Indian Railway Fans

[Bachchu Yadav]

I was thinking from long time to start a thread exclusive railway enthusiastics ! This thread is about to see positive side of Indian railway.This is not about bullet trains or technology or performance but for those who feel nostalgic with whistling of steam Engine and to characteristic Chhuk-chhuk-chhuk of train.
I hope you like my effort and help this thread to build up if you share similar thought.

Let us start with how classification works in Indian Locomotives.
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The first letter (gauge)

W-Indian broad gauge (The "W" Stands for Wide Gauge - 5 Feet 6 inches)
Y-metre gauge (The "Y" stands for Yard Gauge - 3 Feet or 1000mm)
Z-narrow gauge(2 ft 6 in)
N-narrow gauge (2 ft)

The second letter (motive power)

D-Diesel
C-DC electric (can run under DC traction only)
A-AC electric (can run under AC traction only)
CA-Both DC and AC (can run under both AC and DC tractions), 'CA' is considered a single letter
B-Battery electric locomotive (rare)

The third letter (job type)

G-goods
P-passenger
M-mixed; both goods and passenger
S-Used for shunting (Also known as switching engines or switchers in United states and some other countries)
U-Electric multiple units (used as commuters in city suburbs)
R-Railcars

For example, in "WDM 3A":

"W" means broad gauge
"D" means diesel motive power
"M" means suitable for mixed(for both goods and passenger)service
"3A" means the locomotive's power is 3,100 hp ('3' stands for 3000 hp, 'A' denotes 100 hp more)

Or, in "WAP 5":

"W" means broad gauge
"A" mean AC electric traction motive power
"P" means suitable for Passenger service
"5" denotes that this locomotive is chronologically the fifth electric locomotive model used by the railways for passenger service.

 

[Bachchu Yadav]

Let us start with WAP 5 (King of locomotives in India) which was imported from Switzerland later manufactured in Chitranjan locomotive factory.

Bellow one is picture of Bhopal Shatabdi being pulled by WAP 5. Bhopal Shatabdi is the fastest train of India. It runs with 160km/hr between Delhi-Agra line.

Top speed Service: 162 km/h (101 mph)
Test Runs: 184 km/h (114 mph)
Potential: 225 km/h (140 mph)

Power output 5,450 hp (4,064 kW)

 

[Bachchu Yadav]

WAP 4 is called as work horse of Indian railway , It pulls major trains however currently replaced by more modern WAP 7.

WAP 4:

WAP 7:

WAP 4:

Top speed Service: 130 km/h (81 mph)
Test Runs: 169.5 km/h (105 mph)

Power output 5,350 hp (3,989 kW)

WAP 7:

Top speed Test Run:177 km/h , Operational: 130 km/h
Power output 6,350 hp

WAP 7 is a indian design to become work horse of Indian Railway.WAP 7 is the most powerful passenger locomotive of India. Though WAP 5 have lesser power than WAP 7 but WAP 5 is lighter and faster so WAP 5 pulls trains for shorter and faster routes like shatabdi expresses.

 

[Bachchu Yadav]

There are two of bogey currently in use- Integrated coach factory design and Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) design.

ICF coach:

LHB coach:

 

[Bachchu Yadav]

Comparison of LHB and ICF coaches:

Speed potential LHB ICF
Test speed 180 kmph 160 kmph
Service speed 160 kmph 140 kmph
Oil leakage problem No Very high


Limitations of ICF bogie Design

-Required longitudinal and transverse flexibilities at frame-axle joint cannot be obtained.

-Vertical space constraints to accommodate longer secondary suspension springs.

-Non-availability of friction damping in the transverse suspension.

-Large wheelbase affects curvability