Locomotives of India


The Indian Railways primarily operates fleet of electric and diesel locomotives, along with several compressed natural gas locomotives. Steam locomotives are operated on a few World Heritage sites and also run occasionally as heritage trains. A locomotive is also known as a loco or more popularly as an engine. The country's first steam locomotive ran on the Red Hill Railway from Red Hills to the Chintadripet bridge in Madras in 1837.

Classification

Locomotives were classified by track gauge, motive power, function and power in a four- or five-letter code. The first letter denotes the track gauge. The second letter denotes motive power, and the third letter denotes use. The fourth letter denotes a locomotive's chronological model number.
In 2002, a new classification system was adopted. For newer diesel locomotives, the fourth letter denotes their horsepower range. Not all diesel locomotives were reclassified, and the fourth letter continues to denotes their model number.
A locomotive may have a fifth letter, generally denoting a technical variant, subclass or subtype: a variation in the basic model or series, or a different motor or manufacturer. Under the new system, the fifth letter further refines horsepower in 100-hp increments: A for 100 hp, B for 200 hp, C for 300 hp and so on. A WDP-3A is a locomotive, and a WDM-3F is.
The system does not apply to steam locomotives, which are no longer used on main lines. They retain their original class names, such as M- or WP-class.

Syntax

In WDM 3A, W denotes broad gauge; D denotes diesel power; M denotes mixed use, and 3A denotes . In WAP 5, W is broad gauge; A is AC electric; P is passenger service, and 5 indicates that the locomotive is the fifth model used.

Broad-gauge (5 ft 6 in) locomotives

Steam

Nineteenth-century railway companies ordered custom-built locomotives, usually from British manufacturers. The multiplicity of similar-but-not-identical designs increased manufacturing cost and slowed production. During the 1890s, British manufacturers were busy and Indian railway companies looked to Germany and the United States for locomotives. Engines used were:
After acrimonious words in The Times and Parliament, the British Engineering Standards Committee 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 and SPC, SGC and so on.
After World War I, larger and more-powerful locomotives were designed by British consulting engineers for the Indian government. They began to appear in 1927:
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. Many parts were identical to those in standard-gauge locomotives.
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.

Diesel

Broad-gauge diesel classification codes are:

Passenger class (WDP Series)

Goods class (WDG Series)

Shunter Class (WDS Series)

Converted shunter class (WCDS series)

The WCDS6, a YDM4 locomotive, was converted to broad gauge by the Golden Rock Railway Workshop for large industrial companies; the first one was delivered to RITES. New water and air lines were added, the control stand was modified, and it has a dual brake system.

Diesel multiple units

A few routes have DMU service. Depending on their transmission system, they are classified as DEMU or DHMU. There is diesel railcar service in several areas.

Electric

AC electric

Broad-gauge AC electric classification codes are:

AC Passenger class (WAP Series)

AC Goods class (WAG Series)

NameManufacturerWheel
Arrangement		Quantity
Built		Built yearH.PowerCurrent StatusPreservePicture
WAG-1Niv./SFAC/
CLW		B-B1121963-19662930 HPRetired1 unit
WAG-2Hitachi /Toshiba /MitsubishiB-B451964-19653450 HPRetired-
WAG-3Henschel/CLWB-B1019653300 HPRetired-
WAG-4CLWB-B1861966-19713590 HPRetired-
WAG-5CLW/BHELCo-Co11961978-19984360 HPIn service1 unit
WAG-6AASEABo-Bo-Bo61988-19896110 HPIn Service1 unit
WAG-6BHitachiBo-Bo-Bo619886110 HPIn service1 unit
WAG-6CHitachiCo-Co619886110 HPIn service1 unit
WAG-7CLW/BHELCo-Co197019925350 HPIn service1 unit earmarked
WAG-8BHELCo-Co119915000 HPRetired-
WAG-9ABB / CLW/BHELBo-Bo18481996–present6125 HPIn service
WAG-10DLWCo-Co-Co-Co12018–present10000 HPIn service
WAG-11DLWCo-Co-Co-Co32019–present11000 HPUndergoing Trials
WAG-12AlstomBo-Bo-Bo-Bo82018–present12000 HPIn service

AC electric multiple unit (WAU series)

These locomotives, no longer in use, were used only in and around Mumbai with 1,5 kV DC power. All sections of Central Railway, including Thane to Mumbai CST, Nerul to Thane, Vadala Road to Mahim and Panvel to Mumbai CST have been converted to 25 kV AC.
Broad-gauge DC electric classification codes are:

DC Passenger class (WCP Series)

DC Goods class (WCG series)

DC electric multiple unit (WCU series)

WCU 1 to WCU 15 electric multiple units were used in the Mumbai region.

Dual (DC and AC)

Broad-gauge DC and AC electric classification codes are:
These locomotives are used only in the Mumbai area. Their main purpose is to prevent the need to change engines. Mixed locomotives are:
NameManufacturerWheel
Arr		Quantity
Built		Built yearPowerCurrent StatusCommentsPicture
WCAM-1CLWCo-Co541975-1979
  • 2930 HP DC
  • 3640 HP AC
RetiredFirst mainline with AC/DC electric locomotive and the only Indian electric loco with reversed pantographs
WCAM-2BHELCo-Co201995-1996
  • 3780 HP DC
  • 4720 HP AC
    		• In service
    WCAM-3BHELCo-Co531997-1998
  • 4600 HP DC
  • 5000 HP AC
    		• In service

    Dual Current Goods class (WCAG Series)

    Battery

    Broad-gauge battery classification code is:
    In 1927, English Electric and WBC built two shunters for yard use in Bombay with Bo-Bo bogies. They were of the WBCS class. Rated at, they weighed 58 tons. These are now preserved in National Rail Museum in Delhi. They were charged using the 1500 V DC OHE which was available there.

    Battery shunter class (WCAS series)

    The locomotive is classified as WCAS. Where W means Wide Gauge, C means DC, A means AC power, S means Shunting.

    Dual-mode

    Broad-gauge diesel and electric classification code is:
    These locomotives are used on routes that can run on both electrified and non-electrified tracks. Their main purpose is to prevent the need of engine change in electrified routes. Passenger locomotives are:
    NameManufacturerWheel ArrgQuantity BuiltBuilt yearPowerCurrent StatusCommentsPicture
    WDAP-5DLWCo-Co12019–present
    • 4500 HP Diesel
    • 5500 HP AC
    		Undergoing TrailsIndia's first dual-mode locomotive

    Metre-gauge (3 ft 3⅜ in) locomotives

    Steam

    Metre-gauge diesel classification code is:
    NameManufacturerWheel
    Arr    		Quantity
    Built    		Built yearPowerCurrent StatusPreserved unitsCommentsPicture
    YDM-1NBLB-B201955-56700RetiredIndia's first metre-gauge diesel locomotive
    YDM-2CLWB-B411986-90700Retired-
    YDM-3GMB-B301961-621390Retired1 unit
    YDM-4ALCO/DLWCo-Co5411961–19931400In serviceMany
    YDM-5GMC-C2519641390Retired2 units

    Electric

    Metre-gauge electric classification codes are:

    DC goods class (YCG series)

    AC multiple units (YAU series)

    These were India's first EMU services introduced around 1920 in the Chennai area.

    Narrow-gauge (2 ft 6 in and 2 ft) locomotives

    Steam

    2 ft 6 in

    Narrow-gauge diesel classification codes are:

    Mixed class (NDM series)

    Battery

    Narrow-gauge battery classification code is: