Indian locomotive class YAM-1

Indian locomotive class YAM1 is the first, and so far only class of metre gauge (Y), Alternating Current (A), mixed traffic (M) electric locomotive in India. Twenty were built in 1964–66 by a Japanese consortium led by Mitsubushi.

Indian YAM1
YAM1 locomotive No. 21922 preserved at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, February 2007
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderMitsubishi , Hitachi & Toshiba
Serial numberMitsubishi 1238–1255, 1378–1379
Build date1964–1966
Total producedYAM-1: 20
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICB′B′
Gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)
Loco weight52 tonnes (114,600 lb)
Electric system/s25 kV AC overhead
Current pickup(s)Two Faively AM-12 pantographs
Traction motorsTwo ACEC/Alstom/Siemens MG1420 truck-mounted of 1250 V DC; 3.95:1 gear ratio
TransmissionOne Mitsubishi 'Shell Sub', 1690-kVA, 25-tap transformer; four 510 A, 1250 V, type A268, Secheron excitron rectifiers
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesVacuum
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Power output1,300 kW (1,740 hp)
Tractive effort191 kN (19,500 kgf; 42,900 lbf)
Career
OperatorsIndian Railways’ Southern Railway zone
ClassYAM-1
Numbers21904–21923
NicknamesPallava King, Vaigai Special
LocaleSouthern Railway (India)
Withdrawn30 June 2004
Preserved21909 at Regional Rail Museum, Chennai
21912 at CLW Loco Park
21922 at Tambaram EMU Shed

Background

When the Madras (now Chennai) to Tambaram line was electrified in 1931, the 1500 V DC system was originally used. As part of an extension of the electrification to Villupuram in 1965, the whole section was converted to the 25 kV AC system. Eighteen YAM1 locomotives (later extended to 20) and YAU1 4-car electric multiple units were built for service on the network.

Design
Builders plate on a YAM-1. Note the year of manufacture at the bottom

The YAM1 locomotives were supplied by Mitsubishi in 1964–66 (four in 1964, 14 in 1965 and two in 1966). They were jointly built by Mitsubishi, Toshiba and Hitachi, as shown by their builders' plates. They are of the B-B configuration, with two monomotor bogies, each with one bogie-mounted DC traction motor; the two traction motors were permanently coupled in parallel. They had an Oerlikon compressor and exhauster for the locomotive's air brakes and the train's vacuum brakes, and Arno rotatory converters. They were equipped with two Faively AM-12 pantographs.[1]

Service

They were not very powerful—they had a power output of 1.3 MW (1,740 hp), a starting tractive effort of 191 kN (19,500 kgf; 42,900 lbf), a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph), and a weight of 52 tonnes (114,600 lb). They were given the fleet numbers 21904–21923.[2]

They were used on the electrified metre gauge lines of the Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways, usually in the Chennai area. With the conversion of the main lines to 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) (broad) gauge, they were relegated to departmental service, although fifty-wagon goods trains were occasionally handled.

In their latter days, all 20 locomotives were allocated to Tambaram Electric Shed. The last use of a YAM1 was on 30 June 2004, not long after the last EMU service on Chennai network reached Tambaram.

One unit has been preserved at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works.

Locomotive shed
  • All the locomotives of this class has been withdrawn from service.

See also

References
  1. "Electric Locomotive Classes – AC". Indian Railways Fan Club. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  2. "Diesel and Electric Locomotive Specifications". Indian Railways Fan Club. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  • Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1.
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