Locomotives of Bangladesh
In the rail transport system of Bangladesh, diesel locomotives are used. Among diesel locos, there are diesel-electric and diesel-hydraulic locos. Besides diesel locos, steam locos were used in the past, but now they are no longer used. By gauge, there are narrow-gauge (762 mm), meter-gauge (1,000 mm) and broad-gauge (1,676 mm) locos in Bangladesh. Among them, as no narrow-gauge railroads are active, so the narrow-gauge locos are not used anymore.

In 1961, there were 415 steam locos (both broad-gauge and meter-gauge) in the then East Pakistan, out of which, 262 were more than 30 years old.[1] Also there were 51 meter-gauge diesel locos, among which, 40 were class 2000 and 11 were class 3000 locos.[1] As of 2020, total 476 meter-gauge and broad-gauge diesel locos (including the old 11 class 3000 locos) have been imported in Bangladesh. Most of them are diesel-electric, but 80 locos are diesel-hydraulic. Among the 476 locos, 349 are meter-gauge and 127 are broad-gauge.[2] All diesel-hydraulic locos were produced by Ganz-MÁVAG of Hungary. Various companies produced the diesel-electric locos, notable among them are GMD, ALCO, MLW, Hyundai Rotem. and DLW, Progress Rail.[3][4][5][6]
Diesel locomotives
Meter-gauge diesel locomotives
Class
series |
Class
name |
Builder | Model | Nos. | Numbering | First
introduced |
Power
(hp) |
Speed
(km/h) |
Base | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | MEG-11 | GMD | B12 | 40 | 2000–2039 | 1953 | 1125 | 100 | CGPY | ![]() |
2100 | GEU-14 | GE | UM13C | 10 | 2101–2110 | 1964 | 1420 | 103 | ? | |
2200 | MEG-9 | GMD | GL8 | 41 | 2201–2241 | 1961 | 875 | 124 | CGPY Kamalapur Pahartali Parbatipur |
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2300 | MEM-14 | MLW | DL535A/RSD-30 | 24 | 2301–2324 | 1969 | 1400 | 96 | Kamalapur Parbatipur |
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2400 | 12 | 2401–2412 | 1978 | ![]() | ||||||
2500 | MEH-14 | Hitachi | HFA13A | 18 | 2501–2518 | 1982 | 1400 | 96 | Kamalapur | ![]() |
2600 | MEG-15 | GMD | GT18LA-2 | 16 | 2601–2616 | 1988 | 1500 | 107 | Pahartali | ![]() |
2700 | MEL-15 | Henschel Adtranz |
JT18U6 | 21 | 2701–2721 | 1994 | 1500 | 107 | Pahartali | ![]() |
2800 | MED-14 | DLW | DL535A/ RSD-30 (YDM 4BR) |
10 | 2801–2810 | 1996 | 1400 | 96 | ? | ![]() |
2900 | MEI-15 | Hyundai Hyundai Rotem |
GT18LA-2 | 39 | 2901–2939 | 1999 | 1500 | 107 | Kamalapur Pahartali Parbatipur |
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3000 | ? | ? | ? | 11 | ? | ? | 335 | ? | ? | ![]() |
MEI-20 | Hyundai Rotem | GT38AC | 10 | 3001–3010 | 2020 | 2200 | 107 | Kamalapur Pahartali |
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3100 | MEE-5 | English Electric | EEU-6 | 26 | 3101–3126 | 1973 | 550 | 56 | Pahartali | |
3200 | MHZ-5 | Ganz-MÁVAG | DHM 10 | 22 | 3201–3222 | 1980 | 590 | 60 | Dewanganj | ![]() |
3300 | MHZ-8 | Ganz-MÁVAG | DHM 12 | 38 | 3301–3338 | 1983 | 800 | 72 | Bonarpara | ![]() |
Broad-gauge diesel locomotives
Class
series |
Class
name |
Builder | Model | Nos. | Numbering | First
introduced |
Power
(hp) |
Speed
(km/h) |
Base | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6000 | BEA-20 | Alco | DL543/RSD-34 | 18 | 6000–6017 | 1965 | 2000 | 106 | Ishwardi | ![]() |
6100 | BEM-20 | MLW | DL543/RSD-34 | 16 | 6101–6116 | 1969 | 2000 | 106 | Ishwardi | ![]() |
6200 | BEH-24 | Hitachi | HFA24A | 12 | 6201–6212 | 1980 | 2450 | ? | Ishwardi | ![]() |
6300 | BEB-22 | Bombardier | MX 624 | 12 | 6301–6312 | 1980 | 2200 | 105 | Ishwardi | ![]() |
6400 | BED-26 | DLW | DL560C (WDM 2B) |
10 | 6401–6410 | 2001 | 2600 | 120 | Ishwardi | ![]() |
DLW | DL560C (WDM 2CA) |
3 | 6411–6413 | 2004 | 2600 | 120 | Ishwardi | ![]() | ||
6500 | BED-30 | DLW | DL560C (WDM 3A) |
26 | 6501–6526 | 2012 | 3100 | 120 | Ishwardi | ![]() |
BED-33 | DLW | DL560C (WDM 3D) |
10 | 6527–6536 | 2020 | 3300 | 160 | Ishwardi | ![]() | |
6600 | BEP-32 | Progress Rail | GT42AC | 40 | 6601–6640 | 2021 | 3250 | ? | ? | ![]() |
7000 | BHZ-5 | Ganz-MÁVAG | DHM 9 | 20 | 7001–7020 | 1980 | 500 | 60 | ? | ![]() |
List of preserved Diesel locomotives
Class | Loco no. | Location | Builder | Build no. | Transmission | Engine type | Gauge |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MEG-11 | 2000 | Diesel Workshop, Pahartali, Chittagong | General Motors Diesel | A443 | Diesel-electric | Two-stroke | Metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
MHZ-8 | 3309 | Central Locomotive Workshop, Parbatipur, Dinajpur | Ganz Mavag, Budapest, Hungary | Diesel-hydraulic | Metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) | ||
MHZ-8 | 3332 | Saidpur Works, Nilphamari | Ganz Mavag, Budapest, Hungary | Diesel-hydraulic | Metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
Diesel multiple units
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A few routes have DMU service. Depending on their transmission system, they are classified as DEMU (diesel-electric transmission) Chinese manufactured (CNR Tangshan) meter-gauge DEMU was introduced in Bangladesh from May 25, 2013. DEMU is the country's first-ever commuter train service starting its journey on the Chittagong–Fouzdarhat line. These DEMUs also operate on the Chittagong Circular Railway and on several Bangladesh Railway's service.[7] 20 sets of DEMU were imported then. Each set contains 3 coaches which can carry 300 passengers at a time. The power of each set is 1800 hp and can go at a speed of 80 km/h maximum. These DEMUs didn't turn out to be successful for Bangladesh Railway.
Steam locomotives
Gauge
(mm) |
Class | Builder | Build
date |
Total
made |
Whyte
notation |
Length
(m) |
Width
(m) |
Height
(m) |
Weight | Tractive
effort (tonne) |
Locale |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
762 | CB | Vulcan Foundry | ? | ? | 2-4-0T | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Khulna-Bagerhat Railway |
CS | W. G. Bagnall | 1936 | ? | 2-4-0T | 5.689 | 2.286 | 3.2 | 11.76 Tonnes | 2.05 | ||
1000 | F | Neilson & Co, Glasgo | 1995 | ? | 0-6-0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Previously Assam Bengal Railway Saidpur workshop (till 1983; For shunting purpose) |
MAWD | Alco | ? | 86[8] | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
PM | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
PS | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
RC | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
RS | Hunslet Engineering | 1920 | ? | 4-6-0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | EBR | |
WD | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
YB | ? | ? | ? | 4-6-2 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
YD | Nippon Saryo | 1952 | 25 (for PER) |
2-8-2 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
1676 | APC | ? | ? | ? | 4-4-2 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
BTC | ? | ? | ? | 2-6-4T | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
CWD | Canada | ? | ? | 2-8-2 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
HPS | Vulcan Foundry | 1947 | ? | 4-6-0 | 18.98 | 3.2 | 4.11 | Loaded: Loco-76.9 tons; Tender-52 tons Empty: Loco-71.3 tons; Tender-23.96 tons |
? | ? | |
SGC-Z | Vulcan Foundry | 1921 | ? | 0-6-0 | 16.4216 | 2.731 | 4.017 | 98.48 Ton | 11.76 | Paksey Division (1921–36) Saidpur workshop (1936; For shunting purpose) | |
SGS | Vulcan Foundry | ? | ? | 0-6-0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
SPS | Vulcan Foundry | ? | ? | 4-4-0 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
XB | Vulcan Foundry | 1936 | ? | 4-6-2 | ? | ? | ? | 90.2 long tons | 12.14 | ? | |
Preserved steam locomotives
A small number of steam locomotives are preserved in Bangladesh.[9]
Location | Class | Builder | Wheel arrangement |
Gauge | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dhaka Railway HQ | YD 718 | Nippon | 2-8-2 | Metre gauge | ![]() |
Saidpur Works | CS 15 | W. G. Bagnall, England | 2-4-0T | Narrow Gauge 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) | |
Saidpur Works | SGC-2 240 | Vulcan Foundry, England | 0-6-0 | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) | ![]() |
Paksay Railway HQ | CB 8 | Vulcan Foundry, England | 2-4-0T | Narrow Gauge 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) | ![]() |
Pahartoli Works | CB 7 | Vulcan Foundry, England | 2-4-0T | Narrow Gauge 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) | ![]() |
Rajshahi Railway HQ | HPS 30 | Vulcan Foundry, England | 4-6-0 | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) | ![]() |
National Scout Training Center, Mouchak, Gazipur | RC 233 | Metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) |
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 when colonial India was partitioned in 1947. It was re-gauged to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge in 1970.
References
- "Transportation Survey of East Pakistan, 1961: Detailed report". www.books.google.com. 1961. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- মেয়াদোত্তীর্ণ ইঞ্জিনে চলছে ট্রেন | বাংলাদেশ প্রতিদিন. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- "ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS" (PDF). Bangladesh Railway. Retrieved 27 November 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 Railway orders Progress Rail locomotives". International Railway Journal. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- "Bangladesh taps Progress Rail for GT Series power". Railway Age. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- "DEMU trains begin debut run in Ctg". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- "Transportation Survey of East Pakistan, 1961: Detailed report". www.books.google.com. 1961. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- "Preserved Steam Locomotives in Bangladesh". Internationalsteam.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2017.