Cameos of the past:
First train on line to Badulla from Colombo
The present generation of Lankans may perhaps know just a little
about the history of the Sri Lanka Railway, which reaches back to nearly
a century and half. In spite of the administrative changes that could
probably have been introduced over the years, the railway service is
still the most popular mode of commuter transportation in the country.
It was in 1830 that the railway was first introduced into England
when a line was constructed between Liverpool and Manchester. The
success of this venture gave rise to railway speculations in India and
Sri Lanka (then Ceylon).
After a great deal of dialogue a company was formed in 1845, which
was provisionally registered in England under the name and title The
Ceylon Railway Company, providing for a capital of 1,000,000 pound
sterling in 20,000 shares of 50 pound each, to build a railway line from
Colombo to Kandy, at an estimated cost of 6,000 pound sterling per mile.
In 1846 amidst objections raised by villagers residing along the
proposed route, especially the carters and carrier-organizations, who
used the old road through the narrow Pass of Kadugannawa since 1825, the
surveys went ahead.
The first sod of the new railway was turned by the Governor Sir Henry
Ward, on August 3, 1858. In his travelogue “Ceylon Beaten Track (1940)”
W.T. Keble describes the historical event thus, “Men in black
frock-coats and top hats crowded the railway grounds in Colombo, and the
Governor held a silver and ebony handled mammoty, ready to cut the first
sod and place it in a beautiful wheelbarrow of Satinwood and Ebony. as
it was the early days of photography, the newspapers had urged the
public to remain perfectly still for a few seconds at the critical
moment so that a picture might be taken.
The photographer disappeared under his black shroud. His hand
appeared and removed the cap over the lens, and put it back again. He
reappeared smiling. His effort, however, turned out a complete failure.
The most prominent feature in the foreground was found to be the back
view of a lady with a most portentous breadth of crinoline culminating
in a bonnet of delightful minuteness. Another picture was taken when
only ladies who could be kept in order were permitted to be present.”
It was a time when a quick and reliable transport process was in
demand, in view of the flourishing coffee plantations in the central
After some delay with the first contractors, the contract was finally
awarded in 1863 to W. F. Faviell, who had the distinction of having
successfully completed the first railway in India.
Unfortunately, in the initial stages of the construction a terrible
accident occurred in which the Foreman Platelayer and 36 workmen were
killed on the spot.
An engine backing a string of trucks laden with earth and workers
rammed a trolley which was negligently left on the line by a pay clerk,
at the 7th mile post near Ragama.
The line from Colombo up to Ambepussa was ceremonially opened on
December 27, 1864 by the Duke of Brabant, heir to the Belgium throne
(later King Leopold II) who happened to be holidaying in the island at
the time. Many guest invitees, including Sir Henry Ward, participated in
the historic journey.
The train was hauled by a 59-ton steam locomotive originally deployed
for transporting ballast to the work sites. Leaving Colombo at 9 a.m.
the train reached Ambepussa by 12 noon, covering a distance of 54 Km.
Passenger traffic from Colombo to Ambepussa commenced in 1865.
It is on record that the villagers of that time stared at the “new
monstrosity that had invaded their territory with no signs of
excitement, and turned away to the business in hand without showing any
Among them none called the engine the water-drinking, coal-eating,
jungle-going devil who says h-o-o!” The children squeaking indelight ran
down to get a closer look and shouted out, “Uda Rata Meniketa
pata-kuda-dheka dheka!” in imitation of its noise. The line was extended
to Polgahawela soon afterwards.
The most difficult section up the Kadugannawa Pass was completed 3
years later. This was the stage which baffled the construction
engineers, so much so that, they even suggested the use of an additional
engine to haul the compartments up with a steel cable, in view of the
steep gradient of the line.
It is interesting to note that Robert Stephenson, only son of George
Stephenson, inventor of the first workable steam locomotive, was
functioning as referee between the Railway Company and the government of
Ceylon, at this juncture.
In spite of many set backs, physical as well as financial, Faviell
was able to complete the Herculean task, enabling the first train to
make the complete journey from Colombo to Kandy, on April 30, 1867, and
before the end of year the line was open for passenger traffic.
The precipitous nature of the Kadugannawa Pass provided ample
opportunities of enjoying vistas of unparalleled scenery, especially
between Alagalla and Kadugannawa stations. Tradition has it that the
kings of old used to hurl their political prisoners from the top of
Alagalla rock when they had to be executed.
Here across the valley Utuwankanda, once the stronghold of
Saradial-Robinhood of Sri Lanka- comes into view. According to the
railway history, Saradial was still operating in the area when the
railway line was being built.
A cave frequented by him is said to have been used as a smithy during
the construction of the Meangalla tunnel, which had been bored 300 feet
through the solid rock. This is one of the eleven tunnels on the
Before long, steps were taken by the government to extend the line
from Kandy to Nawalapitiya and completed the work by mid-1874, and then
on to Nanu Oya, which was completed on May 20, 1885.
The construction of the line from Nanu Oya to Badulla was undertaken
by the Ceylon Government Railway with its own work force, which took 40
years to complete, and passenger traffic commenced on February 5, 1924.
Pattipola station after Nanu Oya is the highest point on the
Kandy-Badulla section, being 6201 feet above sea-level. From here on
passing Ohia, Idulgashinna, Haputale, Ella ad a number of stations
en-route the track enters the famous Demodera Loop, where it encircles a
hill and doubles back completely running through a tunnel 100 feet below
the Demodera station before reaching Hali Ela and then Budulla terminus.