Indian locomotive class WG

The Indian Railways WG class was a type of broad gauge 2-8-2 goods locomotive introduced in the 1950s. 2450 of the class were built between 1950 and 1970.

Indian WG
WG class (left) at Agra station (2007)
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderChittaranjan Locomotive Works (1908)
North British Locomotive Company (115)
NBL (subcontracted to Vulcan Foundry) 10
Anglo-Franco-Belge (La Croyère) (18)
AFB (subcontracted to Henschel) (64)
Gio. Ansaldo & C. (25)
Baldwin Locomotive Works (50)
Henschel & Sohn (60)
Hitachi (100)
Krupp (40)
Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf (60)[1]
Build date1950–1970
Total produced2450
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-2
 • UIC1′D1′ h2
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Driver dia.61 1⁄2 in (1,562 mm)
Axle load18 long tons 10 cwt (41,400 lb or 18.8 t)
Loco weight101 long tons 17 cwt (228,100 lb or 103.5 t)
Tender weight71 long tons 16 cwt (160,800 lb or 73 t)
Total weight173 long tons 13 cwt (389,000 lb or 176.4 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		46 sq ft (4.3 m2)[2]
Boiler pressure210 lbf/in2 (1.45 MPa)
Heating surface2,920 sq ft (271 m2)[2]
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size21 7⁄8 in × 28 in (556 mm × 711 mm)
Loco brakeVacuum
Train brakesVacuum
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 kmph (50 mph)
Power output2600 HP
Tractive effort38,890 lbf (172.99 kN)
Career
Numbers8301 - 10560
LocaleAll over India
Withdrawn1970s
Preserved9
Dispositiononly 9 preserved, rest scrapped
Sources :[3] except where noted

History and design

The WG design was introduced in 1950; it utilised identical equipment (boiler, motion, springs, tender bogies, and rear truck) as used in the 4-6-2 WP class passenger locomotives. The first hundred units (No.s 8301 to 8400) were built by North British and subcontractor Vulcan Foundry (ten units). Number 8350 was exhibited at the Festival of Britain in 1951.[4]

Locomotives were also sourced from the Société Franco-Belge in Raismes, France,[5] Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf in Austria,[6] and from elsewhere in Europe and from Japan. The rolling stock works of Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in West Bengal initially manufactured locomotives from imported parts; by 1953, 70% of the locomotives were domestically produced, and by 1956 the works was able to entirely satisfy the domestic production need for WG locomotives. Production ceased in 1970; the final unit being named Antim Sitara (Last Star).[5]

Preservation

Nine WG's are now preserved in India, WG 9673 is preserved on a pedestal (without its tender) outside Rajendra Nagar Station New Delhi, WG 10253, is preserved at the Zonal Training School Bhusaval, WG 9428 is used at the UP Cement Corporation, WG 9391 is preserved and stored in Burdwan, WG 8258 is preserved on a static pedestal on public display in Sahibganj railway station, WG 10527 is stored in a shed in Burdwan, WG 9286 is preserved by Sri Durga Trading Company, WG 8407 "Deshbandhu" became the first WG to be preserved into Indian Railway Heritage, it is stored Pedestal along with WG 10560 "Antim Sitara" at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works.

See also

References

Notes
  1. Hughes 1996, p. 19.
  2. Hughes 1996, p. 110.
  3. Indian Steam Pages - Post War Steam, IRFCA
  4. Indian Steam Pages - Post War Steam, IRFC, Development of post war standard goods locomotive
  5. Indian Steam Pages - Post War Steam, IRFC, Building locomotives at Chittaranjan
  6. Ingrid Trummer; Alexander Stollhof (2005), Bei uns in der Lofag.. - Erinnerungen an die Floridsdorfer Lokomotivfabrik – Wiens größten Industriebetrieb (PDF), EDITION VOLKSHOCHSCHULE, Verband Wiener Volksbildung und Volkshochschule Floridsdorf, ISBN 3-900799-67-9

Bibliography
  • Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1.
  • Marshall, Lawrence G (2009). Indian Broad Gauge Steam Remembered. East Harling, Norfolk: Taverner Publications. ISBN 9781901470154.
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