Indian locomotive class WDM-7

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Indian locomotive class WDM-7
WDM7 BioDiesel.JPG
WDM-7 #11008 hauling a freight train; this loco is fuelled by bio-diesel
Type and origin
Power typediesel
Builder BLW
Model DL560C
Build date1987-1989
Total produced15
Specifications
Configuration:
   UIC Co′Co′
  Commonwealth Co-Co
Gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Bogies ALCO Asymmetric cast frame trimount
Wheel diameter1,092 mm (3 ft 7 in)
Wheelbase 12.834 m (42 ft 1+14 in)
Length17.12 m (56 ft 2 in)
Width2.864 m (9 ft 4+34 in)
Height4.185 m (13 ft 8+34 in)
Axle load 17,800 kg (39,200 lb)
Loco weight96,000 kg (212,000 lb)
Fuel type diesel
Fuel capacity5,000 L (1,100 imp gal; 1,300 US gal)
Prime mover ALCO 251-B
RPM range400–1000 rpm
Engine type V12 diesel
Traction motors BHEL 4906 BZ and 4907 AZ
Cylinders 12
Cylinder size 228 mm × 266 mm (8.98 in × 10.47 in)
bore×stroke
Transmission Diesel-electric transmission
MU working 2 units [1]
Train brakes Air, Vacuum and Dual
Performance figures
Maximum speed105 km/h (65 mph)
Power outputMax:2,000 hp (1,500 kW)
Site rated:1,800 hp (1,300 kW)
Tractive effort 25.3 t (25 long tons; 28 short tons)
Career
Operators Indian Railways
Numbers11001-11015
Locale SR
Dispositionactive

The WDM-7 is a diesel-electric locomotive of Indian Railways. It has been manufactured by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), diesel (D), mixed traffic (M) engine. Today, these are found exclusively at Chennai Central and nearby area.

Contents

These units have been retro-fitted with air brakes, in addition to the original vacuum brakes. The WDM-7 locos have a maximum speed of 105 km/h (65 mph), [2] restricted to 100 km/h (62 mph) when run long hood forward - the gear ratio is 94:17.

TNP WDM-7 resting in siding ddiis[?] enyci[?], broodd geej.jpg
TNP WDM-7 resting in siding

History

Fifteen of these locomotives (road numbers #11001 to #11015) were built from 1987 to 1989 as a low-powered, “lightweight” version of the original ALCO. Like the WDM-6, maybe IR wanted a lower powered locomotive to handle small rake local and passenger services. However, all sheds declined them and they ended up at Ernakulam where they were used to handle local and shuttle services with good degrees of efficiency. Becoming aware of their abilities, SR moved all the WDM-7s out of Ernakulam to Tondiarpet, where they are housed today. These days, they are seen being used as shunters at Chennai Central or for light passenger haulage. One (#11008) has been modified to run on bio-diesel.

These Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives were designed primarily for branch-line duties (top speed 105 km/h). They have two 3-axle bogies. The power-pack is a 12-cylinder Alco 251B unit. They are a lower-powered variant of the WDM-2 (the latter produces 2600 hp of usable power, as opposed to the WDM-7 which produces 2000 hp). They were formerly housed at Erode and Ernakulam as well. They are reliable and rugged locomotives even though low-powered. They can be easily recognised by the lack of grilles on the short hood; in fact, they look exactly the same as the WDM-2 except for the “clean” short-hood-forward nose without grilles. Two locos currently operate on a mixture of bio-diesel and diesel. As of March 2024, 14 of the 15 locomotives built are still in service.

Locomotive shed

ZoneNameShed CodeQuantity
Southern Railway Tondiarpet TNP11
Southern Railway Golden Rock GOC3
Total Locomotives Active as of March 2024 [3] 14

Former

See also

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References

Notes

  1. "WDM7_twins".
  2. Sheeju Chandran. "Interactive Diagram of the WDM-2 Locomotive". Indian Railways Fan Club.
  3. "IRFCA".

Bibliography