On 4th of February 2006 (Independence day of Sri Lanka) Three railnuts embarked on a hike while the whole country was in front of TV sets watching the Independence day celebrations. We hiked from Kadugannawa to Rambukkana along the main line. (21.3 km). The three nuts are Lahiru, Harsha & yours truly. We planned this trip several weeks earlier and invited most of our rail nuts, unfortunately most of them backed out of this one. Although the hike is small it is streneous and a steep grade (1:44). Subsequently only three of us remained to venture.

Here are a few hike tips in case you too are eager to make this hike.

Equipment;

Camera                      - (Film/Digital) Digital is suitable as you will run out of film in no time. If you are using film camera go for ISO 200 film. (All Images I took on this hike was film using Fuji ISO 200)

Spare batteries for camera, flashes.

If digital camera extra memory chip.

A Plastic bag to put your camera incase of rain.

Lantern/Torches          - Rechargable Lantern is ideal for walking through tunnels, wide dispersing flourecent types (twin tubes) are best suited inside tunnels. Single spot beam torches are not effective inside tunnels, the sheer pitch blackness absorbs all the lights.

The villagers travel through these tunnels on foot often. They use dried coconut palms as torches ("Hulu aththa" in Sinhala). Some of these torches are left in tunnel entrances so other villagers can make use of them. Don't attempt to use them, carriying and illuminating ones path with a flaming torch is difficult to master. If you are not familiar with carrying a flaming torch, you too will become a flaming torch!!

compass/field glasses  - Optional

Notebook/pencils        - avoid taking carbon pens, they might start leaking due to the humid conditions. If your notes get wet you will lose all ink pens/felt tip pen writings

Local area map -

Train timetable - Important

Tunnel length chart   - See below

cellular phones          - This is an invaluable tool, don't leave without it. You should have an external contact just in case.

First aid kit                 - Make sure to add a small bottle of detol antiseptic in the first aid kit. They are best for leech bites.

Back pack to carry all above, do not take travelling bags both of your hands should be free for this long distance hike.

Clothing;

T'shirt & denim trousers are best suited for hiking

Cap (Mandatory)

lightweight sneakers are best suited

raincoat or jacket (There are sudden unexpected downpours)

sunglasses

Food;

trail snacks, biscuits, cheese, bottled water.

Don't take heavy meals as this will slow your hike.

Do's & Don't

• Do log your trip with time, on notebook
• You will meet lots of villagers walking along the railtrack. Do converse with them, you will be surprised to find new unknown details on the local railway history.
• Do chat with the station masters and station staff along the way and let them know your intentions, most of them are very helpful and will give you distances, train delay details etc.
• Do take breaks along the way to conserve energy.

• Don't dash into tunnels at once, check train time tables and figure out if you are going to meet a train inside the tunnel. It is not a pleasent experience to be inside a tunnel with a train. Mainly because (a) there is very little room on the sides, (b) the diesel exaust might knock you unconcious (c) sound is deafning.
• Don't walk on the foilage, you tend to invite leeches to cling on to you, Also the railtrack sleepers are coated with oil you may slip and have a nasty fall. Try to walk alongside the track, that's the easiest. Also walking on the sleepers makes you tire quickly 
• Always keep an ear for oncoming trains, the UP trains can be heard miles away as they make the climb with high notches. The danger is the DOWN trains, most of them come idling with bearly a noise. Always be alert. Class M6 locos coming down the grades makes a high pictched whining noise (dynamic brakes) You will hear them from a distance. 
• Carry bottled water, you will come across lots of mountain streams don't drink water from them. You can wash your face and cool down on them.
• Tunnel no #9a and #5a can be avoided, use the external path. Both of these tunnels are long. You have to walk through all other tunnels.
• Sensation rock is a sheer cliff face with a cutting for the railway line. There is a small rocky outcrop on the midway point, make sure you quickly reach this midway point. If a train approaches, there is no room if you are caught elsewhere!

Station	Dist Km	Dist from Col Fort
Kadugannawa	-	101.74
Balana	4.70	97.27
Ihala-Kotte	4.90	92.29
Gangoda	2.28	90.01
Kadigamuwa	3.57	86.44
Rambukkana	5.80	80.64
Total Distance	21.25

Tunnel details

Tunnel No	Dist from Col Fort in Km	Length in meters	Remarks	Notes
10	102.26	17.58	After Kadugannawa stn	Walk through
9A	101.62	188.48	After Kadugannawa stn	Can be bypassed
9	100.54	317.88	Before Balana stn	Walk through
8	98.84	73.64	After Balana stn	Walk through
7	96.9	40.30	Before Ihala Kotte stn	Walk through
6	96.74	31.52	Before Ihala Kotte stn	Walk through
5A	92.9	413.33	After Ihala Kotte stn	Can be bypassed 2nd Longest in SL
5	91.04	218.48	Before Gangoda	Walk through
4	87.36	119.39	Before Kadigamuwa stn	Walk through
3	86.86	26.06	After Kadigamuwa stn	Walk through
2	86.48	88.79	After Kadigamuwa stn	Walk through

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