Indian Railways WCAM class

WCAM (W -broad gauge ; CA -Both DC and AC ; M -for both goods and passenger service) is the dual-power AC/DC series locomotive used by Indian Railways. These locomotives can run under both DC traction and AC traction. All the WCAM locos except the WCAM 1 (made by CLW) were made by BHEL. They have 750 V DC traction motors, using resistance banks in DC mode and a variable ratio auto-transformer with rectifier units in AC mode, for power control.

WCAM 3 with 12294 Allahabad Duronto Express at Niphad

The WCAM class locomotives were in service only in the Mumbai region. The dual-voltage WCAM series locomotives hauled intercity trains out of Mumbai DC suburban region which was on a 1500 V DC overhead system, as opposed to other parts of India which have 25000 V AC overhead.

Western Railways having switched over to complete AC traction on 5 February 2012 has transferred almost all its WCAM locomotives to Central Railways although it still has some WCAM 1 locomotives which haul passenger trains up to Ahmedabad Junction.

On the Central Railway line they are in service on Mumbai CST - Igatpuri or Mumbai CST - Pune line. Sometimes they travel up to Itarsi Junction.

With Central Railways progressively moving towards a complete changeover from DC to AC traction, trains leaving Lokmanya Tilak Terminus have started using pure AC engines.

Loco sheds holding WCAM engines

As of 2014, the only shed holding WCAM engines is Kalyan. Prior Western Railways changeover to AC traction, its locomotives were managed by the Valsad shed.

Types

There are four types of Locomotives under WCAM class:

Mixed type locomotives

Goods locomotives

WCAG 1

Specifications

Comparative Specifications of different type of WCAM

Class	WCAM–1	WCAM–2/2P	WCAM 3	WCAG–1
Year	1975-79	1995-96	1997+	1999–2000
Maker	CLW	BHEL	BHEL	BHEL
Traction Motors	Alstom/CLW TAO 659 A1 (575 kW, 750 V). Axle-hung, nose-suspended	TAO 659 (575 kW, 750 V). Axle-hung, nose-suspended, force-ventilated	Hitachi HS15250A. Axle-hung, nose-suspended, force-ventilated	Hitachi HS15250A. Axle-hung, nose-suspended, force-ventilated.
Transformer	HEL BOT 34600. 3460kVA	BHEL 5400 kVA	BHEL 5400 kVA. 32 taps	BHEL 5400 kVA. 32 taps
Power(hp)	3850 AC (1 hr)2930 DC / 3640 AC cont.)	3780? DC / 4720 AC cont.4950 starting	4600 (4700?) DC / 5000 AC	4600 DC / 5000 AC cont.
Rectifiers	Silicon rectifiers, 48 cells (321 UFR200) per bridge, 1000 A /1270 V	Two silicon rectifier units D1800N44 (Siemens), 16 cells per bridge. 1000 V / 3600 A	Two silicon rectifier units D1800N44 (Siemens), 16 cells per bridge. 1000 V / 3600 A.	Two silicon rectifier units D1800N44 (Siemens), 16 cells per bridge. 1000 V / 3600 A.
Speed	80-100 DC / 120 AC	105 DC / 120 AC	105	100
Weight(tonnes)	113	113	113	128
Quantity	53	20	53	12+
Serial nos	21800-852	21861-880	21881-900 /21931-963	21971+

References

Notes

Bibliography

Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indian locomotive class WCAM-3.

Electric Locomotive Classes –DC & Dual current

Broad gauge locomotives of India

Steam

BESA designs	SP SG PT HP AP HG HT

IRS designs	XA XB XC XD XE XF XG XH XP XT XS

World War II designs	AWD CWD AWC

IGR standard designs	WP WG WL (1st) WL (2nd) WM WT WU WV WW

Diesel

Mixed type	WDM-1 WDM 2 WDM 2A, WDM 2B WDM 3 WDM 3A WDM 3A R WDM 3C, WDM 3D WDM 4 WDM 6 WDM 7

Passenger	WDP 1 WDP 2/3A WDP 3 WDP 4 WDP 4B WDP 4D

Goods	WDG 2/3A WDG 3B, WDG 3C, WDG 3D WDG 4 WDG 5

Shunting	WDS 1 WDS 2 WDS 3/4C WDS 4, WDS 4A, WDS 4B, WDS 4D WDS 4C WDS 5 WDS 6 WDS 8

DC electric

Mixed type	WCM 1 WCM 2 WCM 3 WCM 4 WCM 5 WCM 6

Passenger	WCP 1, WCP 2 WCP 3, WCP 4

Goods	WCG 1 WCG 2

AC electric

Mixed type	WAM 1 WAM 2 WAM 3 WAM 4

Passenger	WAP 1 WAP 2 WAP 3 WAP 4 WAP 5 WAP 6 WAP 7

Goods	WAG 1 WAG 2 WAG 3 WAG 4 WAG 5 WAG 5A, WAG 5B WAG 6A WAG 6B, WAG 6c WAG 7 WAG 9

Dual (AC and DC) electric

Mixed type	WCAM 1 WCAM 2/2P WCAM 3

Goods	WCAG 1

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