Train engine extensively damaged in derailment
A railway engine was extensively burnt and a section of the track damaged yesterday when a goods train carrying fuel to Anuradhapura from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation distribution centre was derailed close to the Talawa railway station, police said.
The police with the assistance of the Anuradhapura fire brigade doused the fire.
The engine had in tow five tanks each carrying 26,370 litres of diesel and a tank carrying 45,400 litres of petrol, a tank with water and a guard carriage.
Police said that as the train was approaching Talawa it had been directed to move to another track to allow the passage of the Colombo bound express train when the derailment had taken place.
Railway authorities said a major catastrophe was miraculously avoided because the petrol and diesel tanks had not caught fire.
By Athula Bandara
Source: Daily Mirror
June 8th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Regret to note that one of the Alstom Engines badly damaged due to this fire. Believe this was one of the engines having Dynamic brakes exclusively use for up-country run (upcountry travel is already hampered by lack of dynamic capable engines which became mandatory after ICE derailment @ Rambbukka few years back). Therefore loosing this train would further aggravate the situation.
Rohan