Locomotives of India

A passenger train with WDM-3D broad gauge diesel locomotive.
A freight train with WDG-3A broad gauge diesel locomotive.

The locomotives of India presently consist of electric and diesel locomotives. Steam locomotives are no longer used in India, except in heritage trains. A locomotive is also called loco or engine.

The Bengal Sappers of the Indian Army were the first to run a steam locomotive in India. The steam locomotive named Thomason ran with two wagons for carrying earth from Roorkee to Piran Kaliyar in 1851, two years before the first passenger train ran from Bombay to Thane in 1853.

Classification of locomotives

In India, locomotives are classified according to their track gauge, motive power, the work they are suited for and their power or model number. The class name includes this information about the locomotive. It comprises 4 or 5 letters. The first letter denotes the track gauge. The second letter denotes their motive power (Diesel or Electric) and the third letter denotes the kind of traffic for which they are suited (goods, passenger, mixed or shunting). The fourth letter used to denote locomotives' chronological model number. However, from 2002 a new classification scheme has been adopted. Under this system, for newer diesel locomotives, the fourth letter will denote their horsepower range. Electric locomotives don't come under this scheme and even all diesel locos are not covered. For them this letter denotes their model number as usual.

A locomotive may sometimes have a fifth letter in its name which generally denotes a technical variant or subclass or subtype. This fifth letter indicates some smaller variation in the basic model or series, perhaps different motors, or a different manufacturer. With the new scheme for classifying diesel locomotives (as mentioned above) the fifth item is a letter that further refines the horsepower indication in 100 hp increments: 'A' for 100 hp, 'B' for 200 hp, 'C' for 300 hp, etc. So in this scheme, a WDP-3A refers to a 3100 hp loco, while a WDM-3F would be a 3600 hp loco.

Note: This classification system does not apply to steam locomotives in India as they have become non-functional now. They retained their original class names such as M class or WP class.

Heritage Gallery of Indian Railways

The classification syntaxes

The first letter (gauge)

The second letter (motive power)

The third letter (job type)

For example, in "WDM 3A":

Or, in "WAP 5":

Broad gauge (5 ft 6 in) locomotives used in India

Steam traction

Left:Indian Railways Preserved locomotive HPS, Right:Indian Railways class locomotive NRM WP 7200
Left:Indian Railways Preserved locomotive YP class, Right:Indian Railways class locomotive B-26

Company designs

In the nineteenth century, the various railway concessions ordered locomotives to their own specification, usually from British manufacturers. This multiplicity of similar, but different designs, increased manufacturers' costs and slowed production. During the 1890s, British manufacturers had full order books, so Indian railway companies looked to Germany and the United States for locomotives.[1]

Bengal Nagpur Railway
Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway
East Indian Railway Company
Great Indian Peninsula Railway
Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway
Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway
North Western Railway (British India)
Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway
Others

British Engineering Standards Association (BESA) designs

After acrimonious words in The Times and Parliament, the British Engineering Standards Committee (later British Engineering Standards Association or BESA) began to design a series of locomotives for use by all railways in India. The first two designs emerged in 1903: a 4-4-0 passenger, and 0-6-0 goods. The designs were revised in 1905 and 1906 with additional types added due to requests for heavier and more powerful locomotives:

These BESA designs however were advisory, not mandatory, and were customized by the railway companies to their own taste. The railway companies could not even agree to use the same classification system: only the state operated railways used the class designations SP, SG, PT, HP, AP, HG and HT. Once superheating became accepted, superheated versions were classified SPS, SGS, etc. if built with superheaters, and SPC, SGC, etc. if converted from saturated to superheated.

Indian Railways Standards (IRS) designs

After World War I, new, larger, more powerful locomotives were designed by the British consulting engineers to the Indian Government. These started to appear from 1927 onwards:

Left:Indian Railways locomotive XP class 1935, Right:Indian Railways class locomotive XB class 1927

World War II designs

During World War II, large numbers of 2-8-2 locomotives were acquired from the United States and Canada, and were designated as classes AWD and CWD respectively. The Baldwin Locomotive Works adapted the USATC S160 Class locomotive design India which became class AWC. 60 broad gauge locomotives were built in 1944 as part of an order of 180 locomotives to the S160 design. In addition to modified frame spreaders, axles, cylinders, and cab, the Indian locomotives had a turbo-generator and electric lighting fitted, which was not included in the standard design for use in Europe. Many parts, including boilers, were identical to those used for the standard gauge locomotives.[2]

Indian Government Railways (IGR) standard designs

Shortly before World War II, new classes were designed; but it would post-war before many of them came into service. These new designs were signalled by the change of broad gauge prefix from 'X' to 'W'. In addition, plans were put into place to start manufacturing locomotives in India. The new classes were:

Left:Indian Railways locomotive WL class, Right:Indian Railways class locomotive YG class
Left:Model of a (decommissioned) WP Steam Locomotive at Guntur Division, Right:Model of a (decommissioned) Indian Railways steam locomotive M2-162

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

Diesel traction

Classification codes

Mixed type locomotives

Above:Indian Railways locomotive WDM-2, Below:Indian Railways locomotive WDM-2A (ABR)
Above:Indian Railways locomotive WDM-3D (JHS), Below:Indian Railways locomotive WDM-3A class
Above:Indian Railways locomotive WDM-3A , Below:Indian Railways locomotive WDM-4

Note: No locomotive class was designated as WDM 5 in India.

Passenger locomotives

Left:Indian Railways locomotive WDP-4, Right:Indian Railways locomotive WDP-4B
Left:Indian Railways locomotive WDP-4D, Right:Indian Railways locomotive WDP-4 (KJM)

Goods locomotives

Left:Indian Railways locomotive WDG-3A, Right:Indian Railways locomotive WDG-4

Shunting locomotives (also known as switching engines)

Left:Indian Railways Shunting locomotive WDS-4D, Right:Indian Railways WDS-4 Shunting locomotive

There were also a few hydraulic diesel shunters in use at Integral Coach Factory, Diesel Locomotive Works and Chittaranjan Locomotive Works. These were rated at 250 hp.[12]

Note: There is no electric shunting engine in India. Classes from WDS 1 to WDS 4D have hydraulic transmission. The WDS 4, 4B, 4C and 4D are the only still existing broad gauge locomotives with diesel-hydraulic transmission.

Converted locomotives

WCDS6 is a converted YDM4 locomotive into a broad gauge locomotive. This rebuilding was carried out by the Golden Rock shed. It was built for large industrial concerns. The first one was delivered to RITES. Rest being same, new water and air lines are added. They also have a modified control stand and dual brake system. Also, they have Broad Gauge bogies and under-frames.

Diesel multiple units

Left:Indian Railways DHMU, Right:Indian Railways DEMU

A few routes in India currently have Diesel multiple unit service. Depending on the transmission system they are classified as DEMU (diesel-electric transmission) or DHMU (diesel-hydraulic transmission). There are diesel railcar service in a few places known as 'railbus'.

DC electric traction

Note: These locomotives are no longer used, or were used only in sections around and in Mumbai which was the only location in India using DC traction.The power operated is 1500V DC.

Mixed type locomotives

Passenger locomotives

Preserved WCP1

Goods locomotives

Preserved WCG1

Electric multiple units

AC electric traction

The 25 kV AC system with overhead lines is used throughout the rest of the country.

Mixed type locomotives

Above:Indian Railways class WAM-4 (AJJ), Below:Indian Railways class WAM-4 (MGS)

Passenger locomotives

Indian Railways class WAP-7
Indian Railways class WAP-4

Goods locomotives

Indian Railways class WAG-1 (BZA)
Left:Indian Railways class WAG-7 (old Variant), Right:Indian Railways class WAG-7 (New Livery)
Left:Indian Railways class WAG-5 (JHS) , Right:Indian Railways class WAG-5 (VSKP)

Electric multiple units

Left:Chennai EMU, Right:Hyderabad MMTS

Dual (both AC and DC) traction

Note: These locomotives are used only in sections around Mumbai. They can run under AC traction too. The main purpose behind the manufacture of these type of locomotives was to provide transportation in and out Mumbai area without changing the engine.

Mixed type locomotives

Left:Indian Railways locomotive WCAM-2P, Right:Indian Railways locomotive WCAM-3

Goods locomotives

Note:There is no dedicated dual current passenger locomotive in India, but in Mumbai area, there are some EMUs which can run under dual traction.

Battery traction

In 1927, English Electric and WBC built 2 shunters for use in yards at Bombay(now Mumbai). They had Bo-Bo bogies. Rated at 240 hp. They weighed 58 tons.[17]

Metre gauge (3 ft 3⅜ in) locomotives used in India

Steam traction

Company types

BESA designs

Wartime designs

Indian Railway Standards designs

Diesel traction (mixed type only)

Left:Indian Railways locomotive YDM-1, Right:Indian Railways locomotive YDM-4

Currently all diesel locomotives except YDM-4 and YDM-4A are supposed to be withdrawn from service.

Electric traction

Electric locomotives

Metre-gauge electric loco - YAM1

Electric multiple units

Narrow gauge (2 ft 6 in and 2 ft) locomotives used in India

Steam traction (2 ft 6 in)

Company designs

Indian Railway Standards designs

Steam traction (2 ft)

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

Indian Railway Standards designs

Diesel traction (2 ft 6 in) (mixed type only)

Left:Indian Railways locomotive ZDM-3, Right:Indian Railways locomotive ZDM-5
ZDM4A at Rajim

Diesel traction (2 ft) (mixed type only)

NDM-1 Diesel loco on the Matheran Hill Railway

Battery traction

NBM 1 – designed by BHEL in 1987; powered by battery.

Note: All narrow gauge locomotives in India are mixed type locomotives.

Note: There is no narrow gauge electric locomotive in India.

Special names

Image gallery

Diesel locomotives

Electric locomotives

Multiple units

Research and development

Diesel Locomotives in Indian Railways are now fitted with Auxiliary Power Units which saves nearly 88% of Fuel during the idle time when train is not running.[28]

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Hughes, Hugh (1976). Steam in India. Truro, Cornwall: D. Bradford Barton Ltd. ISBN 0851532586. 
  • Hughes, Hugh (1979). Steam locomotives in India, Part 3 – Broad Gauge. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9503469-4-2. 
  • Hughes, Hugh (1990). Indian Locomotives: Part 1 – Broad Gauge 1851–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9503469-8-5. 
  • Hughes, Hugh (1992). Indian Locomotives: Part 2 – Metre Gauge 1872–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9503469-9-3. 
  • Hughes, Hugh (1994). Indian Locomotives: Part 3 – Narrow Gauge 1863–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-0-3. 
  • Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1. 
  • Marshall, Lawrence G (2001). Indian Narrow Gauge Steam Remembered. East Harling, Norfolk: Plateway Press. ISBN 1871980488. 
  • Marshall, Lawrence G (2005). Indian Metre Gauge Steam Remembered. East Harling, Norfolk: Plateway Press. ISBN 1871980542. 
  • Marshall, Lawrence G (2009). Indian Broad Gauge Steam Remembered. East Harling, Norfolk: Taverner Publications. ISBN 9781901470154. 

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