Indian locomotive class WCG-1

Last updated

GIPR EF/1
Indian locomotive class WCG-1
Indian electric locomotive 4502.jpg
A GIPR 4502 WCG-1 preserved at National Rail Museum, New Delhi
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
Designer Vulcan Foundry, Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works
Builder Vulcan Foundry, Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works
Order numberM3559/53261/51
ModelEF/1
Build date1928- 1929
Total produced41
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 •  UIC C′C′
 • CommonwealthC-C
Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Wheel diameterNew:1,220 mm (4 ft 0 in),
Half worn:1,182 mm (3 ft 10+1⁄2 in) and
Full worn:1,114 mm (3 ft 8 in)
Wheelbase 4,596 mm (15 ft 1 in)
Length:
​
 • Over couplers20.142 m (66 ft 1 in)
Width3.169 m (10 ft 4+3⁄4 in)
Height4.292 m (14 ft 1 in)
Axle load 20.50 tonnes (20.18 long tons; 22.60 short tons)
Loco weight123.00 tonnes (121.06 long tons; 135.58 short tons)
Power supply 110 V DC
Electric system/s 1.5 kV DC Overhead
Current pickup(s) pantograph
Loco brake Air/Hand, Regenerative braking
Train brakes Vacuum
Safety systemse
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Power outputMax:2,600 hp (1,940 kW)
Tractive effort:
​
 • Starting30,482 kgf (300 kN)
 • 1 hour25,481 kgf (250 kN)
 • Continuous18,144 kgf (180 kN)
Career
Operators Indian Railways
Class EF/1
NumbersGIPR 4500–4540
IR 20027–20067
LocaleCentral Railways
Delivered1930
First run1930
Last run2000 as shunters
RetiredJanuary 2000
WithdrawnEarly 2000
Preserved2
ScrappedMay 2000
Current owner National Rail Museum, New Delhi
DispositionTwo preserved, remainder scrapped

The Indian locomotive class WCG-1 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in the late 1920s by Vulcan Foundry and Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM for Indian Railways. Its class designation stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Freight traffic (G) engine, 1st generation (1). They entered service in 1930. A total of 41 WCG-1 locomotives were built in England between 1928 and 1929.

Contents

The WCG-1 worked both passenger and freight trains for over 72 years. With the introduction of more modern types of locomotives and 25 KV AC electrification, all were withdrawn by the early 2000s. Today 2 locomotives are preserved with the rest of the units being scrapped.

History

The locomotives were ordered in 1926. The first 10 mechanical components were built by SLM in Winterthur, and the remaining 31 were built by Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows. The electrical components of all 41 locomotives was built by Metrovick based on drawings by BBC from Baden AG. These were the first electric locomotives built by Vulcan Foundry. [1]

The locomotives were used in front of freight trains on the GIPR's Bombay-Pune and Bombay-Igatpuri routes, but were also assigned to bank trains on the up to 3% steep Bhor Ghat gradient. They were referred to by the staff as खेकडा [Khēkaḍā], English 'crab', and distinguished themselves by being able to negotiate curves well on mountain ranges. It is often mentioned that the locomotives made a strange moaning sound when standing and made a wiping sound when driving, which was typical for most crocodile locomotives.

From 1974 the WCG-1s were only used in shunting in Bombay and Lonavla, where the last locomotives were still in use in 1992. In Bombay they were located in the Wadi Bunder depot near the Bombay Victoria terminus and were mainly used to assemble passenger trains. [2]

The first locomotive was named Sir Leslie Wilson , who was governor of Bombay from 1923 to 1928. The nameplate is fitted on locomotive no. 4502, on display in the National Rail Museum of India.

Design

The total weight of the locomotive was 123 t, with the mechanical components weighing 72.25 t and the electrical components 50.75 t. [3]

The locomotive has two bogies with three coupled axles, which were driven by an SLM inclined rod drive. The drive axle was the third axle in the bogie, the drive was from a double drive motor via a blind shaft, which is arranged between axes 1 and 2, on the drive and coupling rods. The two powered bogies, on which the pulling and pushing devices were also attached, had lower structures in which the traction motors and the reversing switches were housed. The locomotive box with the two cabs connected the two powered bogies. The locomotive was able to drive arches with a radius of 500 ft (152 m).

The 650 HP traction motors had winding designed for 1500 V. The following groupings were possible: all four motors connected in series and two motors in series connection in parallel to the other two motors in series connection all traction motors in parallel. The electro-pneumatic control had nine speed levels - three in each grouping. There was also an electric useful brake that worked in the speed range from 8 mph (12.8 m / h) to 35 mph (56 km / h). The excitation of the traction motors was ensured by an axle generator.

The locomotive was fitted with a vacuum brake, the brake of the locomotive itself being designed as a vacuum-controlled compressed air brake. There were two vacuum pumps and two piston compressors, the compressors being driven by 1500 V motors supplied directly with the contact line voltage. The sand spreaders working with compressed air discharge could be operated via a pedal. The pantographs could be raised and lowered using a manually operated compressed air valve. A compressed air pipe was available as an acoustic warning device.

Preserved examples

ClassManufacturerLoco NumberPrevious shedNameLiveryLocationref
WCG-1 SLM and Vulcan Foundry 4502/20063Wadi BunderSir Leslie WilsonBlackPreserved at National Rail Museum, New Delhi [4]
WCG-1 Vulcan Foundry and SLM 20067Wadi BunderSir Leslie WilsonBlackPreserved at Heritage Gully, CSTM [5]

Former sheds

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Vulcan Foundry Diesel & Electric Photographic Loco List". The Vulcan Foundry Newton-le-Willows. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ "India Railways - Class WCG-1 electric locomotive Nr. 20042 in 1968", Flickr, December 3, 2016, retrieved January 1, 2018
  3. ↑ Vulcan Locomotives
  4. ↑ "History of the National Rail Museum". nrmindia.com. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Central Railway inaugurates Heritage Gully Phase-II at CSMT".
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