B D Rampala:

Engineer par excellence and administrator

V K B Ramanayake Retired Senior Station Master, Sri Lanka Railways

B D Rampala former, General Manager of Railways revolutionized the Railway by introducing the following for the first time.

(1) Named express trains (2) Observation saloons (3) Sleeperettes (4) Colour light signalling (5) Radio signalling (6) Lanka Loha (7) The Railway Museum.

He was the second GMR of Independent Sri Lanka and was appointed by the Hon Sir John L Kotalawela former M/Transport and Works.

I joined the Rly. During M Kanagasabai’s Time as an Assisnatnt Station Master (ASM)

Rampala’s first appointment was as Chief Mechanical Engineer at the Ratmalana Workshop.

Punctual

He was a towering and imposing figure with a very dignified look was always punctual in attendance as well as his duties.

After the retirement of Kanagasabai, Rampala was appointed as the GMR. He used to attend office before all other staff officers.

The first thing did was to have a King-coconut and go to the Train Control Office and supervise the time keeping of the morning office trains.

(8) It was during his time that the dusty (coal steam locomotives were done away with and diesel and electrical locomotives were introduced)

The Canadian M4 and Rumanian M7 which ran faster and clean. Due to the improvements done by him the trains ran faster and were very clean, unlike earlier, for he instructed the Work shop to see the trains were well cleaned before leaving the shop.

The tourist traffic was gaining ground faster and the trains ran on schedule.

The named express trains were introduced by him for the first time with the introduction of these fast running engines which hauled a larger load, which means more compartments added to the trains.

The express trains are; “Ruhunu Kumari”, “Udarata Menike”, “Podimenike”, “Samudradevi”, “Yaldevi”, “Mahanuwara Express” and the Chilaw line office. These trains ran faster. They were a boon to the long distance passengers and office workers. All these trains ran to time during his time. Any train more than 10 mts. Late, was followed up by him and explanations were called from the SMM and running staff.

An office train was introduced from Kandy starting at 5.05 am to reach Colombo in time for office workers; and he arranged with the Transport Board to have a co-ordinated bus service so that the office workers could come in time for their places of work.

The express train Yaldevi and Uttaradevi were provided with Sleeperrettes for the long distance travellers at a nominal charge, that also for the first time.

The named express trains were provided with Observation Saloons, that also for the first time. These comfortable accommodation catered well especially for the tourists traffic (which was gaining ground very fast) and long distance travellers.

These trains were getting held up due to the Lock and Block system.

He next introduced the expeditious train running method of Colour light Signalling, which helped to run the trains on time and it was controlled by a panel board from the Maradana Control office. This too was for the first time.

With the theft of valuable copper wires the Morse Code method of signalling was done away with and Radio Signalling was introduced at the main Rly. Stns. which helped to get timely information of trains derailments and other information faster and dot on time at the Control offices of Maradana, Nawalapitiya and Anuradhapura. This too for the first time.

Good administration

One day, the GM got into the Engine of the Badulla Mail train from Fort Rly. station and got down at the next stop and informed the driver that he would be travelling in the Guard’s Van. But he did not do so. That day the train was on time!

I give here very interesting and authoritative memories of GM. Then I was attended to the Operating Br of GMR office as I have come in direct contact with him in official duties.

When Anil Munasinghe was the M/of Transport he asked the GM to increase the number of compartments of Samudradevi at the request of the Train Traveller’s Associaion as it was bursting to capacity point. GM reasoned out the difficulties. But he insisted. His orders were carried out.

Mr Rampala was appointed as the First Chairman of “Lanka Loha”, which he brought upto a profit making venture.

He encouraged sports by granting duty leave to take part in Govt. Services and Inter-Dept. Tournaments and Rly teams were very strong and won many trophies in Cricket and Soccer.

He sent up a team of cricketers to India to take part in Ranjith Singh Trophy and Rly did well and brought home Best bowler’s and fielder’s trophies..

Dedicated

He was the most efficient and qualified Mechanical Engineer this side of Suez. When some engineers from Pakistan and India went to consult German and Rumanian Engineers re-some technical matters, the engineers were really surprised and requested them to consult Ceylon Engineering expert Mr Rampala. Such was the esteem in which he was held by Westerners.

He got up a Railway Museum at the Colombo Fort Railway Station, where oldest steam engines and other Paraphernalia used during the British period were kept. This happened to be first one in the Rly.

Though he was a very strong administrator he was very strict and stern. But he had a Heart of Gold. Whenever some employee was dismissed or interdicted the wives and children come and plead on their behalf and almost always he rescinded the punishment, of course with a lesser punishment. But he never tolerated theft and dishonesty.

Adieu Sir May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.

This is a tribute on his one hundreth birth anniversary.