Indian locomotive class WDM-7

2023-06-07T14:27:42Z

45.250.247.101:

{{Infobox locomotive
|name=Indian locomotive class WDM-7
|image=WDM7 BioDiesel.JPG
|alt=
|caption=WDM-7 #11008 hauling a freight train; this loco is fuelled by [[bio-diesel]]
|powertype=diesel
|builder=[[Banaras Locomotive Works|BLW]]
|ordernumber=
|serialnumber=
|buildmodel=[[ALCO DL560C|DL560C]]
|builddate=1987-1989
|totalproduction=15
|Britishclass =[[Co-Co locomotives|Co-Co]]
|uicclass= [[Co′Co′]]
|gauge={{RailGauge|1676mm|lk=on}}
|bogies=ALCO Asymmetric cast frame trimount
|wheeldiameter={{convert|1092|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
|minimumcurve=
|wheelbase={{convert|12.834|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|length={{convert|17.12|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|width={{convert|2.864|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|height={{convert|4.185|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|axleload={{convert|17800|kg|abbr=on}}
|weightondrivers=|locoweight={{convert|96000|kg|abbr=on}}
|fueltype=[[diesel fuel|diesel]]
|fuelcap={{convert|5000|L|abbr=on}}
|primemover=[[ALCO 251|ALCO 251-B]]
|rpmrange=400–1000 rpm
|enginetype=[[V12 engine|V12]] [[diesel engine|diesel]]
|displacement=
|alternator=
|generator=
|tractionmotors=[[Bharat Heavy Electricals|BHEL]] 4906 BZ and 4907 AZ
|cylindercount=12
|cylindersize={{convert|228|x|266|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}<br> [[Bore (engine)|bore]]×[[Stroke (engine)|stroke]]
|transmission=[[Diesel-electric transmission]]
|multipleworking=2 units<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.irfca.org/gallery/Locos/Diesel/wdm1_4_5_6_7/WDM7_twins.jpg.html? | title=WDM7_twins }}</ref>
|trainheating=
|locobrakes=
|trainbrakes=[[Railway air brake|Air]], [[Vacuum brake|Vacuum]] and [[Vacuum brake#Dual brakes|Dual]]
|maxspeed={{convert|105|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
|poweroutput=Max:{{convert|2000|HP|abbr=on}}<br>Site rated:{{convert|1800|HP|abbr=on}}
|tractiveeffort={{convert|25.3|t|0|abbr=on}}
|locobrakeforce=
|operator=[[Indian Railways]]
|operatorclass=|powerclass=|numinclass=
|fleetnumbers=11001-11015
|locale=[[Southern Railway zone|SR]]
|disposition=active
}}
The '''WDM-7''' is a [[diesel-electric locomotive]] of [[Indian Railways]]. It has been manufactured by [[Banaras Locomotive Works]] (BLW), Varanasi. The model name stands for [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|broad gauge (W)]], diesel (D), mixed traffic (M) engine. Today, these are found exclusively at [[Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station|Chennai Central]] and nearby area.

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These units have been retro-fitted with [[Air brake (rail)|air brakes]], in addition to the original [[vacuum brake]]s. The WDM-7 locos have a maximum speed of {{convert|105|km/h||abbr=on}},<ref name="interactive" >{{cite web
|url=http://www.irfca.org/docs/wdm2-interactive.html
|title=Interactive Diagram of the WDM-2 Locomotive
|author=Sheeju Chandran
|publisher=Indian Railways Fan Club
}}</ref> restricted to {{convert|100|km/h|abbr=on}} when run long hood forward - the gear ratio is 94:17.

[[File:ഡീസൽ എഞ്ചിൻ, ബ്രോഡ് ഗേജ്.jpg|thumb|left|TNP WDM-7 resting in siding]]

== History ==
Fifteen of these locomotives (road numbers #11001 to #11015) were built from 1987 to 1989 as a low-powered, “lightweight” version of the original ALCO. Like the [[Indian locomotive class WDM-6|WDM-6]], maybe IR wanted a lower powered locomotive to handle small rake local and passenger services. However, all sheds declined them and they ended up at [[Diesel Loco Shed, Ernakulam|Ernakulam]] where they were used to handle local and shuttle services with good degrees of efficiency. Becoming aware of their abilities, SR moved all the WDM-7s out of Ernakulam to [[Tondiarpet railway station|Tondiarpet]], where they are housed today. These days, they are seen being used as shunters at Chennai Central or for light passenger haulage. One (#11008) has been modified to run on bio-diesel.

These Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives were designed primarily for branch-line duties (top speed 105 km/h). They have two 3-axle bogies. The power-pack is a 12-cylinder Alco 251B unit. They are a lower-powered variant of the [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM-2]] (the latter produces 2600 hp of usable power, as opposed to the WDM-7 which produces 2000 hp). They were formerly housed at [[Diesel Loco Shed, Erode|Erode]] and [[Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock|Golden Rock]] as well. They are reliable and rugged locomotives even though low-powered. They can be easily recognised by the lack of grilles on the short hood; in fact, they look exactly the same as the [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM-2]] except for the “clean” short-hood-forward nose without grilles. Two locos currently operate on a mixture of bio-diesel and diesel. As of today, all 15 built are still in service.

{{clear left}}

== Locomotive shed ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Zone !! Name !! Shed Code !! Quantity
|-
| [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]] || [[Tondiarpet railway station|Tondiarpet]] || TNP || 14
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Total Locomotives Active as of June 2023'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irfca.org/apps/locos/list?list_type=named|title = IRFCA}}</ref> || 14
|}

=== Former ===
* [[Diesel Loco Shed, Ernakulam|Ernakulam]]
* [[Diesel Loco Shed, Erode|Erode]]
* [[Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock|Golden Rock]]

== See also ==
* [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2]]
* [[List of diesel locomotives of India]]
* [[Rail transport in India]]
* [[Rail transport in India#History]]

== References ==
=== Notes ===
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
*{{Hughes-IndianLocos4}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,541,710,717 Ministry of Railways (Railway Board)]
* [https://www.irfca.org/apps/locos/changes [IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Changes]

{{Broad gauge locomotives of India|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:WDM-7}}
[[Category:Diesel-electric locomotives of India|M-7]]
[[Category:Banaras Locomotive Works locomotives]]
[[Category:Co-Co locomotives]]
[[Category:ALCO locomotives]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives]]

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Indian locomotive class WDM-7