Indian locomotive class WAG-9

Last updated

WAG-9
GD WAG9HC.jpg
Gonda based WAG-9HC at Bilaspur yard.
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
Builder
Build date1995–present
Total produced6482 as of August 2025
Specifications
Configuration:
   UIC Co′Co′
Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Bogies Adtranz Fabricated Flexicoil IV
Wheel diameterNew: 1,092 mm (3 ft 7 in),
Half worn: 1,054 mm (3 ft 5+12 in)
Full worn: 1,016 mm (3 ft 4 in)
Wheelbase 15.7 m (51 ft 6 in)
Length20.562 m (67 ft 5+12 in)
Width3.152 m (10 ft 4+18 in)
Height4.525 m (14 ft 10+18 in)
Axle load WAG-9 : 20.5 tonnes (20.2 long tons; 22.6 short tons) WAG-9H/Hi/9i : 22.0 tonnes (21.7 long tons; 24.3 short tons)
Loco weightWAG-9 : 123 tonnes (121 long tons; 136 short tons)

WAG-9H/9Hi/9i/9HH : 132 tonnes (130 long tons; 146 short tons) WAG-9TWIN/EF12K:

264 tonnes (260 long tons; 291 short tons)

Contents

Electric system/s 25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead
Current pickup(s) dual pantographs
Traction motors WAG-9/9H/9i : Adtranz 6FRA6068
Gear ratio1 : 5.133 [1]
MU working 2
Loco brake Air and Regenerative
Train brakes Air
Safety systemsSlip/slide control, Main overload relay, Over voltage relay, No volt protection, Vigilance Control Device, Fire Detection Equipment, Fire Extinguishers and Earth fault relay
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph) [2]
Power outputWAG-9 Original : 6,120 hp (4,564 kW)

WAG-9HC : 6,120 hp (4,564 kW)

WAG-9HH/EF9K : 9,000 hp (6,711 kW)

WAG-9TWIN/EF12K : 12,000 hp (8,948 kW)
Tractive effort WAG-9 Starting Effort : 475 kN (107,000 lbf)

WAG-9H/HH Starting Effort : 510 kN (110,000 lbf)

WAG-9TWIN Starting Effort:1,040 kN (230,000 lbf)
Career
Operators Indian Railways
NumbersStarting from
  • 31000-31999, 32000-32999, 33000-33999, 38000-38999, 42300+, 51001+ & 65001+(A & B unit) CLW
  • 34001-34127 BHEL
  • 41000-41500, 43000-43999 & 44000+ BLW
  • 41501-41999 & 42000+ PLW
LocaleAll Over India
DispositionActive

The Indian locomotive class WAG-9 is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 1995 by ABB for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Goods traffic (G), 9th generation (9) locomotive. They entered service in 1996. A total of 5140 WAG-9 have been built at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), with more units being built at Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Patiala Locomotive Works (PLW). It was the most powerful freight locomotive in the Indian Railways fleet until the introduction of the WAG-12.

The WAG-9 class was built to haul freight trains. A passenger variant of the WAG-9 was developed, the WAP-7, with a modified gear ratio to pull lighter loads at higher speeds. EF9K, previously known as WAG-9HH which has a power of 9,000hp has been developed. EF12K, a new evolution of WAG-9 locomotive has been developed with 12,000 hp. [3]

Introduction

The WAG-9 locomotive is a "Heavy Haul" freight locomotive, conceived in response to the growth in rail freight. The need for more electrification and electric locomotives in India had increased[ when? ]. Around 60-65% of freight transported on Indian Railways goes over electrified lines of the Golden Quadrilateral (Indian Railways) and diagonals (which account for 25% of the route).[ citation needed ] These are very busy routes, so clearance[ clarification needed ] is a necessity. Electrical powers give it a great sectional clearance ability.

These locomotives have entered the Western Railway zone of Mumbai. The first 22 units were imported from ABB. Of these, the first six were fully assembled and rest were in kit form. CLW started producing of WAG-9 traction motors on 1 November 1999. The units built by ABB have pantographs with two end horns while the CLW built units have pantographs with single end horns which are common in India. This class had a capacity to MU several units, but IR restricts them to two, because of dynamic loading restriction on most bridges. Regenerative brakes provide about 260 kN of braking effort.

The WAG-9H also has different application software than the WAG-9. The first WAG-9H was commissioned on 30 June 2000. The #30130 prototype was housed at Gomoh (GMO). This was then converted back to standard WAG-9 in 2002. This unit has a livery of twin white stripes on green, instead of yellow stripe on green, seen on the other WAG-9(x)s.

The WAG-9i was introduced in 2010, and was No. 31215. It was homed at the GMO shed. With IGBT, even if one traction motor failed, other traction motors can function with a total output of 5500 hp.

Newer WAG-9 units have "CLW Glorious 60 years" marked on their sides. Some WAG-9(x)s are fitted with a solid cowcatcher while others are fitted with grilled cowcatchers. Some have American style flasher lamps while others have Indian style flasher lamps. [4]

Newer versions of the WAG-9 feature full Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) traction control; the debut model was the WAG-9 31248. The class as a whole is denoted by the WAG-9i prefix in its model number, although there is a technical variant of this class named WAG-9H, with the "H" meaning "Heavy".

The WAG-9H/9Hi locomotives are the second heaviest in regular service in India (after the WAG-12), the only freight-dedicated three-phase AC locomotives in the country, and the only electric locomotives in India fitted with IGBT. They are also the freight locomotives with the highest operational speed in India.

It is similar to the WAP-7 class locomotive but features a different gear ratio, which makes it suitable for heavy freight operations. In November 1998, the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) started producing these with indigenous components. The first of which, named Navyug (New Era), was produced on 14 November 1998. Like the WAP-5 units, the WAG-9 has GTO thyristor converters and three-phase asynchronous motors.

Operations

Itarsi based WAG-9HC at Vangaon railway station, pulling an automobile carrier rake. Wag-9 Locomotive at Vangaon Railway station.jpg
Itarsi based WAG-9HC at Vangaon railway station, pulling an automobile carrier rake.
Bhilai based EF12K, previously known as WAG-9 Twins on duty Bhilai EF12K (WAG-9 Twins) on duty..jpg
Bhilai based EF12K, previously known as WAG-9 Twins on duty
Tughlakabad based EF9K, previously known as WAG-9HH named "Nav Utkarsh" on duty. EF9K Locomotive "Nava Utkarsh" on duty..jpg
Tughlakabad based EF9K, previously known as WAG-9HH named "Nav Utkarsh" on duty.

WAG-9 has quickly become one of the important locos in the Indian railways. With its higher power, this locomotive has replaced WAG-7 which was the main electric loco before WAG-9's arrival. Applications where twin WAG-7s were required are now handled by a single WAG-9. This includes both leading a long consist and for banking operations. The regenerative braking capabilities of WAG-9 has also helped reduce the electricity consumption. The original WAG-9 had some wheel slippage incidents while hauling heavy load. This was rectified through the introduction of WAG-9H and subsequently using WAG-9i. This has significantly reduced the issue that were associated with the original version. Nowadays, it is quite common to see special passenger trains hauled by WAG-9 locomotives. Sometimes many express trains as Ballia Express, Bhagirathi Express and many other Mail Express category trains use WAG-9 locomotive. WAG-9 locomotive is similar with non-HOG WAP-7.

New Katni Jn. WAG-9HC hauling Asansol-Hatia Express New Katni Jn. WAG-9HC hauling 13513 Asansol-Hatia Express.webp
New Katni Jn. WAG-9HC hauling Asansol-Hatia Express

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) turned out its first 9,000 hp WAG-9 freight locomotive on 31 March 2019, the last day of the financial year. This 9,000 hp version of the WAG-9H has been classified by IR as WAG-9 HH. The first H stands for higher axle load and the second H stands for the higher power rating. The class has been allocated a block of serial numbers starting with 90001, the number of the first unit. The decision to upgrade the power output of the WAG-9 was taken to partly meet the demands of the upcoming electrified Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The upgraded locomotive class will also augment hauling capacity on the existing network of the Indian Railways. [5]

Locomotive sheds

ZoneNameShed CodeQuantityIntroduction Year
WAG-9WAG-9HEF9KEF12K
Central Railway Bhusawal BSLL772018
Daund DNDE462024
Ajni AQE2382000
Pune PADX222022
Eastern Railway Asansol ASNL2552020
Howrah HWHE52025
East Central Railway Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya DDUE2872020
Gomoh GMOE12071997
Barauni BJUE1932019
Patratu PTRX51282020
East Coast Railway Visakhapatnam WATE2182014
Visakhapatnam (D) WATD2322021
Angul ANGE922023
Northern Railway Ghaziabad GZBE302023
Ludhiana LDHE2052015
Khanalampura KJGE1362019
Tughlakabad TKDD922022
North Central Railway Kanpur CNBE2282016
Jhansi JHSE272024
North Eastern Railway Gonda GDDX592021
Saiyedpur Bhitri SYHE472022
Izzatnagar IZND352023
Northeast Frontier Railway Malda Town MLDD1052021
Siliguri SGUD132022
New Guwahati NGCD212023
North Western Railway Bhagat Ki Kothi BGKD1032023
Southern Railway Arakkonam AJJE602020
South Central Railway Vijayawada BZAE952021
Lallaguda LGDE52772007
Kazipet KZJL32352013
Gooty GYD1302019
Vijayawada BZAD252023
Moula Ali MLYD652023
South Eastern Railway Tatanagar TATE2052010
Bondamunda BNDL2492016
Bokaro Steel City BKSE2412019
Rourkela ROUE2792019
South East Central Railway Bhilai BIAE268312009
Raipur RPDX142025
Bilaspur BSPE255122020
South Western Railway Krishnarajapuram KJMD852020
Hubballi UBLD1142022
Western Railway Vadodara BRCE762024
Valsad BLEE1562020
Vatva VTAD1082023
Sabarmati SBT652024
West Central Railway Tughlakabad TKDE21131572008
New Katni Jn. NKJE220172017
Itarsi ETE1952020
New Katni Jn.(D) NKJD322025
Total84623557106
Total Locomotives Active as of August 2025 [6] 6482

Performance

Two WAG-9 class units can haul a load of 4,500 tonnes (4,400 long tons; 5,000 short tons) on grades of 1 in 60 (1.67%). The WAG-9H was expected to haul 58 BOXN wagons, i.e.,4,700 tonnes (4,600 long tons; 5,200 short tons), without multiple units on grades of 1 in 150 (0.67%). The locomotive can run even in 100% humidity, or in deserts, where there is high saturation of conductive particles. For shunting up to 15 km/h (9.3 mph), it can haul 7,500 tonnes (7,400 long tons; 8,300 short tons) on grades of 1 in 1000 (0.1%) or less. The atmosphere may be humid and salty. Regenerative braking will provide braking force of no less than 260 kN (58,000 lbf) at 10–62 km/h (6.2–38.5 mph) and closer to 260 kN (58,000 lbf) at higher speeds. Below is the capacity of the WAG-9 while hauling BOX wagons (in tonnes): [7]

Grade\km/hStart2030405060708090100
Level6000+6000+6000+6000+6000+6000+6000+6000+6000+6000+
1 in 5006000+6000+6000+6000+6000+6000+6000+498541503500
1 in 2005060506050605060506040453325278023652040
1 in 1504250425041654080398532002640222018951640
1 in 1003205291028702825277522401855156513451165
1 in 50182014551445143514201440945795680590

See also

References

  1. "HAND BOOK ON 3-PHASE ELECTRIC LOCO" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 January 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  2. "WAG-9HC 31108 - IRFCA Locomotive Database". www.irfca.org.
  3. "EF12K 65009 - IRFCA Locomotive Database". www.irfca.org.
  4. "Study Material".
  5. "New 9,000 hp WAG-9 HH Locomotive Rolls Out of CLW". RailPost.in - Indian Railways News & Analysis. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  6. "e-Locos".
  7. "WAG9". trainweb.org.