This shot shows the Prima Flour train, apart from oil trains this is the only bulk carrier train in Sri Lanka carrying wheat flour from its processing plant in China Bay on the east coast of Sri Lanka near Trincomalee to the unloading facility in Seeduwa in Colombo.
Trying to get information about the movements and frequency of the train from my home in Teignmouth 5500 miles away was a tough challenge and it wasn't until i arrived in Sri Lanka that i was able to start gathering some credible intel.
It transpired that the train ran three times a week, sometimes more sometimes less. It arrived at China Bay between 2000hrs and midnight and departed between 0200 and 0600 after loading was complete.
The loco and barrier coaches are detached and run to Trincomalee approx 3.5 miles away where the loco would be refuelled.
Due to the North East monsoon season running later than usual this year the area was experiancing some unusual weather. The rains would come down everyday at night and midday so heavy it was impossible to do any photography, During the day the humidity levels rose so high that it was exhausting to just stand still in it. My camera was suffering severely with the conditions, the humidity was making my equipment extremely unreliable.
I had allocated myself two weeks in the area to get a shot but with the rains ,humidity and the train running overnight it was doubtful that that would be enough time.
I needed a bit of luck.
On this day i popped into the depot at Trinco and asked the shed foreman for a sit rep. He informed me that the Prima train arrived late last night and would be leaving at approximately 1300 hrs. Perfect. I jumped in a tuk tuk and headed out to China Bay. The train was in the yards being loaded. I was overjoyed. 1300 came and went with no sign of the loco arriving to take the train forward. The loco and barrier coaches arrived at 1430 and started the shunting maneuvers preparing the train for departure.
So this is a rare ish picture of the Prima Flour Train in daylight at China Bay preparing to depart for Colombo photographed passing one of the ubiquitous Hindu temples found all over Sri Lanka. The locomotive is an M11 number 955 built at the Banaras works in Varanasi powered by the same engine that is in our very own Class 66.
Job done, i checked out of my hotel and headed west after 8 days.
