The field visit to the Ratmalana Railway Workshop, organized by the Trinity College Automotive Society, took place in 17th of February 2023. Sixteen students from grades 10 to 14 participated in the visit. It was organized by the master-in-charge, Mr. Prabath Jayathilake, and the committee for the year 2023, with the support of Mr. Subash Dhanasekara and Mr. Subash Wijewardena.
The main objective of the field visit was to impart technical knowledge to the students regarding the assembly, repair, and maintenance of train engines, as well as the repair of trains belonging to different classes, particularly M and S class. During the visit, the students were granted the chance to explore various workshop stations, such as Workshops 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, and 28, as well as the Lathe and Foundry Workshop and the Electrical Workshop.
The students visited the following workshops during their field visit:
Workshop number 14
Workshop 14, the laboratory, was the first stop. Here, the students witnessed the testing of materials for quality and standards. They learned that each metal part used for a specific purpose has a unique composition.
Workshop number 27
Moving on to Workshop 27, the students encountered large rail engines and observed mechanical engineers and technicians dismantling and repairing them. They saw two types of engines: diesel-powered mechanical engines and diesel-powered electrical engines.
Workshop number 28
Workshop 28 focused on repairing vacuum brakes, air brakes, locomotive transmission systems, compressor systems, and power generating systems. The students also had the opportunity to observe various classes of engines, including S8, S9, S10, and Y1.
Electrical workshop
In the electrical workshop, after lunch, the students witnessed the repair of various electrical components. They observed electric motor winding and the repair of electrical circuits and starter motors.
M type train repairing workshop
The M type train repairing workshop provided insight into the repair processes for M type class train engines such as M2, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, M10, and M11. The students were able to observe the specific repair procedures for each engine type.
Lathe and foundry workshop
At the lathe and foundry workshop, the students observed the workings of lathe machines and the process of forming metal parts to replace worn-out components.
Workshop number 21,22,23 and 24
Finally, the students visited workshops 21, 22, 23, and 24, where they witnessed the repair and painting of train bogies.
The field visit proved to be an outstanding success. The students acquired invaluable insights into trains and various technical and mechanical aspects associated with railways. Moreover, they relished the opportunity to bond with their fellow club members. Encouraged by the positive outcome, the Automotive Society intends to arrange additional field visits to different workshops throughout the year, with a particular emphasis on engineering, auto mechanics, and technical domains
Review by M.D. Milhuisen (Automotive Society)
