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{{short description|Class of Indian locomotives}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Original research|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = WAG-8
| image =
| caption = BHEL made WAG-8 (unsuccessful during trial run) resting inside BHEL yard, Jhansi
| alt = Indian locomotive class WAG-8 inside Bhel, Jhansi
| builder = [[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited]]
| serialnumber =
| builddate = 1990
| uicclass = Co'-Co'
| gauge = {{RailGauge|5ft6in|lk=on}}
| bogies = Alco High-Adhesion bogies
| wheeldiameter = New: {{convert|1029|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}<br />Half-worn: {{convert|1055|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=2}}<br />Full-worn: {{convert|1016|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| wheelbase = {{convert|13380|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|19880|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|3000|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=4}}
| height = {{convert|4100|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| axleload = {{convert|21.33|t}}
| locoweight = {{convert|128|t}}
| gear ratio = 16:65
| tractionmotors = 6 Hitachi HS15250A
| multipleworking = 3

| tractiveeffort = Starting: {{convert|300|kN|abbr=on}}
| locobrakes = [[Railway air brake|Air]] and [[Regenerative brake|Regenerative]]
| trainbrakes = Air
| safety = TPWS (Train Protection and Warning System), Vacuum Control, Slip/Slide Control, Main Overload Relay, Motor Over Load Relay, No Volt Relay, Over Voltage Protection and Earth Fault Relay, Oil Pressure Governor
| deliverydate =
| firstrundate =
| disposition = Stored
| powertype = Electric
| poweroutput = {{convert|5000|hp|abbr=on}}
| operator =
| fleetnumbers = No IR numbers
| totalproduction = 1 (possibly 2)
| electricsystem = {{25 kV 50 Hz}}
| maxspeed = {{convert|100|km/h|abbr=on}}
| collectionmethod = [[Pantograph (rail)|Pantographs]]
| locale = Inside BHEL yard, Jhansi
}}

The Indian locomotive class '''WAG-8''' was a class of 25 [[Volt|kV]] [[Alternating current|AC]] [[electric locomotive]]s that was developed in the early 1990s by [[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited]] (BHEL) for [[Indian Railways]]. The model name stands for [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|broad gauge (W)]], AC current (A), freight/goods traffic (G), eighth-generation (8). Only two units of this class were built, both prototypes.

This class provided the basic design for a number of other locomotives like the [[Indian locomotive class WCAM 2/2P|WCAM-2]], the [[Indian locomotive class WCAM-3|WCAM-3]] and the [[Indian locomotive class WCAG-1|WCAG-1]].

== History ==
The history of WAG-8 begins in the early 1990s with the aim of addressing the shortcomings of the previous [[Indian locomotive class WAG-5|WAG-5]] class and remove [[steam locomotive]]s from IR by a target date of 1990. The WAG-5, although successful, had become underpowered to meet the growing demands of the Indian Railways. So in the early 1990s BHEL decided to look for a successor to the WAG-5 class. The required specification was of a 5000-horsepower locomotive.{{Or inline|date=October 2024}}

Initially, Indian Railways invited tenders to build locomotives to the new specification. The following responses were received:

* CLW submitted their upgraded WAG-5 model with 5000 hp with Co-Co bogies.
* BHEL submitted a 5000 hp locomotive with [[Thyristor|thyristors control]] and Co-Co bogies

Each company submitted their prototypes and Indian Railways designated these prototypes as the [[Indian locomotive class WAG-7|WAG-7]] class and WAG-8 class respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Locomotives - General Information - I|url=https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco.html#class|website=www.irfca.org|access-date=2020-04-18}}</ref> Development on the WAG-8 class in 1990 while BHEL was also manufacturing WAG-5HS. Technologically the BHEL WAG-8 was meant to be superior to the WAG-7 which was effectively using [[Tap changer|tap-changer]] technology from the 1960s. They most likely had the Hitachi HS15250A seen in present-day [[Indian locomotive class WCAM-3|WCAM-3]] and [[Indian locomotive class WCAG-1|WCAG-1]]. The WAG-8 locomotives were to be handed over to Railways{{Which|date=October 2024}} for trial in December, 1992, but the whole project was cancelled due to arrival of the [[Indian locomotive class WAG-9|WAG-9]], and thyristors control had become obsolete in favour of 3-phase AC technology. The prototype locomotive was subsequently condemned and parked on an unused rail sliding at [[BHEL Jhansi|BHEL, Jhansi]], where it remained as of 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2906557-0: The only WAG-8 prototype of India, lying - Railway Enquiry|url=https://indiarailinfo.com/blog/post/2906557|last=Naphade|first=Ankit|website=indiarailinfo.com|access-date=2020-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Diesel Locomotive Roster – The WAG Series|url=https://24coaches.com/electric-locomotive-roster-the-wag-series/|date=2013-10-30|website=24 Coaches|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-29}}</ref>
<br />

==See also==

*[[Rail transport in India#History]]
*[[Indian Railways]]
*[[Locomotives of India]]
*[[Rail transport in India]]

==References==

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

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

==External links==
{{commons category|Indian locomotive class WAG8}}
*[http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-specs.html#WAG-8 Specifications]
*[http://www.irfca.org India railway fan club]

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:WAG-8}}
[[Category:Electric locomotives of India]]
[[Category:25 kV AC locomotives]]
[[Category:Co-Co locomotives]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1996]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:Freight locomotives]]
[[Category:BHEL locomotives]]

Indian locomotive class WAG-8 - Revision history

NikeNuara at 07:02, 27 October 2025