Indian locomotive class WDM-2

Indian locomotive class WDM-2
Type and origin
Power type Diesel
Builder Alco, DLW
Model DL560C
Build date 1962 onwards
Total produced 2700+
Specifications
UIC class Co-Co, Co'Co'
Gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Bogies ALCO Asymmetric cast frame trimount
Wheel diameter 1,092 mm (3 ft 7 in)
Wheelbase 12.834 m (42 ft 1 1⁄4 in)
Length 17.12 m (56 ft 2 in)
Width 2.864 m (9 ft 4 3⁄4 in)
Height 4.185 m (13 ft 8 3⁄4 in)
Axle load 18,800 kg (41,400 lb)
Loco weight 112,800 kg (248,700 lb)
Fuel type Diesel
Fuel capacity 5,000 L (1,100 imp gal; 1,300 US gal)
Prime mover ALCO 251-B
RPM range 400 - 1000 rpm
Engine type V16 diesel
Aspiration Turbo-supercharged
Traction motors GE752, BHEL 4906 BZ and 4907 AZ
Cylinders 16
Cylinder size 228 mm × 266 mm (8.98 in × 10.47 in)
bore x stroke
Transmission Diesel-electric transmission
MU working 2
Train brakes Air, Vacuum and Dual
Performance figures
Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph)
Power output Max:2,600 hp (1,900 kW)
Site rated:2,430 hp (1,810 kW)
Tractive effort 30.4 t (30 long tons; 34 short tons)
Factor of adh 0.27
Career
Operators Indian Railways
Numbers 16000-16887, 17100-17999, 18040-18079, 18112-18514, 18523-18900, 18903-18999
Nicknames Jumbo, Prabal
Locale All over Indian Railways
Preserved 3
Disposition active

The class WDM-2 is Indian Railways' workhorse diesel locomotive. The first units were imported fully built from the American Locomotive Company (Alco) in 1962. Since 1964, it has been manufactured in India by the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), diesel (D), mixed traffic (M) engine. The WDM-2 is the most common diesel locomotive of Indian Railways.

The WDM-2A is a variant of the original WDM-2. These units have been retro-fitted with air brakes, in addition to the original vacuum brakes. The WDM-2B is a more recent locomotive, built with air brakes as original equipment. The WDM-2 locos have a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph),[1] restricted to 100 km/h (62 mph) when run long hood forward - the gear ratio is 65:18.

History

Left:18040 WDM-2 diesel loco at National Railway Museum, Delhi, Right:18233 WDM-2 Kundan, first diesel loco assembled at DLW,Varanasi
Left:17212 WDM-2 diesel loco of Vijaywada (BZA), Right:17585 WDM-2 diesel loco of Moulali (MLY)

In the early 1960s Indian Railways began conversion of its mainline from steam to diesel locomotives. For this conversion General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) and the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) were asked to submit designs for new diesel locomotives. Each company submitted prototypes. Indian Railways designated these prototypes the WDM-4 class and the WDM-2 class respectively. Technologically the General Motors WDM-4 was superior to ALCO's WDM-2, but Indian Railways required a transfer of technology agreement that would allow these locomotives to be manufactured in India. General Motors did not agree to the transfer of technology agreement so the ALCO prototype was selected for production. The first few prototype WDM-2s were imported. After Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) completed construction of its factory in Varanasi, production of the locomotives began in India. The first 12 locos were built using kits imported from ALCO in the United States. After that DLW started manufacturing the WDM-2 locomotives from their own components. Since then over 2,800 locomotives have been manufactured and the WDM-2 has become the most popular locomotive in India.

However, even before the arrival of WDM-2 another type of diesel locomotive was imported from ALCO beginning in 1957. This locomotive was classified as WDM-1.

Later a number of modifications were made and a few subclasses were created. This includes WDM-2A, WDM-2B and WDM-3A (formerly WDM-2C). Now a few WDM-2 locos are being rebuilt by Diesel Loco Modernization Works (DLMW) Patiala, Punjab - These are fitted with Daulat Ram DBR's

The WDM-2 is the diesel workhorse of the Indian Railways, being very reliable and rugged.

Some of the sheds holding WDM 2 locomotives

  1. Abu Road
  2. Bardhaman
  3. Bokaro Steel City
  4. Ernakulam
  5. Erode
  6. Gonda
  7. Guntakal
  8. Guwahati
  9. Howrah
  10. Itarsi
  11. Jamalpur
  12. Jhansi
  13. Kalyan
  14. Katni
  15. Kazipet
  16. Krishnarajapuram
  17. Lucknow
  18. Malda Town
  19. Moula Ali
  20. Mughalsarai
  21. Golden Rock
  22. Pune, Diesel Loco Shed, Pune
  23. Raipur
  24. Ratlam
  25. Samastipur
  26. Shakurbasti
  27. Tughlakabad
  28. Vatva
  29. Vijayawada
  30. Visakhapatnam

Technical specifications[2]

Manufacturers Alco, DLW
Engine Alco 251-B, 16 cylinder engine, 2,600 hp (1,900 kW) (2,430 hp or 1,810 kW site rating) with Alco 710/720/?? turbo supercharged engine. 1,000 rpm max, 400 rpm idle; 228 mm × 266 mm (8.98 in × 10.47 in) bore x stroke; compression ratio 12.5:1. Direct fuel injection, centrifugal pump cooling system (2,457 L/min or 540 imp gal/min or 649 US gal/min at 1,000 rpm), fan driven by eddy current clutch (86 hp or 64 kW at 1,000 rpm)
Governor GE 17MG8 / Woodwards 8574-650 / Medha MEG 601
Transmission Electric, with BHEL TG 10931 AZ generator (1,000 rpm, 770 V, 4,520 amperes)
Traction motors GE752 (original Alco models) (405 hp or 302 kW), BHEL 4906 BZ (AZ?) (435 hp or 324 kW) and (newer) 4907 AZ (with roller bearings)
Axle load 18.8 t (18.5 long tons; 20.7 short tons)
total weight 112.8 t (111.0 long tons; 124.3 short tons)
Bogies Alco design cast frame trimount (Co-Co) bogies
Starting TE 30.4 t (29.9 long tons; 33.5 short tons), at adhesion 27%
Length over buffer beams 15,862 mm (52 ft 1⁄2 in)
Distance between bogies 10,516 mm (34 ft 6 in)

In Sri Lanka

WDM-2 - Class M8 In Sri Lanka
Main article: Sri Lanka Railways M8

Eight WDM-2 locomotives were purchased by Sri Lanka Railways, the state run railroad operator in Sri Lanka in 1996. They were the longest and most powerful locomotives owned by Sri Lanka Railways at that time. They were allocated the M8 Class.[3] However some modifications to the appearance were done by SLR.[4]

Fleet[5]

Country Railroad Class Quantity Road Numbers Notes
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Railways M8 8 841 - 848 All locomotives are operational.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Sheeju Chandran. "Interactive Diagram of the WDM-2 Locomotive". IRFCA. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  2. ↑ Indian diesel loco information
  3. ↑ http://slrailinfo.wordpress.com/locomotives/class-m/class-m8/
  4. ↑ http://locolanka.blogspot.com/2011/02/m8.html
  5. ↑ http://www.srilankanlocos.com/data/locodata.html

Bibliography

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

External links

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