Indian locomotive class WCP-1: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Class of 22 Indian electric locomotives}}
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| image            = Electric loco 4006.jpg
| image            = Electric loco 4006.jpg
| alt              =  
| alt              =  
| caption          = GIPR 4006 im [[National Rail Museum, New Delhi]]
| caption          = GIPR 4006 at the [[National Rail Museum, New Delhi]]
| powertype        = Electric
| powertype        = Electric
| designer        =  
| designer        =  
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|  t/m amps cont  = <!-- Power output rating per motor -->
|  t/m amps cont  = <!-- Power output rating per motor -->
| headendpower    =  
| headendpower    =  
| transmission    = [[SLM Universal Drive]]
| transmission    = [[SLM universal drive]]
| gear ratio      =  
| gear ratio      =  
| multipleworking  =  
| multipleworking  =  
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| scrapdate        =  
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| currentowner    =  
| currentowner    = [[National Rail Museum, New Delhi]]
| disposition      =  
| disposition      = One preserved, remainder scrapped
| notes            =  
| notes            =  
}}
}}


The Indian locomotive class '''WCP-1''' is a class of 1.5 [[Volt|kV]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[electric locomotive]]s that was developed in late 1920s by [[Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works]] (SLM) for [[Indian Railways]]. The model name stands for [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|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-1''' (originally classified as '''EA/1''') is a class of 1.5 [[Volt|kV]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[electric locomotive]]s that were developed in late 1920s by [[Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works]] (SLM) for the [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway]] to handle passenger trains. A total of 22 WCP-1s were built in England between 1928 and 1929, and entered service in 1930.


The WCP-1 served passenger trains for over 50 years. With the introduction of more modern types of locomotives and 25 KV [[Alternating current|AC]] electrification, all were withdrawn by early 1980s. Today one locomotive is preserved with the remainder of the units scrapped.
The WCP-1 served passenger trains for nearly 50 years until its withdrawal in the early 1980s. Only one locomotive, GIPR 4006, is preserved at the [[National Rail Museum, New Delhi|National Rail Museum]], with the remainder of the units being scrapped.


== History ==
== History ==
The electrification of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway began in 1922. Powerful locomotives were required to transport the express trains on the mountain railway to overcome the Western Ghats. They also had to be able to reach speeds of 85 miles an hour (137 km / h)<ref>{{citation|surname1=Jakob Buchli|periodical=[[Schweizerische Bauzeitung]]|title=Universal-Antrieb "Winterthur" für elektrische Lokomotiven|volume=Band 90|issue=23|year=1927|at=pp.&nbsp;294–296|language=de|doi=10.5169/seals-41817}}</ref> - a very high speed at that time, which was not even the case with the E 501 and 502 of the Paris-Orleans Railway had been requested.<ref name=":0">{{citation|surname1=Mitteilung der SLM|periodical=[[Schweizerische Bauzeitung]]|title=Neuerungen im mechanischen Aufbau elektrischer Schnellzuglokomotiven|volume=Band 89|issue=13|year=1927|at=pp.&nbsp;174–175|language=de|doi=10.5169/seals-41673}}</ref> Three test locomotives were therefore ordered from different manufacturers in order to be able to select a suitable design for the series. The tender and evaluation was monitored by the UK electrical engineering firm Merz & McLellan in London.
The electrification of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway began in 1922, and powerful locomotives were required to haul express trains on over the [[Western Ghats]].{{sfn|Haut|2000|page=48}} They also had to be able to reach speeds of 85 miles an hour (137 km/h)<ref name=Buchli>{{citation|surname1=Jakob Buchli|periodical=[[Schweizerische Bauzeitung]]|title=Universal-Antrieb "Winterthur" für elektrische Lokomotiven |trans-title=Universal drive "Winterthur" for electric locomotives |volume=Band 90|issue=23|year=1927|at=pp.&nbsp;294–296|language=de|doi=10.5169/seals-41817|doi-access=free}}</ref> - a very high speed at that time, which was not even the case with the E 501 and 502 of the [[Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans]] had been requested.<ref name=":0">{{citation|surname1=Mitteilung der SLM|periodical=[[Schweizerische Bauzeitung]]|title=Neuerungen im mechanischen Aufbau elektrischer Schnellzuglokomotiven |trans-title=Innovations in the mechanical design of electric express train locomotives |volume=Band 89|issue=13|year=1927|at=pp.&nbsp;174–175|language=de|doi=10.5169/seals-41673|doi-access=free}}</ref> Three test locomotives were therefore ordered from different manufacturers in order to be able to select a suitable design for the series. The tender and evaluation was monitored by the UK electrical engineering firm [[Merz & McLellan]] in London.{{sfn|Haut|2000|page=48}}


The Great Indian Peninsula Railway ordered the following test locomotives in 1923:
The Great Indian Peninsula Railway ordered the test locomotives in 1923:{{sfn|Haut|2000|pages=48-49}}
{{India-rail-transport-stub}}
* Number 4000, a 2'Bo(A1) locomotive with the [[Winterthur universal drive]], built by SLM and Metropolitan Vickers and designated as EA/1.
* Number 4001, a 2'Co2' [[Quill drive]] locomotive, built by [[Hawthorn Leslie and Company]] and [[General Electric Company]] and designated as EB/1, later known as the [[Indian locomotive class WCP-3|WCP-3]].
* Number 4002, another Hawthorn Leslie 2'Co2', with the difference being that it had [[Buchli drive]], and was jointly built by [[Brown Boveri]]. It was designated EC/1, later [[Indian locomotive class WCP-4|WCP-4]].


== Books ==
The EA/1 was ultimately selected for serial production, with 21 more locomotives of this design being ordered.<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |date=18 October 2014 |title=The Electric Locomotive Roster: DC & AC/DC Electrics |url=https://24coaches.com/the-electric-locomotive-roster-dc-acdc-electrics/ |website=24coaches.com |location= |publisher= |access-date=17 January 2025}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2025}} On June 1, 1930, number 4006 hauled a seven-coach [[Deccan Queen]] over the newly electrified line to [[Pune]], then known as Poona.{{sfn|De Cet|Kent|2006|page=264}}
<ref>{{Cite book|title=2,600 H.P. 0-6-6-0 Electric Freight Locomotive, Great Indian Peninsula Railway|publisher=Vulcan Foundry|pages=[http://enuii.com/vulcan_foundry/photographs/Pre%20EE%20Diesel/vulcan%20gipr%20electric.pdf pdf]}}</ref>
 
== Design ==
[[File:Typenskizze GIPR EA1.jpg|thumb|250px|Drawing diagram for the EA/1 (WCP-1)]]
[[File:Side View of WCP-1 20005.jpg|thumb|250px|Side view of no.20005]]
The EA/1 had three driving axles in the middle, a two-axle pilot bogie on one end, and a single trailing axle on the other end, which was joined in a [[Zara bogie]] with the nearest pair of driving wheels.{{sfn|Haut|2000|page=49}}
 
Two traction motors each drove a driving axle via a [[Winterthur universal drive|universal drive]] The motors were mounted high in the engine room, which
gave the locomotive a high center of gravity and protect it from water damage during the frequent floods in Bombay. The motors could be removed from the side through maintenance openings in the lower part of the engine room side wall.<ref name=Buchli/>
 
The locomotive's body spanned the entire length of the frame. The middle section between the two cabs was divided into three rooms. The first room housed the braking equipment with vacuum pump and air reservoir, the second room contained a cam-operated switch and other equipment for the control gear, and the third room contained the starting resistors. Control scheme was achieved with all six serially connected traction motors, two parallel groups of three motors each in series, or three groups of two motors each in series. In each grouping two field weakening stages were available, so that the locomotive had a total of nine continuous driving stages.{{sfn|Haut|2000|page=48}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[History of rail transport in India]]
* {{section link|Rail transport in India|History}}
* [[Indian Railways]]
* [[Indian locomotive class WCG-1]]
* [[Locomotives of India]]
* [[Indian locomotive class YCG-1]]
* [[Rail transport in India]]
* [[Mumbai Suburban Railway]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book |last=Haut |first=F.J.G |date=January 2000 |title=The Pictorial History of Electric Locomotives |url=https://archive.org/details/pictorialhistory0000fjgh/mode/2up |url-access=registration |location= |publisher=Oak Tree Publications |page= |isbn=9780498076442 |access-date= |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}
* {{cite book |last1=De Cet |first1=Mirco |last2=Kent |first2=Alan |date=2006 |title=The Complete Encyclopedia of Locomotives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PxpFSP62SBIC&dq=indian+electric+locomotive&pg=PA264 |location= |publisher=Rebo International B.V. |page= |isbn=9789036615051 |access-date= |via=[[Google Books]]}}
== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last=Alam |first=Er Twahir |date=21 December 2019 |title=Electric Locomotives of Indian Railways |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vMylzAEACAAJ&q=indian+electric+locomotive |location= |publisher=Independently Published |page= |isbn=9781678856564 |access-date= |via=[[Google Books]]}}


==External links==
==External links==
*http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-specs.html#WCP-1
{{Commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171617/http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-specs.html#WCP-1 IRFCA FAQ]
*[http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2e.html Electric Locomotive Classes – AC], India railway fan club
*[http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2e.html Electric Locomotive Classes – AC], India railway fan club
*[http://www.irfca.org India railway fan club]
*[http://www.irfca.org India railway fan club]
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{{Broad gauge locomotives of India |state=collapsed}}
{{Broad gauge locomotives of India |state=collapsed}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:WCP-1}}
[[Category:Electric locomotives of India]]
[[Category:Electric locomotives of India]]
[[Category:1500 V DC locomotives]]
[[Category:1500 V DC locomotives]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1928]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1928]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:Metropolitan-Vickers locomotives]]
[[Category:SLM locomotives]]
[[Category:SLM locomotives]]
[[Category:Passenger locomotives]]
[[Category:Boxcab locomotives]]

Latest revision as of 02:15, 28 March 2026


GIPR EA/1
IR WCP-1
GIPR 4006 at the National Rail Museum, New Delhi
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderSLM, Metrovick
Build date1928–1930
Total produced22
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UIC2′Bo(A1)
Gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Wheel diameter1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Wheelbase11.883 m (38 ft 11+3⁄4 in)
Length16.300 m (53 ft 5+3⁄4 in)
Adhesive weight60 t (59 long tons; 66 short tons)
Loco weight100 t (98 long tons; 110 short tons)
Electric system/s1500 V DC
Current pickup(s)Overhead lines
Traction motorsSix
TransmissionSLM universal drive
Performance figures
Maximum speed137 km/h (85 mph)
Power output:
​
 • 1 hour2,095 hp (1,562 kW; 2,124 PS)
 • Continuous1,830 hp (1,360 kW; 1,860 PS)
Tractive effort:
​
 • Starting150 kN (34,000 lbf)
Career
Operators
Numbers
  • GIPR 4000, 4003–4024
  • IR 20002–20023
Withdrawn1980s
Current ownerNational Rail Museum, New Delhi
DispositionOne preserved, remainder scrapped

The Indian locomotive class WCP-1 (originally classified as EA/1) is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that were developed in late 1920s by Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) for the Great Indian Peninsula Railway to handle passenger trains. A total of 22 WCP-1s were built in England between 1928 and 1929, and entered service in 1930.

The WCP-1 served passenger trains for nearly 50 years until its withdrawal in the early 1980s. Only one locomotive, GIPR 4006, is preserved at the National Rail Museum, with the remainder of the units being scrapped.

History[edit | edit source]

The electrification of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway began in 1922, and powerful locomotives were required to haul express trains on over the Western Ghats.[1] They also had to be able to reach speeds of 85 miles an hour (137 km/h)[2] - a very high speed at that time, which was not even the case with the E 501 and 502 of the Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans had been requested.[3] Three test locomotives were therefore ordered from different manufacturers in order to be able to select a suitable design for the series. The tender and evaluation was monitored by the UK electrical engineering firm Merz & McLellan in London.[1]

The Great Indian Peninsula Railway ordered the test locomotives in 1923:[4]

The EA/1 was ultimately selected for serial production, with 21 more locomotives of this design being ordered.[5][better source needed] On June 1, 1930, number 4006 hauled a seven-coach Deccan Queen over the newly electrified line to Pune, then known as Poona.[6]

Design[edit | edit source]

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Drawing diagram for the EA/1 (WCP-1)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Side view of no.20005

The EA/1 had three driving axles in the middle, a two-axle pilot bogie on one end, and a single trailing axle on the other end, which was joined in a Zara bogie with the nearest pair of driving wheels.[7]

Two traction motors each drove a driving axle via a universal drive The motors were mounted high in the engine room, which gave the locomotive a high center of gravity and protect it from water damage during the frequent floods in Bombay. The motors could be removed from the side through maintenance openings in the lower part of the engine room side wall.[2]

The locomotive's body spanned the entire length of the frame. The middle section between the two cabs was divided into three rooms. The first room housed the braking equipment with vacuum pump and air reservoir, the second room contained a cam-operated switch and other equipment for the control gear, and the third room contained the starting resistors. Control scheme was achieved with all six serially connected traction motors, two parallel groups of three motors each in series, or three groups of two motors each in series. In each grouping two field weakening stages were available, so that the locomotive had a total of nine continuous driving stages.[1]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Haut 2000, p. 48.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jakob Buchli (1927), "Universal-Antrieb "Winterthur" für elektrische Lokomotiven" [Universal drive "Winterthur" for electric locomotives], Schweizerische Bauzeitung (in Deutsch), vol. Band 90, no. 23, pp. 294–296, doi:10.5169/seals-41817
  3. ↑ Mitteilung der SLM (1927), "Neuerungen im mechanischen Aufbau elektrischer Schnellzuglokomotiven" [Innovations in the mechanical design of electric express train locomotives], Schweizerische Bauzeitung (in Deutsch), vol. Band 89, no. 13, pp. 174–175, doi:10.5169/seals-41673
  4. ↑ Haut 2000, pp. 48-49.
  5. ↑ "The Electric Locomotive Roster: DC & AC/DC Electrics". 24coaches.com. October 18, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  6. ↑ De Cet & Kent 2006, p. 264.
  7. ↑ Haut 2000, p. 49.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Further reading[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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