m/Bangladesh_BG_Steam_Loco.jpg)
Specifications:
Power type: Steam
Builder: The Vulcan Foundry Ltd., England
Build date: 1921
Whyte Notation: 0-6-0
Gauge: 1,676 mm
Width: 2.731 m
Height: 4.017 m
Class: SCG-Z
Locale: Paksay Division (1921–36)
Syedpur Workshop (1936; For shunting purpose)
Withdrawn: 1983
Preserved: 1 (SGC-Z240 at Saidpur Works, Nilphamari)
Disposition: Withdrawn
Class HPS
These locomotives were manufactured by The Vulcan Foundry Ltd., England. The whyte notation is 4-6-0. They used to serve the Paksay Division of EBR.
![](../I/m/Steam_Locomotive_at_Rajshahi.jpg)
Specifications:
Power type: Steam
Builder: The Vulcan Foundry Ltd., England
Build date: 1947
Whyte Notation: 4-6-0
Gauge: 1,676 mm
Length: 62 ft. 3.25 inch
Width: 10 ft. 6 inch
Height: 13 ft. 6 inch
Loco weight (loaded): Engine-76.9 tons; Tender-52 tons
Loco weight (empty): Engine-71.3 tons; Tender-23.96 tons
Class: HPS
Withdrawn: 1984
Preserved: 1 (Rajshahi Rail Bhaban, Rajshahi)
Disposition: Withdrawn
List of preserved Steam locomotives
Class | Loco no. | Location | Builder | Build no. | Wheel arrangement |
Gauge |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CB | 7 | Pahartoli Works | Volcan Foundry, England | 2-4-0T | Narrow Guage 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) | |
CB | 8 | Paksay Railway HQ | Volcan Foundry, England | 1757 | 2-4-0T | Narrow Guage 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
CS | 15 | Saidpur Works | W. G. Bagnall, England | 2539 | 2-4-0T | Narrow Guage 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
YD | 718 | Dhaka Railway HQ | Nippon, Japan | 2-8-2 | Metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) | |
SGC-Z | 240 | Saidpur Works | Volcan Foundry, England | 0-6-0 | Broad Guage 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) | |
HPS (NEW) | 30 | Rajshahi Railway HQ | Volcan Foundry, England | 4-6-0 | Broad Guage 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) |
Diesel locomotives
Diesel locomotives first started operation in Bangladesh (the then East Pakistan) with the introduction of Class 2000 EMD B12 diesel-electric locomotives in 1953.[4][5] Till now, 445 diesel locomotives (broad-gauge and meter-gauge) have been imported over times in Bangladesh, including 80 diesel-hydraulic locomotives. Among them, 317 are meter-gauge and 117 are broad-gauge locomotives. There may also exist some narrow-gauge diesel locomotives in Bangladesh but there is no adequate information regarding them. Among the 445 locomotives, 273 locomotives are currently active, including 179 meter-gauge locomotives and 94 broad-gauge locomotives. Among them, 140 meter-gauge locomotives and 55 broad-gauge locomotives have reached expiry within times.[6] Only three diesel-hydraulic locomotives are active and the rest are all diesel-electric.
Classification and numbering of locomotives
In Bangladesh Railway, the present 'classification' or 'specification' of locomotives has three letters with two digit number:
First letter: Denotes the track gauge the locomotive is operated.
- B = Broad Gauge
- M = Meter Gauge
Second letter: Denotes type of diesel traction.
- E = Diesel-electric
- H = Diesel-hydraulic
Third letter: Denotes first or last letter of the name of manufacturer.
- A = American Locomotive Works (ALCo)
- B = Bombardier
- D = Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW)
- E = English Electric
- G = General Motors (GM)
- H = Hitachi
- I = Hyndai-Rotem
- L = Henscell
- M = Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW)
- Z = Ganz Mavag
Two digit number: Denotes the approximate power * 100 of the locomotive in hp.
- 5 = 5 * 100 hp = 500 hp
- 8 = 8 * 100 hp = 800 hp
- 9 = 9 * 100 hp = 900 hp
- 11 = 11 * 100 hp = 1100 hp
- 14 = 14 * 100 hp = 1400 hp
- 15 = 15 * 100 hp = 1500 hp
- 20 = 20 * 100 hp = 2000 hp
- 22 = 22 * 100 hp = 2200 hp
- 24 = 24 * 100 hp = 2400 hp
- 26 = 26 * 100 hp = 2600 hp
- 30 = 30 * 100 hp = 3000 hp
For example: MEG-11, Here M = Meter-gauge, E = Diesel-electric, G = General Motors and 11 = 11×100 hp = 1,100 hp (actually 1,125 hp).
In case of numbering of a locomotive, a four digit number is used. First two digits denotes the 'series' or 'class' of the locomotive and the rest two digit denotes the number of the locomotive of the respective series. For example: locomotive number 2025 means it is the 22nd locomotive of class 2000. Meter-gauge locomotives start with 2000 and ends in 3400 as of 2020. On the other hand, broad gauge locomotives start with 6000 and ends in 7000 (Note that there are no 6700, 6800 and 6900 series/class locomotives yet).
List of Diesel locomotives
The main source for this list is Bangladesh Railway Fans Forum.[7]
Meter gauge (1,000 mm)
Class 2000
![](../I/m/BR_2025.jpg)
Class 2000 were the very first diesel-electric locomotives of the them Eastern Bengal Railway (now Bangladesh Railway). They started service from 1953. Total 40 units were imported from General Motors. They used to haul long-distant passenger trains. Still 7 units are currently in service as of 2020.
Class 2100
These are the first and only General Electric locomotive in Bangladesh. Total 10 of them were manufactured as model UM13C. Currently none of them are active.
Class 2200
Total 41 EMD GL8 marked as Class 2200 were made by General Motors. They were basically used for passenger trains but now only use for shunting due to age.
Class 2300
![](../I/m/%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC_%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8_%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A8_%E0%A7%A6%E0%A7%A9.jpg)
They are the first ALCo based locomotives of Bangladesh for meter-gauge network. Total 24 were made by MLW in 1969. Currently 22 are active.
Class 2400
![](../I/m/%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8_%E0%A6%AD%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A3_%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8_%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%B0_%E0%A6%AD%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%B0.jpg)
Total 12 units marked as class 2400 were manufactured by MLW in 1972. They have similar specifications with Class 2300. 11 units are currently active.
Class 2500
Total 18 locomotives of this class started service in 1982. 17 are currently active.
Class 2600
![](../I/m/BR_2609.jpg)
Total 16 EMD GT18L-2 marked as Class 2600 started operation since 1988. Being a very successful class, all of them are still operational.
Class 2700
![](../I/m/Chittagong_University_Shuttle_train_(07).jpg)
They are the first dual-cab locomotives of Bangladesh and have similar specifications with Class 2600. Total 21 locomotives were bult by ABB Henscell and Adtranz under GM-EMD license.
Class 2800
They are a dual-cab modified version of Class YDM-4 locomotive in India. Only 10 were made.
Class 2900
![](../I/m/Shonar_Bangla_Express.jpg)
They are similar to Class 2600 locomotives, built by Hyndai Rotem in 1999. Total 39 locomotives were made and all are successfully operating various trains around Bangladesh.
Class 3000
There existed some shunting locomotives in marked as Class 3000 in Bangladesh around 1980s. None of them are currently in service.
Class 3100
Total 26 locomotives were manufactured by English Electric for shunting purpose. Currently none are active.
Class 3200
These are diesel-hydraulic locomotive manufactured by Ganz-Mavag. They are rated as 500 hp. Only 2 are active as of 2020.
Class 3300
These are a more powerful version of Class 3200 locomotives with 800 hp. Only one of them are active.
Class 3400
Class 3400 are upcoming diesel-electric locomotives. Total 70 units will be manufactured by Hyndai Rotem.[8]
List of Meter gauge locomotives
Spec | Class | Model | Number | Grouping | Introduced | Manufacturer | Power | Speed | Base | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MEG-11 | 2000 | EMD B12 | 40 | 2000–2039 | 1953 | General Motors | 1,125 bhp (839 kW) | 100 km/h (62 mph) | ||
GEU-14 | 2100 | GE UM13C | 10 | 2101–2110 | 1964 | General Electric | 1,300/1,420 bhp | 103 km/h (64 mph) | ||
MEG-9 | 2200 | EMD GL8 | 41 | 2200–2241 | 1961 | General Motors | 875 bhp (652 kW) | 124 km/h (77 mph) | ||
MEM-14 | 2300 | DL535A/RSD-30 | 24 | 2301–2324 | 1969 | Montreal Locomotive Works | 1,400 bhp (1,040 kW) | 96 km/h (60 mph) | ||
MEM-14 | 2400 | DL535A/RSD-30 | 12 | 2401–2412 | 1978 | Montreal Locomotive Works | 1,400 bhp (1,040 kW) | 96 km/h (60 mph) | ||
MEH-14 | 2500 | HFA13A | 18 | 2501–2518 | 1982 | Hitachi | 1,400 bhp (1,040 kW) | 96 km/h (60 mph) | ||
MEG-15 | 2600 | GM-EMD GT18L-2 | 16 | 2601–2616 | 1988 | General Motors | 1,500 bhp (1,120 kW) | 107 km/h (66 mph) | ||
MEL-15 | 2700 | JT18U6 | 21 | 2701–2709 2710–2721 |
1994 1996 |
ABB Henschel Adtranz |
1,500 bhp (1,120 kW) | 107 km/h (66 mph) | Dual cab | |
MED-14 | 2800 | YDM 4BR | 10 | 2801–2810 | 1996 | Diesel Locomotive Works | 1,400 bhp (1,040 kW) | 96 km/h (60 mph) | Dual Cab | |
MEI-15 | 2900 | GM-EMD GT18LA-2 | 39 | 2901–2908 2909–2939 |
1999 2013 |
Hyundai Rotem |
1,500 bhp (1,120 kW) | 107 km/h (66 mph) | ||
? | 3000 | ? | 11 | 3001–3111 | ? | ? | 335 bhp | ? | Shunter | |
MEE-5 | 3100 | EEU-6 | 26 | 3101–3126 | 1971–1972 | English Electric | 550 bhp | Shunter | ||
MHZ-5 | 3200 | 22 | 3201–3222 | 1980 | Ganz Mavag | 590 bhp | Shunter | |||
MHZ-8 | 3300 | 38 | 3301–3338 | Ganz Mavag | 800 bhp | Shunter | ||||
3400 | Hyndai Rotem | Upcoming | ||||||||
Broad gauge (1,676 mm)
Class 6000
![](../I/m/Faridpur_express_(1).jpg)
They are the oldest type of broad-gauge locomotive and also the only pure ALCo locomotives in Bangladesh. They were introduced in 1965. Total 18 units were made.
Class 6100
![](../I/m/%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%80_%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8_.jpg)
They are similar to Class 6000 locomotives made by MLW in 1969. Total 16 units were made.
Class 6200
They are the broad-gauge version of class 2500 locomotives. They are rated as 2,400 hp. Currently none of them are in service.
Class 6300
![](../I/m/Bangladesh_Railways_Train_Engine.jpg)
12 units of class 6300 were made by Bombadier in 1980. All are active as of 2020.
Class 6400
These are Indian locomotive class WDM-2 and WDM-2CA locomotives imported in 2001 (10) and 2004 (3) respectively. They are rated as 2600 hp. Currently they are mostly used in freight trains with some still used in passenger trains. All are active in service.
Class 6500
![](../I/m/%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4_%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2_%E0%A6%93_%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2_%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A8.jpg)
In 2012, Bangladesh Railway ordered 16 WDM-3A broad gauge locomotives of 3100 hp from Diesel Locomotive Works, India.[9] They are marked as class 6500 (BED-30). They have a power of 3,100 hp. They are the second most powerful locomotive of Bangladesh after the upcoming class 6600. A total of 26 locomotives were imported. They are used in both passenger and freight trains. All are active in service.
Class 6600
In 2019, 40 EMD GT42ACLs were ordered from Progress Rail Services.[10] They are supposed to be used exclusively for freight trains.
Class 7000
These are the broad-gauge version of class 3200 locomotives. Total 20 were manufactured in 1980 and all are withdrawn as of 2020.
List of broad gauge locomotives
Spec | Class | Model | Number | Grouping | Introduced | Manufacturer | Power | Speed | Base | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEA-20 | 6000 | DL543/RSD-34 | 18 | 6000–6017 | 1965 | American Locomotive Company | 2,000 bhp (1,490 kW) | 106 km/h (66 mph) | Ishwardi | |
BEM-20 | 6100 | DL543/RSD-34 | 16 | 6101–6116 | 1969 | Montreal Locomotive Works | 2,000 bhp (1,490 kW) | 106 km/h (66 mph) | Ishwardi | |
BEH-24 | 6200 | HFA24A | 12 | 6201–6212 | 1980 | Hitachi | 2,450 bhp (1,830 kW) | Ishwardi | ||
BEB-22 | 6300 | MX 624 | 12 | 6301–6312 | 1980 | Bombardier | 2,200 bhp (1,640 kW) | 105 km/h (65 mph) | Ishwardi | |
BED-26 | 6400 | WDM 2B & WDM 2CA | 13 | 6401–6410 6411–6413 |
2001 2004 |
Diesel Locomotive Works | 2,600 bhp (1,940 kW) | 120 km/h (75 mph) | Ishwardi | |
BED-30 | 6500 | WDM 3A | 26 | 6501-6510 6511-6518 6519-6526 |
2012 2013 2014 |
Diesel Locomotive Works | 3,100 bhp (2,310 kW) | 120 km/h (75 mph) | Ishwardi | |
6600 | GT42ACL | 40 | 6601–6640 | Progress Rail | Upcoming | |||||
BHZ-5 | 7000 | 20 | 7001–7020 | 1980 | Ganz Mavag | 500 bhp | Shunter | |||
Gallery
Steam Locomotives
- First Steam Railway Engine Of Bangladesh
- A train at the Rajshahi station
- Viceregal Train at Paksey
Diesel Locomotives
Meter Gauge
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2000 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2100 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2200 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2300 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2400 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2500 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2600 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2700 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2800 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 2900 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 3100 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 3200 locomotive
- Bangladesh Railway Class 3300 locomotive
Broad Gauge
- Bangladesh Railway Class 6000 locomotive in Jessore newly printed
- Bangladesh Railway Class 6100 locomotive in Natore
- Bangladesh Railway Class 6200 locomotive in Rajshahi railway station
- Bangladesh Railway Class 6300 locomotive at Santahar railway station
- Bangladesh Railway Class 6400 locomotive hauling Maitree Express
- Bangladesh Railway Class 6500 at Joydebpur railway station
- Withdrawn Bangladesh Railway Class 7000 locomotives at Khulna railway station, Khulna
Narrow Gauge
- Abandoned narrow guage diesel locomotive at Dewanganj
References
- "Railway - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- "Preserved Steam Locomotives in Bangladesh". Internationalsteam.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "[IRFCA] Steam Survivors List for Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal". www.irfca.org. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- Strack, Don. "GENERAL MOTORS DIESEL". utahrails.net. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- "Old Time Trains". www.trainweb.org. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- "মেয়াদোত্তীর্ণ ইঞ্জিনে চলছে ট্রেন | বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন". Bangladesh Pratidin. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- http://atanveer.homeip.net:8181/reads/Misc/Iftekhar%20Omeer%20Talha-Bangladeshi%20Locomotives.pdf
- "Bangladesh orders 70 diesel locomotives". International Railway Journal. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- admin (28 August 2012). "DLW bags order for 16 locomotives from Bangladesh Railways". Global Rail News. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
- "Bangladesh taps Progress Rail for GT Series power". Railway Age. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2020.