Viceroy Special
Encyclopedia
The Viceroy Special is a special passenger train service operated by J.F. Tours & Travels (Ceylon) Ltd. Powered by the sole steam locomotive
kept in operation in Sri Lanka, it is operated as a private train on all railway lines in the island. The 75 year old luxury train has two air-conditioned observation saloons
and a restaurant car.
It is run by the only steam locomotive still in operation in Sri Lanka.
Other routes:
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
kept in operation in Sri Lanka, it is operated as a private train on all railway lines in the island. The 75 year old luxury train has two air-conditioned observation saloons
Observation car
An observation car/carriage/coach is a type of railroad passenger car, generally operated in a passenger train as the last carriage, with windows on the rear of the car for passengers' viewing pleasure...
and a restaurant car.
Features
The Viceroy Special acts as a heritage service. Passenger carriages on the train are fitted with nineteenth-century period fittings and include a restaurant car, an observation car and a bar. It is also given some modern features like air-conditioning.It is run by the only steam locomotive still in operation in Sri Lanka.
Routes
Primary charter services:- Main Line & Matale Line – ColomboColomboColombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
to KandyKandyKandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
, MataleMataleMatale is a town in the hill country of Sri Lanka, from Colombo and from Kandy. It is an area steeped in history and village living. The mayor of Matale is Hilmy Careem, as of May, 2006....
, and BadullaBadullaBadulla , is the capital of Uva Province, Sri Lanka. Badulla is located 60 km southeast of Kandy, almost encircled by the Badulu Oya River, about 680 metres above sea level and is surrounded by picturesque hills and mountains, most of which have tea plantations.-Geography:It is located on the...
. The Viceroy Special is most popular on this scenic route. The primary charter services on the Main Line include Hill Country Odyssey and Sense of Heritage.
- Coast Line - Colombo to MataraMatara, Sri LankaMatara is a city on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, 160 km from Colombo. It is one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. It was deeply affected by the Asian tsunami in December 2004.-History:...
via GalleGalleGalle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
- extension of the track up to HambantotaHambantotaHambantota is a coastal city in the south of Sri Lanka. It is the capital of the Hambantota District...
and KataragamaKataragamaKataragama is a pilgrimage town popular with Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and indigenous Vedda communities of Sri Lanka and South India. The town has Ruhunu Maha Kataragama devalaya, a shrine dedicated to Skanda-Murukan also known as Kataragamadevio...
is currently under construction. The Viceroy Special runs a service on this route called Glimpse of the Ocean, running from Colombo to Galle.
Other routes:
- Northern Line – Colombo to Kankesanturai deviates from the Main Line at PolgahawelaPolgahawelaPolgahawela is a town in north western Sri Lanka. The town is most notable for a major railway accident that occurred in 2005. Polgahawela is a small city that belongs to the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, and situated at a distance of 80 km north-east from the capital city of Colombo; 50 km...
junction - presently operating only up to Thandikulam, track was abandoned from Vavuniya due to war. Reconstruction began in March 2009 to re-extend track up to KankesanthuraiKankesanthuraiKankesanthurai or KKS , is a town with a harbour in the northern Sri Lankan city of Jaffna. It is the location of the Sri Lanka Navy naval base, SLNS Uttara. At present it is in the High Security Zone declared by the security forces of Sri Lanka. India helps in port's restoration...
.
- Batticaloa Line separates from the Northern Line at MahoMaho-Geography:*Maho Beach, a beach in St. Maarten*Mahawa, Sri Lanka, a town in North Western Province, Sri Lanka*Maho, a town in Eritrea-Culture:Maho is a feminine personal name in Japan. A typical kanji spelling is 真帆, though there may be others...
junction and extends up to BatticaloaBatticaloaBatticaloa is a city in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. It is the seat of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. It is on the east coast, south by south east of Trincomalee, and is situated on an island.-Etymology:...
via PolonnaruwaPolonnaruwaThe second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I, who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 AD to reunite the country once more under a local leader.-History:While Vijayabahu's victory and shifting of Kingdoms to the more strategic Polonnaruwa...
. - Tricomalee Line from the BatticaloaBatticaloaBatticaloa is a city in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. It is the seat of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. It is on the east coast, south by south east of Trincomalee, and is situated on an island.-Etymology:...
line at Gal-oya junction to TrincomaleeTrincomaleeTrincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
. - Mihintale Line from AnuradhapuraAnuradhapuraAnuradhapura, , is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization.The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, on the banks of the historic...
to the sacred city of MihintaleMihintaleMihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist monk Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa which inaugurated the presence of Buddhism in Sri Lanka...
.
- Puttalam Line – Colombo to PuttalamPuttalamPuttalam is the capital city of the Puttalam District in North Western Province, Sri Lanka.-History:The history of this dry zone dates back to the arrival of Prince Vijaya, nearly 2500 years ago, when his vessel washed ashore. The name "Puttalam" may be a modification of the Tamil word Uppuththalam...
- deviates from the Main Line at RagamaRagamaRagama is a municipality located in the Western Province, Sri Lanka.Ragama is easily accessible from the Colombo - Negambo main road and is about from Mahabage junction. This is a well known town due to one major Railway junction where the main line and the Puttalam line meet. The town is also...
. - Industrial Line from Puttalam to Aruwakalu and Ilavankulam via Vanathavillu.
- Kelani Valley LineKelani Valley Railway LineThe Kelani Valley Railway Line, in Sri Lanka, covering the breadth of Colombo District and some parts of Kegalla and Ratnapura Districts is owned, maintained and operated by the Sri Lanka Railways.- History :...
- Colombo to YatiyanthotaYatiyanthotaYatiyanthota is a town in Kegalle District, in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka....
- presently operating only up to AvissawellaAvissawellaAvissawella, also known as Seethawakapura or Seethawaka, is a town along the A4 route from Colombo on the Western Coast to Kalmunai in the Eastern Coast of Sri Lanka via Ratnapura, Pelmadulla, Balangoda and Wellawaya.- Overview :...
, the track to beyond Avissawella was abandoned in 1940. Before 1997, Viceroy Special would not have been able to operate on this line as it was narrow gauge. The line was broad gaugedGauge conversionIn rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks...
up to Avissawella in 1997, allowing the train to travel on it.
- Mannar Line (Earlier Indo-Lanka Line) Colombo to TalaimannarTalaimannarTalaimannar is a settlement in Sri Lanka located on the northwestern coast of Mannar Island.- Transport :Prior to the severe destructions by a cyclone in December 1964, it was the terminus of a ferry service to India across the very shallow Palk Bay...
- Divides from Northern Line at Madawachchi junction - no service as the line was damaged during the war, but rebuilding began in November 2010.
Rolling Stock
A class B1a steam locomotive, named "Sir Thomas Maitland", runs the Viceroy Special service.See also
- List of named passenger trains of Sri Lanka
- Rail transport in Sri Lanka