Locomotives of India

Indian Railways operates India's railway system and comes under the purview of the Ministry of Railways of Government of India. As of 2023, it maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 13,000 trains daily with a fleet of 14,800 locomotives. The railways primarily operates a fleet of electric and diesel locomotives along with a few compressed natural gas (CNG) locomotives. Steam locomotives are operated on mountain railways and on heritage trains.

History

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The history of the Indian Railway began in 1832 with the proposal to construct the first railway line in India at Madras. In 1837, the first train ran on Red Hill railway line between Red Hills and Chintadripet in Madras and was hauled by a rotary steam engine imported from England.[1][2] In 1852, a steam locomotive imported from England was tried at Byculla.[3] In 1853, the first passenger train ran between Bombay and Thane which had 14-carriages hauled by three steam locomotives: the Sahib, Sindh and Sultan.[4] In 1877, an Ajmer built F-1/734 Steam Locomotive became the first indigenously built locomotive in India.[5] In 1925, the first electric train ran between Bombay and Kurla, hauled by a Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) electric locomotive on 1500 V DC traction.[1][6] The first diesel locomotive used in India was fabricated by North British Locomotive Company in 1954.[7]

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, commissioned in 1950, was the first locomotive manufacturing unit in India.[8] Banaras Locomotive Works, commissioned in 1961, is the second locomotive manufacturing unit operated by Indian Railways.[9] In the 1960s, Integral Coach Factory-Chennai (ICF) started developing self-propelled Electric multiple units for short-haul and local routes.[10][11] BHEL and Patiala Locomotive Works, established in 1981, also manufacture locomotives in India.[12] In 2015, the first compressed natural gas (CNG) powered trains were rolled out by ICF.[13] In 2018, a semi-high speed self-propelled train-set capable of reaching speeds of over 160 km/h (99 mph) was rolled out from ICF.[14][15] As of 2023, Indian Railways maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 13,000 trains daily with a fleet of over 14,800 locomotives.[16][17] 37% of the trains are operated by diesel locomotives and rest mostly by electric locomotives.[18] As of December 2023, Indian Railways had 10,238 electric and 4,543 diesel locomotives amongst others.[19][20]

Classification

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Locomotives are classified by track gauge, motive power, function, power rating and model in a four- or five-letter code.[21] The locomotives may be Longer Hood Front (LHF), where the driver cabin is behind the hood of the engine or Short Hood Front (SHF), where the cabin is located towards the front.[21]

Locomotive classification and number displayed on a locomotive; WDM3A indicates a Broad gauge (L1), Diesel (L2), Mixed use (L3), 3100 HP (L4/L5) locomotive
Locomotive classification[21]
Letter position Denotes Classification
1 Track gauge
  • W – Broad gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
  • Y – Metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
  • Z – Narrow gauge 762 mm (2 ft 6 in)
  • N – Narrower gauge 610 mm (2 ft)
2 Motive power
3 Use/
Load/
Traction
4 Model/
Horsepower
  • Version Number
  • Model Number
  • Number X 1000 HP
5 Sub-class/
Sub-type/
Power rating 		Increments of 100 HP (For Diesel)
  • A – 100 HP
  • B – 200 HP
  • C – 300 HP

and so on

Electric

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In 1925, the first electric train ran between Bombay and Kurla, hauled by a imported SLM locomotive on a DC traction.[22] In 1927, the first electric locomotive hauled passenger train was pulled by an imported WCP-1.[6] In 1957, Indian Railways adopted 25 kV 50 Hz AC traction with the first runs beginning in December 1959 with the WAM-1 locomotives.[22]

Broad-gauge
Broad-gauge Electric Locomotives[22][6][19]
Traction Usage Name Image Manufacturer Axles Number built Production Power (HP) Status
WCP series
DC Passenger WCP-1 SLM 2-Bo-A1 22 1928-30 2160 Retired
WCP-2 SLM 2-Bo-A1 1 1938 2160 Retired
WCP-3 Hawthorn Leslie 2-Co-2 1 1928 2250 Retired
WCP-4 Hawthorn Leslie, BBC 2-Co-2 1 1928 2390 Retired
WCM series
DC Mixed WCM-1 English Electric Co-Co 7 1954-55 3170 Retired
WCM-2 English Electric Co-Co 12 1956-57 2810 Retired
WCM-3 Hitachi Co-Co 3 1958 2460 Retired
WCM-4 Hitachi Co-Co 7 1960 3290 Retired
WCM-5 CLW Co-Co 21 1961-63 3700 Retired
WCM-6 CLW Co-Co 2 1995 5000 Retired
WCG series
DC Goods WCG-1 SLM C-C 41 1925-29 2400 Retired
WCG-2 CLW Co-Co 57 1970-76 1640 Retired
WAM series
AC Mixed WAM-1 50 cycles group[a] B-B 100 1959-60 2870 Retired
WAM-2 Mitsubishi Bo-Bo 36 1960-64 2790 Retired
WAM-3 Mitsubishi Bo-Bo 2 1964 2790 Retired
WAM-4 CLW Co-Co 500 1970-83 3640 Retired
WAP series
AC Passenger WAP-1 CLW Co-Co 65 1980-96 3760 In service
WAP-3 CLW Co-Co 9 1987-88 3760 Retired
WAP-4 CLW Co-Co 778 1994-2015 5000 In service
WAP-5 ABB, CLW Bo-Bo 239 1995- 6000 In service
WAP-6 CLW Co-Co 17 1995-98 5000 Retired
WAP-7 CLW, BLW,PLW Co-Co 1503 2000- 6350 In service
WAG series
AC Goods WAG-1 SNCF, CLW B-B 112 1963-66 2900 Retired
WAG-2 Hitachi,Mitsubishi B-B 45 1964-65 3180 Retired
WAG-3 Henschel, CLW B-B 10 1965 3150 Retired
WAG-4 CLW B-B 186 1966-69 3150 Retired
WAG-5 CLW,BHEL Co-Co 1196 1984-98 3900 In service
WAG-6A ASEA Bo-Bo-Bo 6 1987-89 6000 Retired
WAG-6B/C Hitachi Bo-Bo-Bo 12 1988 6110 Retired
WAG-7 CLW Co-Co 1994 1992-2015 5000 In service
WAG-8 BHEL Co-Co 1 1990 5000 Retired
WAG-9 ABB, CLW Co-Co 84 1996-present 6000 In service
WAG-9H CLW, BHEL, BLW, PLW Co-Co 4611 2006-present 6000 In service
WAG-9I CLW Co-Co 43 2010-present 6000 In service
EF-9K CLW Co-Co 2020-present 9000 In service
EF-12K CLW Co-Co+Co-Co 2023-present 12000 In service
WAG-10 BLW Co-Co-Co-Co 1 2018-present 10000 In service
WAG-11 BLW Co-Co-Co-Co 4 2018-present 12000 In service
WAG-12 Alstom, ELF Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo 360 2017-present 12000 In service
WCAM series
Dual (DC/AC) Mixed WCAM-1 CLW Co-Co 54 1975-79 2930 (DC)
3640 (AC) 		Retired
WCAM-2 CLW Co-Co 20 1995-96 3780 (DC)
4720 (AC) 		In service
WCAM-3 BHEL Co-Co 53 1997-98 4600 (DC)
5000 (AC) 		In service
WCAG series
Dual (DC/AC) Goods WCAG-1 BHEL Co-Co 12 1999-2000 4600 (DC)
5000 (AC) 		In service
Metre-gauge
Metre-gauge Electric Locomotives[23]
Traction Usage Name Image Manufacturer Axles Number built Production Power (|HP) Status
DC Goods YCG-1 English Electric Bo-Bo 4 1930 640 Retired
AC Mixed YAM-1 Mitsubishi B-B 20 1964-66 1740 Retired
Electric multiple units

In 1925, the Electric Multiple Units (EMU) introduced in Bombay were 1.5KV DC units imported were from Cammell Laird and Uerdingenwagonfabrik.[22] In the 1960s, EMUs were developed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. Indian Railways uses multiple DC units in operation in several suburban sections which are classified from WCU-1 through WCU-15. BHEL developed AC-DC dual use EMUs which can run on 25kV AC and 1.5kV DC traction lines.[22] In the late 1990s, MEMUs were developed which ran on 25KV AC power. AC Electric multiple units are designated WAU-1 to WAU-4.[24] In 2019, ICF rolled out three-phase AC units to replace conventional DC units.[25]

Diesel

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In 1954, the first diesel locomotive was used in India, which was manufactured by North British Locomotive Company.[7] In 1958, WDM-1, the first locomotive used for mainline traffic was imported from ALCO.[26] In 1964, the first broad-gauge WDM-2 diesel locomotive was rolled out by Banaras Locomotive Works.[9]

Broad-gauge
Broad-gauge Diesel Locomotives[20][23][9][27]
Usage Name Numbers Image Manufacturer Axles Number built Production Power (HP) Status
WDM series
Mixed WDM-1 17000-17099 ALCO Co-Co 100 1957-59 1950 Retired
WDM-2 16000-16887,
17100-17999,
18040-18079,
18112-18514,
18523-18900,
18903-18999 		ALCO, BLW Co-Co 2700 1962-98 2600 Retired
WDM-2G 80000,80001 BLW Co-Co 2 2013 2400 Retired
WDM-3 18515-18522 Henschel Bo-Bo 8 1970 2500 Retired
WDM-3A 13xxx,
14001-14057,
14058-14143,
16000- 		BLW Co-Co 1431 1994-98 3100 In service
WDM-3D 11101 - 11590 BLW Co-Co 500 2003-13 3300 In service
WDM-4 18000-039,
18080-18111 		GM Co-Co 72 1962 2600 Retired
WDM-6 18901,18902 BLW Bo-Bo 2 1981-82 1350 Retired
WDM-7 11001-11015 BLW Co-Co 15 1987-89 2000 Retired
WDP series
Passenger WDP-1 15001-15069 BLW, ALCO Bo-Bo 69 1995-99 2300 In service
WDP-3A 15501-15544 BLW, ALCO Co-Co 44 1998-2002 3100 In service
WDP-4 20000-20103,
40001-40608 		EMD, BLW Bo1-1Bo 711 2002-18 4000 In service
WDG series
Goods WDG-2/3A 14501-14999,
13000-13665 		BLW Co-Co 2004 1995-2010 3100 In service
WDG-4 12001-12999,
70001-70190 		EMD, BLW Co-Co 1188 1999-2018 4500 In service
WDG-4D 70301-70882,
12681 		BLW Co-Co 583 2012-2018 4500 In service
WDG-4G 49001-49700 GE Transportation, DLF Co-Co 468 2017-present 4500 In service
WDG-5 50001-50007 BLW Co-Co 7 2012-17 5500 Withdrawn[28]
WDG-6G 69001-69300 Gandhidham based WDG-6G at Ghaziabad outer station area GE Transportation, DLF Co-Co 92 2018-present 6000 In service
WDS series
Shunter WDS-1 19000-19014 GE Bo-Bo 15 1944-45 386 Retired
WDS-2 19016-19045 Krauss-Maffei C 30 1954-55 440 Retired
WDS-3 19046-19052 Maschinenbau Kiel C 7 1961 618 Retired
WDS-4

19057-19732

CLW C 662 1968-97 600-700 Retired
WDS-5 19087-19107 ALCO, BLW Co-Co 21 1967 1065 Retired
WDS-6 BLW Co-Co 270 1975– 1400 In service
WDS-8 CLW Bo-Bo 5 1979-82 800 Retired

In 2009, a YDM-4 locomotive was converted to a broad gauge shunter by Golden Rock Railway Workshop, codenamed WCDS-6, with C for "Converted" and delivered to RITES.[29]

Metre-gauge
Metre-gauge Diesel Locomotives[20][23][9][27]
Usage Name Image Manufacturer Axles Number built Production Power (HP) Status
YDM series
Mixed YDM-1 NBL B-B 20 1955-56 700 Retired
YDM-2 CLW B-B 41 1986-90 700 Retired
YDM-3 EMD B-B 30 1961-62 1390 Retired
YDM-4 ALCO, BLW Co-Co 541 1961–93 1400 In service
YDM-5 GM C-C 25 1964 1390 Retired
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge Diesel Locomotives[20][23][9][27]
Usage Name Image Manufacturer Axles Number built Production Power (HP) Status
ZDM series
Mixed ZDM-1 Arnold Jung B-B 5 1955 290 Retired
ZDM-2 Maschinenbau Kiel B-B 25 1964-65 700 Retired
ZDM-3 CLW B-B 40 1970-82 700 In service
ZDM-4 CLW 1-B-B-1 49 1975-90 700 In service
ZDM-5 CLW B-B 41 1989 450 In service
2 ft (610 mm) gauge
2 ft (610 mm) gauge Diesel Locomotives[20][23][9][27]
Usage Name Image Manufacturer Axles Number built Production Power (HP) Status
NDM series
Mixed NDM-1 Arnold Jung B-B 7 1955 290 In service
NDM-5 CLW B-B 11 1987-89 450 In service
NDM-6 SAN B 6 1997 335 In service
Diesel multiple units

In 1993-94, diesel multiple units (DMU) were introduced into service. Depending on their transmission system, they are classified as DEMU (diesel-electric transmission) or DHMU (diesel-hydraulic transmission).[24] With increase in electrifiction, DEMUS have been replaced by MEMUs in stages.[24]

Dual

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Broad-gauge Dual Locomotives[30][31]
Usage Name Image Manufacturer Axles Number built Production Power (HP) Status
Passenger WDAP-5 BLW Co-Co 1 2019- 4500 (Diesel)
5500 (AC) 		In trials

Steam

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Broad-gauge
Steam engine at outdoor museum
More-modern steam locomotive
Old red-and-black steam locomotive
Large steam locomotive
Indian Railways locomotives: (clockwise from upper left) HPS, NRM WP 7200, B-26 and YP-class locomotives

In the 19th century, the railway companies ordered custom-built steam locomotives, usually from British manufacturers. With non-standardized and multiple designs, manufacturing cost was high and production was slow. During the 1890s, Indian railway companies imported locomotives from Germany and the United States when British manufacturers were suffering from work outages.[32] List of locomotives used below:

Steam locomotive in a museum
Vulcan Foundry class SPS, 1911

In the early 1900s, the British Engineering Standards Committee (later the British Engineering Standards Association) began designing a series of locomotives for use by Indian railways. The first two designs emerged in 1903: a 4-4-0 passenger and 0-6-0 goods. They were revised in 1905 and 1906 with additional heavier, more-powerful locomotives:

These advisory BESA designs were customized by the railway companies, which used different classification systems; only the state-operated railways used the class designations SP, SG, PT, HP, AP, HG and HT. When superheating was accepted, superheated versions were classified SPS, SGS and so on (if built with superheaters) and SPC, SGC and so on (if converted from saturated to superheated).

Manufacturer's photo
Similar to first photo, without manufacturer documentation
Indian Railways locomotives: 1935 XP class (left) and 1927 XB class

After World War I, larger and more-powerful locomotives were designed by British consulting engineers for the Indian government. They began to operate from 1927:

Class XF, built by Beyer, Peacock & Company in Manchester for East Bengal Railway
  • Class XF: light shunting 0-8-0 design, 18-ton axle load
  • Class XG: heavy shunting 0-8-0 design, 23-ton axle load
  • Class XH: 4-cylinder 2-8-2, 28-ton axle load; none were built
  • Class XP: experimental passenger 4-6-2, 18.5-ton axle load
  • Class XS: experimental 4-cylinder 4-6-2, 21.5-ton axle load
  • Class XT: light tank 0-4-2T, 15-ton axle load

During World War II, large numbers of 2-8-2 locomotives were acquired from the United States and Canada and classified AWD and CWD. The Baldwin Locomotive Works adapted the USATC S160 Class locomotive design for India, and it became class AWC. Sixty broad-gauge locomotives were built in 1944 as part of an order of 180 S160 engines. In addition to modified frame spreaders, axles, cylinders, and cab, the Indian locomotives had a turbo generator and electric lighting (not included in the standard European design). Many parts (including boilers) were identical to those in standard-gauge locomotives.[33]

Steam engine in transit
Steam engine at an outdoor museum
Black locomotive under cover
Locomotive on above-ground display
(clockwise from upper left) WL- and YG-class locomotives; an M2-162, and a display engine in Guntur Division

Although new classes were designed shortly before the war, many did not enter service until the post-war period. The new classes were indicated by the change of broad-gauge prefix from X to W, and plans were implemented to begin manufacturing locomotives in India. The new classes were:

All broad-gauge steam locomotives in India have been withdrawn from normal service, with only occasional steam specials continuing to operate.

Metre-gauge
  • Nilgiri Mountain Railway X class
  • BESA designs:
    • Passenger (4-6-0)
    • Mixed (4-6-0)
    • Goods (4-8-0)
    • Tank (2-6-2T)
  • Indian Railway Standards designs of the late 1920s
    • Class YA: 4-6-2 with 9-ton axle load (none built)
    • Class YB: 4-6-2 with 10-ton axle load (161 built for India and 50 for Burma)
    • Class YC: 4-6-2 with 12-ton axle load (15 built for India and 13 for Burma)
    • Class YD: 2-8-2 with 10-ton axle load (171 built for India, 61 for Burma, and 25 for East Pakistan)
    • Class YE: 2-8-2 with 12-ton axle load (none built)
    • Class YF: 0-6-2 with 8-ton axle load; later examples were 2-6-2 (111 built for India)
    • Class YK: 2-6-0 version of the 2-6-2 YF, 8-ton axle load (25 built for India)
    • Class YT: 0-4-2T with 8-ton axle load (2 built for India)
  • Wartime designs:
  • Indian Railway Standards post war designs
    • Class YL: 2-6-2 mixed traffic locomotive with 8-ton axle load (264 built 1953–1957)
    • Class YG: 2-8-2 goods locomotive with 101⁄2-ton axle load (1074 built 1949–1972)
    • Class YP: 4-6-2 passenger locomotive with 101⁄2-ton axle load (871 built 1949–1970)
    • Class YM 2-6-4T with 9-ton axle load (12 built 1956)
2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge
  • Barsi Light Railway:
    • Class A: 0-8-4T
    • Class B: 4-8-4T
    • Class C: 0-6-0ST
    • Class D: 0-4-0
    • Class E: Sentinel railcars
    • Class F: 2-8-2
    • Class G: 4-6-4
  • Indian Railway Standards:
    • Class ZA: 2-6-2 with 4.5-ton axle load (none built)
    • Class ZB: 2-6-2 with 6-ton axle load
    • Class ZC: 2-8-2 with 6-ton axle load (none built)
    • Class ZD: 4-6-2 with 8-ton axle load (none built)
    • Class ZE: 2-8-2 with 8-ton axle load
    • Class ZF: 2-6-2T with 8-ton axle load
2 ft (610 mm) gauge
Black locomotive
DHR B class locomotive in Darjeeling shed (1979)

Others

[edit]

In 2015, the first compressed natural gas (CNG) powered Multiple unites were rolled out by ICF.[13] In 2020, Southern Railway zone introduced the first battery/AC dual shunter termed as WAG5HA with "H" for hybrid.[34]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Consortium of KraussMaffei, Krupp, SFAC and La Brugeoise et Nivelles

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Understanding Indian Railway Heritage (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. p. 6. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Chennai: The track record". New Indian Express. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. ^ First running of a railway locomotive in India (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. p. 6. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  4. ^ "When India's first train blew steam". The Times of India. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Oldest locomotive: Built in Ajmer, pride of Delhi". The Times of India. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Evolution of Electric Locomotives (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b Gandhidham shed details (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  8. ^ Chittaranjan Locomotive works (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Banaras Locomotive works (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  10. ^ Electrical Multiple Units (PDF). Indian Rail Info (Report). 15 October 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Historical Background of Railway Electrification". Indian Railways. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Indian railway facilities". Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  13. ^ a b "India's first CNG train for the Rewari-Rohtak section". The Economic Times. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Indian Railways to roll out 'Make in India' 160 kmph self-propelled 'world-class' train sets at half the cost of import!". The Financial Express. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Train 18: Country's first engine-less train rolled out; Train 20 next". The Economic Times. 29 October 2018. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  16. ^ "About Indian Railways". Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  17. ^ Trains at a glance (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  18. ^ "37% of trains in India being hauled by diesel locomotives, rest by electric engines". The Hindu. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  19. ^ a b Electric locomotive holding (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 January 2024.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ a b c d e Diesel locomotive holding (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  21. ^ a b c Locomotive classification (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b c d e Electrification history (Report). Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  23. ^ a b c d e Heritage list of locomotives (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  24. ^ a b c "Multiple Units". IRFCA. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  25. ^ "3-phase MEMU to replace conventional DC rakes soon". The Hindu. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  26. ^ De Cet, Mirco; Kent, Alan (2006). The Complete Encyclopedia of Locomotives. Rebo International. p. 286. ISBN 978-9-0366-1505-1.
  27. ^ a b c d "Loco classes". IRFCA. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  28. ^ Loco availability April 2024 (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Locomotive FAQ". IRFCA. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  30. ^ "Achievements of 2021". RDSO. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Railways to manufacture dual-mode locomotives that run on diesel, electricity". The Times of India. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  32. ^ Hughes 1979, p. 17
  33. ^ Baldwin Locomotive Works drawing index and bill of materials for special order 43306, locomotive design 2-8-0 19S, numbers 666 to 845 for the U.S. Government, War Department.
  34. ^ "Indian Railways goes green with eco-friendly loco! Adds battery-operated shunting locomotive to its fleet". Financial Express. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2023.

Bibliography

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