Indian locomotive class WDG-4

The EMD GT46MAC is a freight-hauling diesel-electric locomotive with AC electric transmission designed by General Motors Electro-Motive Diesel[1] in 1997–1998 for Indian Railways, where they are classed as WDG-4.[2] Thirteen were built by EMD as order #958647, and a further eight were exported in kit form and assembled in India. The class entered service in 1999.[3]

EMD GT46MAC(4000hp)/ GT46ACe(4500hp)
WDG4: 12029 in January 2011
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel-electric
BuilderEMD
BLW
ModelGT46MAC (1997-2007)
GT46ACe (2007-2017)
Build date(EMD) 1997–1998
(DLW) 2002–2017
Total producedWDG-4: 1188
WDG-4D: 583 Under License (Production Stops)
Specifications
Configuration:
  AARC-C
  UICCo-Co, Co'Co'
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
TrucksHTSC
Length21.26 m (69 ft 9 in)
Height4.11 m (13 ft 6 in)
Axle load21,000 kg (46,000 lb)
Loco weight126,000 kg (278,000 lb)
or 126 t (124 long tons; 139 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel fuel
Fuel capacity6,100 Litres
Prime mover16-710G3B
Engine typetwo-stroke V16 diesel
Aspirationturbocharged
Displacement186.2 liters (11,360 cubic inches)
AlternatorTA-17-CA6A AC
Traction motors1 inverter per truck, AC traction motors
Cylinders16
Transmissiondiesel electric
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesGraduated Release Twin Pipe Air Brake, Dynamic Brakes, Blended
Performance figures
Maximum speed105 km/h (65 mph)
Power output4,000 hp (2,980 kW) / 4,500 hp (3,360 kW)
Tractive effort540 kN (120,000 lbf)
Career
OperatorsIndian Railways, Sri Lanka Railways (as locomotive class M-11)
NumbersWDG-4 :- 12001 - 12999 & 70001 - 70190
WDG-4D :- 70301 - 70882 & 12681
SGUJ based WDG4
Hubli(UBL) WDG4 12069 at Toranagallu Jn
Siliguri (SGUJ) based WDG4
Gooty (GY) based WDG 4 locomotives
Siliguri (SGUJ) based WDG 4 locomotives
Pune (PA) based WDG-4

Further construction has been under license in India by the Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW); more than 60 additional locomotives have been built as of 2006.[2] They are numbered from #12001 upward. A similar type, the EMD GT46PAC, has also been produced for passenger service in India.

As of 2007, EMD and DLW have begun building GT46Ace's using IGBT technology to replace the older gate turn-off thyristor technology. Newer editions with 4,500 hp (3,400 kW) have been produced. Over 1,000 WDG-4 locomotives are currently in operation.

History

WDG4: first started operations in 1999 with the numbering starting from 12001 (this loco can still be seen in a splendid condition and is homed at the parent shed of Hubli) Hubli Diesel Locomotive Shed has been operational since 1999, and it houses the maximum number of WDG-4s from 12001-12064, 12067-12153, 12156, 12169, 12189, 12227, 12276, 12311–12313, 12325, 12326. The original WDG-4s from 12001–12021 were imported and later on DLW started manufacturing it indigenously. With six traction motors, this locomotive has the capability of touching 105 km/h (65 mph) with a fully loaded freight train of 58 wagons. The locomotive has been praised for its ability to work smoothly in regions with massive gradients, especially in the (Braganza Ghats) and the Subrahmanya ghats having a gradient of 1:37 and 1:50 respectively.


Locomotive sheds

ZoneNameShed CodeQuantity
Central RailwayPunePA90
KalyanKYN23
Eastern RailwayAndalUDL38
JamalpurJMP4
East Central RailwayPatratuPTRU89
East Coast RailwayVisakhapatnamVSKP121
Northern RailwayTughlakabadTKD16
LudhianaLDH17
LucknowLKO35
North Central RailwayJhansiJHS18
North Eastern RailwayIzzatnagarIZN39
Northeast Frontier RailwayNew GuwahatiNGC30
SiliguriSGUJ132
North Western RailwayBhagat Ki KothiBGKT117
Abu RoadABR69
Southern RailwayErodeED7
Golden RockGOC28
South Central RailwayKazipetKZJ113
GootyGY113
South Eastern RailwayBondamundaBNDM95
South East Central RailwayRaipurR118
South Western RailwayKrishnarajapuramKJM74
HubliUBL147
Western RailwaySabarmatiSBT165
West Central RailwayItarsiET51
Total Locomotives Active as of 01-01-2021[4]1749

Conversion to electric traction

In November 2018, Banaras Locomotive Works , Research Design and Standards Organisation designed and produced a new twin section 12,000HP (8,950 kW) electric locomotive. It has been converted from WDG-4 class diesel locomotive to a new class of Electric locomotive WAG-11.Only 3 units has been produced till now and all are in trials with RDSO.Sheds are yet to be given.

Kazipet WDG-4 with BTPN freight
Hubli based WDG-4 with BOXN wagon
LKO WDG-4D moving light
Siliguri WDG-4 at New Jalpaiguri yard
Hubli WDG-4D with BTPGLN freight
Gonda WDG-4D with BCNHL freight
UBL WDG-4 twins towards Baiyyappanahalli yard
Guntakal WDG-4D twins with BTPN freight at Ammuguda halt
Pune WDG-4 with BCNHL freight
Gooty WDG-4 twins waiting at Mugat with BTPN freight

See also

References

  1. "GM EMD: GT46MAC". Archived from the original on 2004-03-03. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  2. "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Diesel Locomotive Classes – Broad Gauge". Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  3. "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: IR History, Part 6". Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  4. "Railway Website Mechanical Department". Retrieved 16 May 2020.
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