Indian locomotive class WDG-3A

WDG-3A
File:KYN WDG3A.jpg KYN based WDG-3A (no. 13370) rests at Kurla outer
Type and origin Power type Diesel Builder BLW, Diesel Loco Modernisation Works Model ALCO DL560C variant Build date 1994-2015 Total produced WDG-3A: 1998 Rebuilder Diesel Loco Modernisation Works, Patiala
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Co-Co Gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Bogies High adhesion Fabricated bogies Wheel diameter 1,092 mm (3 ft 7 in) Wheelbase 12.834 m (42 ft 1+1⁄4 in) Length 17.85 m (58 ft 6+3⁄4 in) Width 3.016 m (9 ft 10+3⁄4 in) Height 4.162 m (13 ft 7+7⁄8 in) Axle load 20,500 kg (45,200 lb) Loco weight 123 t (121 long tons; 136 short tons) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 6,000 L (1,300 imp gal; 1,600 US gal) Prime mover ALCO 251-C RPM range 400 - 1050 rpm Engine type V16 Diesel engine Aspiration ABB VTC304-15 or Napier NA 295 IR turbocharger Traction motors BHEL TA 10102 CW (new), BHEL TG 10931 AZ(old) Cylinders 16 Cylinder size 228 mm × 266 mm (8.98 in × 10.47 in) bore x stroke Transmission Diesel electric MU working 2 Train brakes Air, Vacuum and Dual
Performance figures Maximum speed 105 km/h (65 mph) Power output WDG-3A: 3100 HP Tractive effort 37.90 t (37 long tons; 42 short tons) Factor of adh. 0.33
Career Operators Indian Railways Numbers 14501-14999, Newer 13000-13665 Nicknames Shakti, Prabal, Jai Jawan Locale throughout Indian Railways Disposition active

The Indian locomotive class WDG-3A is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in 1994 by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW),Varanasi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad-gauge (W), Diesel (D), Goods traffic (G) engine, 3100 Horsepower (3A) locomotive. They entered service on 18 July 1995. A total of 1164 WDG-3A units were built between 1994 and 2015 at BLW, Varanasi with a few units being produced by Diesel Loco Modernisation Works (DLMW) and Parel Workshop.

It is the dedicated freight version of the hugely successful WDM-2 and shares the same engine and horsepower rating with WDM-3A. It is considered to be a successful locomotive class with high reliability and few maintenance problems. Despite the introduction of more modern types of locomotives like WDG-4 and electrification, a significant number are still in use, both in mainline and departmental duties.

As of April 2022, 1047 locomotives still retain "operational status" on the mainline as WDG-3A, with a few examples having been converted to WAGC3 or WAG-10.

History

The first units of this class was delivered on July 18, 1995, under the name of WDG-2. The class was manufactured till end of 2015. All the older locomotives built by DLW had regular WDM-2 type square short hood profile and control stand position and the locomotives are rated at 3100 HP.

From 2009 onward they are equipped with Daulat Ram DBR, microprocessor control and an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) in the short hood thus they bear external resemblance to the WDM-3D class. The WDG3A has higher Tractive Effort (7.5 t more) and Axle Load (1.7 t) compared to the WDM3A despite having the same engine and horsepower rating. Many units of this class has been named "Shakti" and can easily be recognized by their orange livery with cream stripe & lightning bolts. Besides IR, WDG-3A are being use by private companies for industrial uses, thermal power plants, port trusts, etc.

Production was stopped in 2015 when Advanced locomotives like the WDG-4D were built, thus rendering the ALCO platform obsolete. Two WDG-4s can haul more goods than three WDG-3A combined. Meanwhile, Diesel Loco Works in Varanasi rebuilt few of the existing locomotives that had reached midlife into a purely electric twin section 10,000 HP (7,457 kW) locomotive, classifying them as the WAGC3.

Sub Classes

WDG-3B

They were an experimental technical variant of the WDG3A with an upgraded ALCO engine to output 3200 hp. But the experiment was unsuccessful and all units were reverted to normal WDG-3A. One of the locomotives of this class was numbered #14796.

WDG-3C

Another experimental class, but this time rated at 3300 hp. Only one unit (#14962) was produced and was painted in a unique "Dark Rose/Cheetah" livery. This loco was derated to 2600 hp but is still with the Katni diesel locomotive shed. This class was unsuccessful as well.

WDG-3D

Freight version of the WDM-3D. Only one (#13301) unit was marked with this marking. It may possibly be rated at 3400 hp. Now it has been derated to 2600 hp with WDG-3A class markings and homed at the Vatva Loco Shed.

Locomotive sheds

Zone	Name	Shed Code	Quantity
Central Railway	Pune	PA	20
	Kalyan	KYN	35
	Kurla	CLA	8
Eastern Railway	Andal	UDL	70
East Central Railway	Patratu	PTRU	2
	Mughalsarai	MGS	6
	Samastipur	SPJ	75
East Coast Railway	Visakhapatnam	VSKP	93
Northern Railway	Ludhiana	LDH	39
	Lucknow	LKO	23
	Tughlakabad railway station	TKD	10
North Central Railway	Jhansi	JHS	35
North Eastern Railway	Izzatnagar railway station	IZN	10
Northeast Frontier Railway	Malda Town	MLDT	4
	Guwahati	NGC	51
North Western Railway	Abu Road	ABR	10
Southern Railway	Erode	ED	1
	Ernakulam	ERS	23
	Golden Rock	GOC	42
	Tondiarpet	TNP	4
South Central Railway	Gooty	GY	5
	Guntakal	GTL	60
	Vijayawada Junction railway station	BZA	13
	Moula Ali	MLY	51
South Eastern Railway	Bondamunda	BNDM	94
South East Central Railway	Raipur	R	34
South Western Railway	Krishnarajapuram	KJM	21
Western Railway	Ratlam	RTM	40
	Gandhidham Junction railway station	GIMB	14
	Vatva	VTA	14
West Central Railway	New Katni Junction	NKJ	118
Total Locomotives Active as of 01-05-2022			1027

WDG-3A Converted into Electric Locomotive WAGC-3

In 2018, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Banaras Locomotive Works and Research Design and Standards Organisation converted a WDG-3A into a purely electric, twin-section 10,000 HP (7,457 kW) locomotive, classified as the WAGC3. This locomotive was the result of the initiative taken up by the Railway Board in November 2017, asking RDSO to work out details of conversion of diesel locos to electric locos. RDSO had suggested that such conversion would be possible with retaining the Motorized Truck assembly (which includes traction motors and drive side traction converters), computer controlled brakes (CCBs) and other relevant parts, suitably redesigning the under-frame and superstructure and adding the conversion kit. It was done in a record time of 69 days. Both units will together be considered as one asset and one locomotive by Indian Railways. Only a single unit has been produced so far and it is in service. It has been given to Bondamumda Shed of SER.

Technical specifications

Technical details are as follows:

Manufacturers	DLW
Engine	Alco 251-C, 16 cylinder, 3,100 hp (2,300 kW), (3,007 hp or 2,242 kW site rating, earlier 2,900 hp (2,200 kW)) with Napier NA2951R/ ABB VTC-304-VG15/ GE 7s 1716 turbo supercharged engine. 1,050 rpm max, 400 rpm idle; 228.6 mm × 266.7 mm (9.00 in × 10.50 in) bore x stroke; compression ratio 12.5:1. Direct fuel injection, centrifugal pump cooling system (2,457 L/min (540 imp gal/min; 649 US gal/min) at 1,050 rpm), fan driven by eddy current clutch (90 hp or 67 kW at 1,050 rpm)
Governor	EDC / Woodward 8574-650
Transmission	Electric, with BHEL TA 10102 CW alternator (1,050 rpm, 1100 V, 4,400 amperes) (Earlier used BHEL TG 10931 AZ alternator)
Traction motors	BHEL TM 4906 AZ/ 4907 BZ (435 hp or 324 kW) (with roller bearings)
Axle load	18.8 tonnes (18.5 long tons; 20.7 short tons), total weight 112.8 t (111.0 long tons; 124.3 short tons)
Bogies	Alco High Adhesion Fabricated Bogies
Starting TE	40 t (39 long tons; 44 short tons) at adhesion 30.8%, continuous 37.05 t (36.46 long tons; 40.84 short tons)
Length over buffer beams	17,850 mm (58 ft 6+3⁄4 in)
Distance between bogies	11,500 mm (37 ft 8+3⁄4 in)

See also

• Indian locomotive class WDM-3A
• Indian locomotive class WDM-2
• List of diesel locomotives of India
• Indian Railways
• Rail transport in India