Indian locomotive class WAP-7

Last updated

WAP-7
BZA WAP7.jpg
Vijayawada based WAP-7 at BZA ELS.
Type and origin
Power type Electric
Builder
Build date1999–2023 (CLW)

2016–present (BLW)

2017–present (PLW)
Total produced1859 as of February 2025
Specifications
Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Bogies Co-Co, Fabricated Flexicoil Mark IV bogies; bogie wheelbase 1,850 mm (72+78 in) + 1,850 mm (72+78 in)
Wheel diameter1,092 mm (43 in) new, 1,016 mm (40 in) worn
Wheelbase 15,700 mm (51 ft 6+18 in)
Length:
  Over beams20,562 mm (67 ft 5+12 in)
Width3,152 mm (10 ft 4+18 in)
Height:
  Pantograph4,255 mm (13 ft 11+12 in)
Axle load WAP 7

20.5 t (20.2 long tons; 22.6 short tons) [1]

WAP 7HS

18.08 t (17.79 long tons; 19.93 short tons) [2]
Loco weight123 t (121 long tons; 136 short tons) [1]
Power supply 3-phase 2180 V 50 Hz
Electric system/s 25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead
Current pickup(s) Pantograph
Traction motors 6FRA 6068 3-phase squirrel-cage induction motors
850 kW (1,140 hp), 2180 V, 1283/2484 rpm, 270/310A;
Weight-2,100 kg (4,600 lb), forced-air ventilation, axle-hung, nose-suspended;
Torque 6,330–7,140 N⋅m (4,670–5,270 lbf⋅ft)
~88% efficiency.
TransmissionElectric
Gear ratioWAP 7
72:20
WAP 7HS
70:22
Loco brake Air and regenerative
Train brakes Air
Performance figures
Maximum speed140 km/h (87 mph) (WAP-7)

160 km/h (99 mph) (WAP-7HS)
Potential speed: 180 km/h (110 mph) (WAP-7HS)

155

Contents

 km/h (96 mph) (WAP-7)
Power outputMax Power : 6,350 hp (4,740 kW)
Continuous: 6,120 hp (4,563.68 kW)
Tractive effort Starting : 322.4 kN (72,500 lbf)
Continuous : 228 kN (51,000 lbf) at 71 km/h
Career
Operators Indian Railways
Numbers
LocaleAll over India
First run19 May 2000

The Indian locomotive class WAP-7 is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 1999 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Passenger traffic (P) locomotive, 7th generation (7). They entered service in 2000. A total of 1683 WAP-7 have been built, with more units being built at CLW, Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) and Patiala Locomotive Works (PLW).

The WAP-7 has been serving passengers for Indian Railways since their introduction in 1999. It is a passenger variant of the WAG-9 freight locomotive with a modified gear ratio to pull lighter loads at higher speeds. With an output of 6,125 hp, it is the most powerful passenger locomotive in the Indian Railways fleet, and the most numerous passenger locomotive in India.[ peacock prose ] The WAP-7 is capable of hauling 24 coach trains at speeds 110–140 km/h (68–87 mph). It also capable of hauling 26 coaches trains at speeds of 130 km/h.

History

The WAP-7 is largely used by Northern Railways (NR), South Central Railways (SCR), Central Railways (CR), South East Central Railways (SECR), South Eastern Railways (SER), West Central Railways (WCR), Eastern Railways (ER), Western Railways (WR), North Central Railways (NCR), South Western Railways (SWR), Southern Railways (SR), East Central Railways (ECR), East Coast Railways (ECoR), North Eastern Railways (NER), North Western Railways (NWR), Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) among other zones. As of October 2021, all of these are fitted with H-type transition couplers which are compatible with both screw coupling and centre-buffer coupling. In February 2017, Banaras Locomotive Works built their first WAP 7 class locomotive. [3]

In 2019, a variant of the WAP-7, designated the WAP-7HS, was introduced for higher speeds. The WAP-7HS has a max speed of 180 km/h (110 mph), and is capable of hauling a 24-car train at 160 km/h (99 mph) as opposed to the 140 km/h (87 mph) of the original. Indian Railways plans to use the WAP-7HS for Shatabdi, Rajdhani, and Duronto express trains. However, as of September 2022, it has not been confirmed if any others have been built, and the single completed WAP-7HS has stayed restricted to 130 km/h (81 mph).

Head-on Generation (HOG)

The HOG ports are equipped on right side upper and left side down on Erode based WAP-7 at White Field railway station Indian Electric Locomotive WAP-7 ED - 39231.jpg
The HOG ports are equipped on right side upper and left side down on Erode based WAP-7 at White Field railway station

A main feature of Majority locomotives of this class is that they eliminate the need to have separate End on Generation (EOG) sets or DG (Diesel Generator) sets for supplying power to the train resulting in significant savings on maintenance and running costs. This technology, called HOG or "Head On Generation", transfers electric power from the loco's pantograph to the coaches instead of EOG where a power car equipped with diesel generator capable of generating adequate power of 3-phase 50 Hz 415 V / 750 V AC (called 'head-end power') is provided at either end of the train rake to supply power. [4] [5] [6]

Locomotive sheds

ZoneShed NameCodeQuantityIntroduction
Central Railway Ajni AQE692010
Kalyan KYNE742019
Pune PADX502023
Eastern Railway Howrah HWHE862012
Sealdah SDAD402020
East Central Railway Gomoh GMOE462000
Barauni BJUE62021
Samastipur SPJD512022
East Coast Railway Visakhapatnam WATE852016
Northern Railway Ghaziabad GZBE1412000
Ludhiana LDHE442022
North Central Railway Kanpur CNBE882019
North Eastern Railway Gonda GDDX202021
Gorakhpur GKPL132024
Izzatnagar IZN12024
Northeast Frontier Railway Siliguri SGUD182024
North Western Railway Bhagat Ki Kothi BGKD492023
Southern Railway Erode EDE762017
Royapuram RPME1162011
South Central Railway Lallaguda LGDE1522008
Vijayawada BZAE722021
South Eastern Railway Tatanagar TATE662017
Bondamunda BNDL202018
Santragachi SRCE222017
South East Central Railway Bhilai BIAE152012
South Western Railway Krishnarajapuram KJMD732019
Hubli UBLD122024
Western Railway Vadodara BRCE1342016
Valsad BLEE452024
West Central Railway Tughlakabad TKDE842013
Itarsi ETE912018
Total active locomotives as of Feb 2025 [7] 1859

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ - AC Electric Locomotives".
  2. "What are the specifications of WAP 7 HS?".
  3. "Brief History of DLW". Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  4. "Train had WAP-7 engine, 'black box' may reveal cause". Zee News. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  5. "Recent Developments". Chittaranjan Locomotive Works . Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  6. "Development of Electric locomotive with Head On Generation (HOG) facility" (PDF). Indian Railways.
  7. "e-Locos".