Locomotives of Bangladesh

Rail network started in the then East Bengal of Indian Subcontinent on 15 November 1862.[7] During that time, steam locos were used to pull trains. They served the railway of Bangladesh for the next hundred years (approx.). Diesel locos first started operation in Bangladesh (the then East Pakistan) with the introduction of class 2000 EMD B12 diesel-electric locos in 1953.[8][9] Till then, the demand and usage of diesel locos increased rapidly. Side by side, the usage of steam locos decreased, and in 1980s, all steam locos were taken out from service. A small number of them are preserved.[10]

All steam locos were classified according to the Indian Railways' classification system. In case of diesel locos, a class name having three letters and two digit number is given according to the present classification system of Bangladesh Railway.

First letter denotes the track gauge the loco 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 Company (ALCO)
• B = Bombardier
• D = Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW)
• E = English Electric
• G = General Motors Diesel (GMD)
• H = Hitachi
• I = Hyndai Rotem
• L = Henschel
• M = Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW)
• P = Progress Rail
• Z = Ganz–MÁVAG

Two digit number denotes the approximate power × 100 of the locomotive in horsepower unit.

For example: MEG-15. Here, M = Meter-gauge, E = Diesel-electric, G = General Motors Diesel, and 15 = 15 × 100 hp = 1,500 hp.

A number series is given to each loco class and all locos of that class are numbered according to that series. For example: There are 13 locos from BED-26 class. The preferred series for that class is 6400 and the 13 locos are numbered from 6401 to 6413. In some cases, class is called specification and series is called class instead.

There are some exceptions to this rule. For example: The 40 locos of MEG-11 class are numbered from 2000 to 2039 instead of from 2001 to 2040 (same case for BEA-20 class too). BED-30 and BED-33, despite being different loco class, have the same series (6500 series). 2300 and 2400 series locos belong to same class, MEM-14. There used to run some shunting locos in Bangladesh in the 1960's having the 3000 series (currently withdrawn). So, the 10 new Hyndai Rotem locos from South Korea should be given the 3400 series (as 3100, 3200 and 3300 series are also already used). But instead of 3400 series, they were given the 3000 series. As of 2020, no locos from 2100, 3000 (old), 3100, 6200 and 7000 series are active.

There used to run some meter-gauge diesel railcars in Bangladesh around the 1980's. But they were active for a short period of time and all of them went off from service. Some railcars were converted to standard passenger coaches and are used on some trains, notably the Chittagong University shuttle trains.

A DEMU train of Bangladesh

Meter-gauge Diesel-electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) service were introduced in Bangladesh on May 25, 2013 for short-distance travel. These DEMUs usually are operated on various short-routes including the Chittagong Circular Railway.[13] 20 sets of DEMU were imported which were manufactured by Chinese company "CNR Tangshan". Each set contains 3 coaches which can carry 300 passengers at a time. The power of each set is 800 hp and can go at a speed of 60 km/h maximum.

Besides DEMU, Electric multiple unit (EMU) are supposed to be used on Dhaka Metro Rail, Dhaka Subway and Dhaka–Chittagong high-speed railway.

To change the direction of locos, there exist 12 turntables in Bangladesh. As of 2020, 8 of them are active while the rest 4 are inactive.

1. Akhaura, Brahmanbaria
2. Bonarpara, Saghata, Gaibandha
3. CGPY, Chittagong (Inactive)
4. Kamalapur railway station, Dhaka
5. Kewatkhali, Mymensingh
6. Kulaura, Moulvibazar
7. Laksham, Cumilla
8. Lalmanirhat (Inactive)
9. Noakhali (Inactive)
10. Pahartali , Chittagong
11. Parbatipur, Dinajpur
12. Sylhet

In Bangladesh, there are four workshops for the maintenance and repairing of locomotives:

Among them, heavy repairs are done in Central Locomotive Workshop. For the rest three, general maintenance and repairing works are done. Locomotives in excess of 30 years old are considered by Bangladesh Railway as beyond their accountancy and due for replacement.[3]

There are various loco sheds in Bangladesh.

• Coaches and Wagons of Bangladesh

• Media related to Locomotives of Bangladesh at Wikimedia Commons
• Bangladesh Railway's official website