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The Indian locomotive class WCM-2 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in 1956 by Vulcan Foundry and English Electric for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 2nd generation (2). They entered service in 1957. A total of 12 WCM-2 locomotives were built in England between 1956 and 1957.
The WCM-2 served both passenger and freight trains for over 43 years. With the introduction of more modern types of locomotives and 25 KV AC electrification, all were withdrawn in the early 2000s after repeated failures. All locomotives of this class have since been scrapped.
The WCM-2 were designed in the mid 1950s with the intent for the Indian Railways (IR) to remove steam locomotives working on the Eastern Railway (ER) after recommendation of Karnail Singh Fuel Committee. [1] [2] In the late 1950s the Kolkata Suburban Railway was established and electrified with overhead 3000V DC supply. [3] So Indian Railways began to look at various designs.
Indian Railways initially invited tenders to build locomotives to the new specification, receiving the following responses:
Each company submitted their prototypes and Indian Railways designated these prototypes as the WCM-2 class and WCM-3 class respectively. [4]
Indian Railways decided to procure seven 3000 V DC electric locomotives from English Electric and Vulcan Foundry, the latter previously supplied steam locomotives to India. They were manufactured in England and shipped to India in 1956-1957. These locomotives were the second mixed class electric locomotive to roam India and also had the now common Co-Co wheel arrangement. [5] Initially the WCM-2 class were known as EM/2 class. They were easily recognizable with their huge size and round smooth noses. They had their cab doors placed near the cab unlike the WCM-1 class.
The WCM-2 were first used on trains in the Kolkata suburban section and a black livery with a red lining in the middle. [6] But by 1960 the Kolkata Suburban Railway was converted to 25,000 V AC, so the 5 and 4 year old WCM-2 units were rendered unusable. So Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) decided to converted the quite new locomotives to run on the 1500V DC power supply used in Central Railway (CR) without loss of power.
They began their CR zone service in 1961. The WCM-2 locomotives were used on many Express trains like the Deccan Queen, Indrayani Express etc, but rarely used on freight service. In the mid 1990s the ageing WCM-2s began to fail regularly causing disruption to train services. Central Railways decided to withdraw these locomotives from service and by 2000, all units were withdrawn.
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.
Sheoraphuli Junction is a Kolkata Suburban Railway station on the Howrah–Bardhaman main line and is located in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It serves Sheoraphuli area & northern part of the Serampore City. The Sheoraphuli–Tarakeswar branch line meets Howrah–Bardhaman main line at Sheoraphuli.
The Indian locomotive class WDM-4 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in 1962 by Electro-Motive Diesel for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 4th generation (4). They entered service in 1962. A total of 72 WDM-4 locomotives were built between 1961 and 1962.
The Indian locomotive class WCAM–3 is a class of dual-power AC/DC series electric locomotives That was developed in 1997 by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited used in the Indian Railways system. They are the third locomotives from the WCAM class. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), DC Current (C), AC Current (A), Mixed traffic (M) locomotive, 3rd generation (3). They entered service in 1997. A total of 53 WCAM-3 were built at BHEL between 1997 and 1998, which made them the most numerous class of mainline dual-power AC-DC electric locomotive. They were specifically designed for use by Central Railways in the Ghat section towards Nashik and Pune.
The Indian locomotive class WCG-2 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in the late 1960s by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), DC Current (C), Goods traffic (G) engine, 2nd generation (2). They entered service in February 1971. A total of 57 WCG-2 were built at CLW between 1978 and 1983, which made them the most numerous class of DC electric locomotive.
The Indian locomotive class WAM-1 was a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in the late 1950s by the Groupement 50Hz for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Mixed traffic (M) locomotive, 1st generation (1). They entered service in 1960 thus making them India's first AC electric locomotive. A total of 100 WAM-1 were built by the European consortium between 1959 and 1961, which made them the most numerous class of mainline electric locomotive until the WAG-1.
The Indian locomotive class WAM- 2/3 was a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was imported from Japan in the 1960s for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Mixed traffic (M) locomotive, 2nd generation (2). A total of 38 WAM-2/3 locomotives were built by The Japanese Group between 1960 and 1964. They entered service in 1960.
The Indian locomotive class YDM-5 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in 1964 by General Motors (GM-EMD) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for Metre gauge (Y), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 5th generation (5). They entered service in 1964. A total of 25 YDM-5 locomotives was built between 1963 and 1964.
The Indian locomotive class YDM-3 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in 1964 by GM-EMD for Indian Railways. The model name stands for Metre gauge (Y), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 3rd generation (3). They entered service in 1962. A total of 30 YDM-3 locomotives was built between 1961 and 1962.
The Indian locomotive class WCM-6 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in 1995 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 6th generation (6). They entered service in 1996. A total of 2 WCM-6 locomotives was built at CLW in 1995. Currently they haul only departmental trains and do shunting duties.
The Indian locomotive class WCM-5 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in 1956 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 5th generation (5). The trains were the first locomotive of any kind fully developed and built in India. They entered service in 1961. A total of 21 WCM-5 locomotives was built at CLW between 1961 and 1963.
The Indian locomotive class WCM-4 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in 1956 by Vulcan Foundry and English Electric for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 4th generation (4). They entered service in 1961. A total of 7 WCM-4 locomotives was built at England between 1956 and 1957.
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. The model name stands for broad gauge, Direct Current, Freight traffic engine, 1st generation. They entered service in 1930. A total of 41 WCG-1 was built at England between 1928 and 1929.
The Indian locomotive class WCM-1 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in 1954 by Vulcan Foundry and English Electric for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 1st generation (1). They entered service in 1955. A total of 7 WCM-1 locomotives were built in England between 1954 and 1955.
The Indian locomotive class WCM-3 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in 1958 by Hitachi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 3rd generation (3). They entered service in 1958. A total of 3 WCM-3 locomotives were built in Japan in 1958.
The Indian locomotive class WAG-2 was a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was imported from Japan in the 1960s for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Goods traffic (G) locomotive, 2nd generation (2). A total of 45 WAG-2 were built by The Japanese Group between 1964 and 1965. They entered service in 1964.
The Indian locomotive class WCP-1 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in late 1920s by Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Passenger traffic (P) engine, 1st generation (1). They entered service in 1930. A total of 22 WCP-1 was built at England between 1928 and 1929.
The Indian locomotive class WCP-4 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in late 1920s by Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Passenger traffic (P) engine, 1st generation (1). They entered service in 1930. A single WCP-4 was built at England between 1928 and 1929.
The Indian locomotive class WCP-3 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in late 1920s by Hawthorn Leslie for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Passenger traffic (P) engine, 3rd generation (3). They entered service in 1930. A single WCP-3 was built at England between 1928 and 1929.
The Indian locomotive class WCP-2 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in late 1920s by Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Passenger traffic (P) engine, 2nd generation (2). They entered service in 1938. A single WCP-1 was built at England in 1938.