The Most powerful locomotive of India

- Arkaprovo Acharya

UG1

The Indian Railways began its journey in 1853 with steam locomotives. But with continuous development, India has now reached a stage when leaving behind steam and diesel locomotives, electric locomotives are gaining the upper hand.

In a major boost to the “Make in India” scheme, French multinational company Alstom manufactured and assembled the WAG 12 (W: broad gauge, A: Alternating Current, G: Goods) Locomotive in its factory in Madhepura in Bihar. Designed at the Alstom Engineering Centre in Bengaluru, the WAG 12 locomotive will be the most powerful locomotive to run on Indian tracks. It is expected that the average speeds of freight trains will be elevated by 25 km/h when the WAG 12B locomotive is pressed into full-time service. These double segment locomotives shall be housed and maintained at the ultra-modern loco sheds in Saharanpur and Nagpur.

Initially, the locomotive was operating under the name WAG 12A. However, the model suffered some serious issues in ride quality which resulted in major modifications to the suspensions and bogies. Currently, the newest and the most powerful locomotive operates as WAG 12B.

The locomotive comprises two engine units permanently coupled to each other. Both units have been provided with a pantograph each but only one pantograph will be raised at a time to power both cabs from the overhead high-tension cables. It has 8 axles and Bo-Bo axial arrangement. The stopping distance is 900m (from 100 km/h to 0). The mass of the locomotive is 180 tons upgradable to 200. The locomotive is rated at an output power of 12069 HP. The locomotive can clock maximum speeds of 100km/h upgradable to 120km/h and a continuous speed of 60 km/h. The maximum load haulage has been rated at 6300 tons. The locomotive also features a higher wheel diameter than the existing freight locomotives on Indian tracks. Unlike the present locomotives, the high voltage apparatus like a vacuum circuit breaker is inside the locomotive body and not on the roof of the locomotive.

The WAG 12 design brings into effect a new trend. Instead of putting into action multiple locomotives for hauling the load, the WAG 12 brings 2 engines permanently attached. Second to the WAG 12, stands the WAG 9HH, rated at 9000 HP capable of clocking 100 km/h speeds.

With the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) set to become a reality by 2030, the WAG 12 locomotive might be a game-changer for the Indian Railways.

REFERENCE:

https://www.railpost.in/wag-12-alstoms-new-12000-hp-locomotive-enters-service-on-indian-railways-see-specifications-features-and-more-inside/