Indian Railway Photography & Stories

[Bilal9]

IR has been working on reducing its specific fuel consumption for diesel locos and while new generation Genset locos offer much better fuel consumption values, the actual road map of future is to use IGBT based traction electronics to derive most optimal power from powerpack for the loco. India at present has a fleet of close to 3,000 locos based on ALCO 251 engine that uses AC-DC transmission and these are quite outdated as far as emission norms and fuel consumption is concerned. Our sole Diesel loco producer Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) Varanasi has therefore ramped up its production of 3 phase AC-AC 4500 HP Diesel locos based on EMD technology and it is proposed to phase out at least 50% of ALCO derivative locos by end of decade and employ 3 phase technology only.

It offers higher HP at economical rates but as far as branch line and light weight services (short rakes) are concerned, we can expect to see more Genset locos in future.

According to the link I posted above a few minutes ago - DMW plans larger Genset Loco units as well, so they will come up beyond yard shunting and branch-line short-rake duties to mid-power loco level, even if they cannot compete with 5000 or 6000 HP mainline locos. The enhanced flexibility, reliability and ubiquity of employing Gensets are hard to ignore. This is a case of disruptive game-changer technology.

 

[anant_s]

According to the link I posted above a few minutes ago - DMW plans larger Genset Loco units as well, so they will come up beyond yard shunting and branch-line short-rake duties to mid-power loco level, even if they cannot compete with 5000 or 6000 HP mainline locos. The enhanced flexibility, reliability and ubiquity of employing Gensets are hard to ignore.

Yes and in all likelihood, the power output will not exceed 3000 HP (3x1000 HP), but this is sufficient for 15-18 coach intercity expresses on category B or lower routes where max permissible speeds are 110 kmph. The biggest advantage is their cost effectiveness and ease of maintenance.
As for HHP mainline locos, currently at 4500 HP WDG 4 and WDP 4B/D are most powerful diesels. One prototype WDG 5 (based on GT 80 design) rated at 5,500 HP has been produced and is under testing. This will form the backbone of Diesel freight transportation on IR in future.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Yes and in all likelihood, the power output will not exceed 3000 HP (3x1000 HP), but this is sufficient for 15-18 coach intercity expresses on category B or lower routes where max permissible speeds are 110 kmph. The biggest advantage is their cost effectiveness and ease of maintenance.
As for HHP mainline locos, currently at 4500 HP WDG 4 and WDP 4B/D are most powerful diesels. One prototype WDG 5 (based on GT 80 design) rated at 5,500 HP has been produced and is under testing. This will form the backbone of Diesel freight transportation on IR in future.
View attachment 183769
View attachment 183768

A lot of these designs are basically GE designs we license produce right? How many indigenous families do we have out there? How are we in scratch up design and production right now?

 

[Bilal9]

The WDG4 was developed from the EMD SD80MAC design. SD locos are long distance heavy duty road switcher locos. In California's Tehachapi pass North of Los Angeles it is quite common to see these SD80MAC locos lashed up to five back-to-back - pulling about one hundred double-stack container cars. The SD80MAC like the WDG4 is a 5000 HP design. In India's case, the driver's cab was re-designed to be sort of like Australian cabs, unlike the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) designed cab common to US Railroads (see below).

The WDG5 (Bheem) is based on a newer 6000 HP design - the SD90MAC. The Indian Railroads are getting a better deal from EMD through proper licensing than the Chinese TOT situation in the nineties. The Chinese mainline locos were (and still are in some cases) unlicensed copies from not only EMD but ALCO and Fairbanks Morse. But Chinese indigenous capabilities of locomotive engineering/manufacture and scale of operations are different than Indian situation.

 

[anant_s]

A lot of these designs are basically GE designs we license produce right? How many indigenous families do we have out there? How are we in scratch up design and production right now?

Unfortunately none of these are Indian designs. The History is as follows:
back in early 60s, when IR was looking to introduce Diesel traction to replace steam, it was operating an ALCO loco christened WDM 1 (ALCO Century series loco class). these were earliest diesels for BG service in India and at approx 1900 HP quite powerful for the time. However all of these were imported.
WDM 1

Later in 1961 when DLW was established, it was felt that a loco be manufactured in India that is based on a proven design. While there were some German Diesels (WDM 3 from Henschel),

US companies ALCO and General Motors (GM) were working on 6 axle design (called Co-Co) which was very well suited for Indian conditions. So IR requested both companies for locos as well as ToT. This resulted in WDM 2 from ALCO and WDM 4 from GM.

WDM 2 from ALCO

WDM 4 from GM

Although WDM 4 from GM was much more mature design, GM didnot agree to ToT and that resulted in ALCO winning a contract to supply locos and technology for DLW. GM did supply 80 odd WDM 4 and were used for superfast services back in 1970s.
DLW went on to produce about 3,000 odd WDM 2 locos and its derivatives (the original design was ALCO 251 engine 16 cylinder developing 2650 HP, DLW later modified it to derive upto 3600 HP and along came variants WDM 3A:3100 HP, WDM 3C: 3300 HP, WDM 3D: 3300 HP and WDM 3F: 3600 HP).
WDM 3A

WDM 3D

However in early 90s, the ALCO technology of using a DC generator with DC motors was already past prime and US companies were using AC AC transmission for HHP locos. India requested EMD for ToT and this time they agreed. this resulted in 1995 for a deal of 4000 HP loco called WDG 4 and its passenger version WDP 4.
this loco is now built at DLW and DLW has modified it by upgrading power to 4500 HP. Another version WDG 5 rated at 5500 HP is also manufactured will be taken up for serial production soon.

The WDG4 was developed from the EMD SD80MAC design.

Actually sir it is GT46MAC design used for WDG 4 and WDP 4

 

[Bilal9]

The SD90MAC is more popular in export markets than in the US itself. The Chinese have ordered about 300(!) which will come with TOT, to be assembled with increasing local content at Dalian Locomotive Works. The designation for this heavy mainline Loco is JT56ACe which utilizes the same H' model 6,000 HP prime mover as Bheem does. But the exterior is radically different because of Chinese engineering design practices.

Interesting that India and China are both getting ToT for latest Rail Engineering Technology.

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Unfortunately none of these are Indian designs. The History is as follows:
back in early 60s, when IR was looking to introduce Diesel traction to replace steam, it was operating an ALCO loco christened WDM 1 (ALCO Century series loco class). these were earliest diesels for BG service in India and at approx 1900 HP quite powerful for the time. However all of these were imported.
WDM 1
View attachment 183791
Later in 1961 when DLW was established, it was felt that a loco be manufactured in India that is based on a proven design. While there were some German Diesels (WDM 3 from Henschel),
View attachment 183794

US companies ALCO and General Motors (GM) were working on 6 axle design (called Co-Co) which was very well suited for Indian conditions. So IR requested both companies for locos as well as ToT. This resulted in WDM 2 from ALCO and WDM 4 from GM.
View attachment 183792
WDM 2 from ALCO

View attachment 183793
WDM 4 from GM

Although WDM 4 from GM was much more mature design, GM didnot agree to ToT and that resulted in ALCO winning a contract to supply locos and technology for DLW. GM did supply 80 odd WDM 4 and were used for superfast services back in 1970s.
DLW went on to produce about 3,000 odd WDM 2 locos and its derivatives (the original design was ALCO 251 engine 16 cylinder developing 2650 HP, DLW later modified it to derive upto 3600 HP and along came variants WDM 3A:3100 HP, WDM 3C: 3300 HP, WDM 3D: 3300 HP and WDM 3F: 3600 HP).
WDM 3A
View attachment 183795

WDM 3D
View attachment 183796
However in early 90s, the ALCO technology of using a DC generator with DC motors was already past prime and US companies were using AC AC transmission for HHP locos. India requested EMD for ToT and this time they agreed. this resulted in 1995 for a deal of 4000 HP loco called WDG 4 and its passenger version WDP 4.
this loco is now built at DLW and DLW has modified it by upgrading power to 4500 HP. Another version WDG 5 rated at 5500 HP is also manufactured will be taken up for serial production soon.


Actually sir it is GT46MAC design used for WDG 4 and WDP 4

Thanks man. WHile I think the arrangements have been quite good with IR being able to provide good service basis the Locos, I hope we start looking at domestic designs too. I think we are industrially and technologically mature enough to slowly start building our own up from scratch.

 

[dray]

@anant_s @gslv mk3 are you guys working in IR or in locomotive industry?

Btw, I liked the engine in the above post, very cute and airy! And I have downloaded the video below and just running it when doing nothing.

Lots of trains!!

 

[gslv mk3]

@anant_s @gslv mk3 are you guys working in IR or in locomotive industry?

Nopes..

 

[anant_s]

@anant_s @gslv mk3 are you guys working in IR or in locomotive industry?

Although my childhood dream was to become a steam loco driver, education ruined the plans (not to mention phasing out of steam locos).
But as you would know, childhood fantasies never die and i compensate for the loss by means of railway photography, whenever i find time.

Btw, I liked the engine in the above post, very cute and airy!

That is a WDS 4B (Shunter). Although at the verge of retirement (Railways now use WDS 6 for the job now), old timers in railways lovingly call them Chotu.It starred in several hit songs and movies back in 70s including my favorite Hum dono do premi from 1974 hit Ajnabee. Here it goes

 

[anant_s]

Railway yards are a great place to see multiple loco classes.

From L to R, WAG 5HA (Hitachi motor loco built by CLW), WAG 5A (CLW make ALSTHOM motors) and a WAP 4 at VALSAD station WR.

From L to R, WAG 7 (5000 HP), WDM 3A (3100 HP Diesel) and 3 WAG 9 (6000 HP, 3 phase locos) at Godhara yard WR.

 

[anant_s]

 

[Arya Desa]

Why do the windows have a grate/jali over them?

 

[patentneer]

Ppl. are free to throw rocks at the windows and the grates and jaalis prevent same. Sad, and true.

 

[patentneer]

Ppl. are free to throw rocks at the windows and the grates and jaalis prevent same. Railways belong to public, Indian public

Indian public = Ha**amk*or public

Sad, and true.