Indian locomotive class WDG-4G

The WDG-4G (Wide/broad Gauge Diesel Goods/freight, Class 4G) is a class of 4,500 HP Diesel-electric freight locomotive developed by GE Transportation based on its existing Evolution Series of locomotives for Indian Railways. The locomotives will be manufactured in a newly constructed factory (Diesel Locomotive Factory, Marhowra) in Bihar. They will be used exclusively for freight hauling and will replace the existing fleet of old Alco locomotives. They will also feature the most fuel efficient diesel engine (GEVO) used till now by Indian Railways. For driver's comfort, cabs will have air conditioning and toilets.[3]

WDG-4G
WDG-4G at Katihar Junction
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel
BuilderDiesel Locomotive Factory, Marhowra
ModelGE ES43ACmi
Build dateAugust 2017
Total produced202 as of June 2020
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo-Co
Gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)Broad Gauge
Wheel diameter43" (1092 mm)
Axle load22,000 kg (49,000 lb)
Loco weight132,000 kg (291,000 lb)
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel capacity6,300 L (1,400 imp gal; 1,700 US gal)
Prime moverGE GEVO-12 Tier 1[1]
Engine typeV12 Diesel engine, 4-stroke engine[2]
Aspirationturbocharged
Traction motors6
Cylinders12
TransmissionDiesel electric
MU workingYes
Train brakesAir, Dynamic Brake
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power output4,500 hp (3,400 kW)
Tractive effortStarting: 544 kN (122,296 lbf) Continuous: 405 kN
Career
OperatorsIndian Railways
Numbers49001+
LocaleRoza (Uttar Pradesh), Gandhidham (Gujarat)
Delivered12 October 2017

Development

The development of WDG-4G loco can be traced back to September 2013, when the Ministry of Railways had received bids from six global firms: Siemens, Alstom, Bombardier, General Electric, CSR Corp and CNR Corp.[4] However, Indian Railways rejected the bid of both Chinese firms (CSR and CNR) for the two giant manufacturing projects in Bihar.[5]

In January 2014, the Union Cabinet gave its approval for setting up Electric Locomotive Factory in Madhepura and Diesel Locomotive Factory (DLF) in Marhowra at an approximate cost of ₹1,293.57 crore (US$180 million) and ₹2,052.58 crore (US$290 million) respectively.[6]

On 9 November 2015, the Ministry of Railways awarded the contracts for Madhepura project and Marhowra project to Alstom and General Electric respectively in a collective amount of US$6 billion. This multi crore rupees deal was seen as the country's first FDI in the railway sector.[7] After winning the contract, General Electric started the designing of locomotives.They were designed by the Indian branch of GE Global Research in Bangalore.Both the locomotives are based on GE's Evolution-series locomotives, which are one of the most fuel efficient and least emissions making locomotives in the world.To meet specific local requirements, the locomotive had to weigh only 22 tons per axle, while its American counterparts typically weigh 25 to 30 tons.GE faced a challenge to take out as much as 48 tons from the whole locomotive.[8]

The first locomotive rolled out GE's Erie plant on 3 August 2017 with the orange and yellow paint livery.[9]

General Electric's first diesel locomotive arrived in India on October 11, 2017 from the US.[10][11]

Production

According to the contract, first 100 locomotives to be imported or assembled using imported kits and the rest 900 be built in India with 70% Indian content. The locomotives will be built at Diesel Locomotive Factory, Marhowra in Bihar which is a joint venture between Indian Railways and General Electric with the former owning 26% stake and later owning rest 74%. The plant is expected to be operational from the first quarter of 2018.[12]

The plant will produce 100 locomotives per year for 10 years from 2019. The railways will be paying a cost of Rs146·6bn for 1,000 locomotives. GE would maintain the locomotives until the 13th year of the contract, at which point Indian Railways would take over responsibility for maintenance.[13]

Locomotive shed
ZoneNameShed CodeQuantity
Northern RailwayROZAROZA202
Total Locomotives Active as of 01-06-2020[14]202
ROZA WDG4G 49100 standing at Katihar

See also

References
  1. "GE Transportation unveils Indian Railways Evolution locomotive". Railway Gazette.
  2. page 16-17. "GE product catalogue".
  3. "GE report on Indian deal".
  4. Das, Mamuni (6 October 2013). "Chinese firms join race to supply locos to Railways".
  5. "Railways denies Chinese firms' locomotive manufacturing projects for non-compliance". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  6. "Setting up of electric locomotive factory at Madhepura and Diesel locomotive factory at Marhowra, Bihar". pib.nic.in. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  7. "Setting up of electric locomotive factory at Madhepura and Diesel locomotive factory at Marhowra, Bihar". Indian Railways.
  8. "The heaviest haul:GE".
  9. "GE reveals Indian Railways Evolution locomotive livery". Railway Gazette.
  10. "Marhowra deal: General Electric's first diesel loco arrives in India". 12 October 2017.
  11. "vote.us.org".
  12. "India receives first GE locomotive". Economic Times.
  13. "GE wins 1000 locomotive contract".
  14. "Railway Website Mechanical Department". Retrieved 16 May 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.