CoyCallaghan at 04:40, 23 March 2026

2026-03-23T04:40:38Z

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{{Short description|Indian Railway class AC and DC mix electric locomotive}}
{{more footnotes|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = WCAM-2
| image = Indian Railways 21879.jpg
| caption = Valsad based WCAM-2 (now transferred to Kalyan) hauling Hazrat Nizamuddin - Pune AC SF Express.
| powertype = Electric
| gauge = {{Track gauge|66in|lk=on}}
| poweroutput = Continuous: {{convert|4715|hp|abbr=on}} AC<br />{{convert|2916|hp|abbr=on}} DC
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|26000|kgf|abbr=on}} DC <br /> {{convert|33400|kgf|abbr=on}} AC
| builder = [[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited]]
| builddate = 1995–1998
| serialnumber =
| operator = Indian Railways
| fleetnumbers = Starting from '''21861''' to '''21880'''
| totalproduction = '''WCAM-2:''' 20
| uicclass = Co'Co'
| electricsystem = {{25 kV 50 Hz}} [[Alternating current|AC]]<br />1.5 [[Volt|kV]] [[Direct current|DC]]
| maxspeed = {{convert|80|-|100|km/h|abbr=on}} DC, {{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}} AC, Test run {{convert|135|km/h|abbr=on}}
| collectionmethod = [[Pantograph (rail)|Pantographs]] one each for AC and DC (past) (now both pantographs are AC collectors)
| nicknames = '''Balwant''' for No.-21861
| locale = [[Central Railway zone|Central Railways]]<br>(Former [[Western Railway zone|Western Railways]])
}}

The Indian locomotive class '''WCAM-2''' is a class of dual-power AC/DC series [[electric locomotives]] that was developed in 1995 by [[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited]] used in the [[Indian Railways]] system. They are the second locomotive from the WCAM class. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), DC Current (C), AC Current (A), Mixed traffic (M) locomotive, 2nd generation (2). They entered service in 1995. A total of 20 WCAM-2 were built at BHEL between 1995 and 1996, which made them the most numerous class of mainline dual-power AC/DC electric locomotive. They use the same motors as [[WCAM 1]] but with different circuitry and gearing. They are operational in routes around Mumbai. MU operation was possible with 3 units. WCAM-2P was the passenger-oriented version of the WCAM-2 class. However, they perform better than the [[WCAM 1]] locomotives due to higher power output of the WCAM-2 in both DC and AC configuration.

==History and Technical Specifications==
The WCAM-2, introduced in 1995, had more power in both DC and AC mode than the WCAM 1 class. However, like the WCAM-1, they also performed poorly in DC mode compared to AC mode. They were used for hauling trains away from the DC section of suburban trains to the AC section and performed the same task as the WCAM-1 did. WCAM-2 locos had the same traction motors, as the WCAM-1 locos, but different circuitry and gearing. The bogies are somewhat different from those of the WCAM-1 being fabricated trimount Co-Co bogies with secondary suspension, with rated speed 105 km/h in DC mode and 120 km/h in AC mode. (In trials by [[Research Design and Standards Organisation|RDSO]] the loco is said to had been run at speeds up to 135 km/h in AC mode). Almost all of these were dual-braked, but for maintenance, they were changed to feature air brakes only.

All the WCAM-1's and -2's were homed at [[Electric Loco Shed, Valsad|Valsad]] shed in Gujarat. Many of CR's WCAM-2 locos were not used much in DC zones (exceptions were the CR / Bombay Port Trust's Wadala marshalling yard a portion of which has DC traction, and for hauling the Punjab Mail in the late 1990s) as they delivered very poor performance in DC mode and on CR's heavy grades. Although these locos have the same traction motors as the [[WAM 4]] and [[WCAM 1]], the power output from the WCAM-2 locos is higher than for the WAM-4 and WCAM-1 because in those models the traction motors were underfed (3,460 kVA transformer in contrast to the 5,400 kVA transformer for WCAM-2) and did not yield their potential maximum power. Under AC traction, the WCAM-2 locos operate with all six motors in parallel (this has been enforced by modifications to these locos), while in DC mode they also operate in the all-series and series-parallel (2S 3P, i.e., three series-pairs of motors in parallel) configurations.

Late model WCAM-2's from BHEL made in 1998, including the passenger-specific version WCAM-2P, were rated {{cvt|2916|hp|MW}} in DC mode and {{cvt|4715|hp|MW}} in AC mode (max. speed {{cvt|120|km/h|mph}} in AC mode). These were used by WR and CR for fast trains, running at maximum speed. CR had tried the WCAM-2 and WCAM-2P units but found them usable only with speed restrictions. Some WCAM-2P units had only air brakes. With the WCAM-2 locos, MU operation was possible with up to 3 (4?) units. Some (all?) of the WCAM-2 locos were originally leased to IR, ownership remaining with BHEL, the manufacturers.

In February 2012, upon conversion of Western Railway's Churchgate - Virar section from 1500 V DC to 25 kV AC, all the WCAM-2 locomotives were transferred to the Kalyan locomotive shed in the Central Railway zone.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.railwaygazette.com/passenger/mumbai-switches-from-dc-to-ac/36430.article|title= Mumbai switches from DC to AC}}</ref> Following the conversion of Central line in June 2015 from 1500 V DC to 25kV AC, the WCAM-2 locomotives had their DC equipment progressively removed which led to improved performance caused by weight reduction.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.railwaygazette.com/passenger/mumbai-network-switches-from-dc-to-ac/40979.article|title= Mumbai network switches from DC to AC}}</ref>

==Retirement==
As the WCAM-2 locomotives have approached nearly 30 years in service, several issues have cropped up with age, like power loss on incline sections of [[Thal Ghat|Mumbai-Igatpuri]] and [[Bhor Ghat|Mumbai-Pune]] lines, which has led to a few short distance trains being hauled by diesel locomotives. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Deccan Queen switches to diesel, sparking downgrade debate! |url=https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/deccan-queen-gets-a-diesel-downgrade-23530073 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Mid-day |language=en}}</ref> As a result, the Central Railways began to retire some of the older locomotives. The retirement began in December 2024, with 5 locomotives withdrawn from service and scrapped. 3 more were withdrawn from service by July 2025. As of March 2026, 3 remain in operation running in inferior services. <ref name=":0" />

==Technical specifications==

Source:<ref name=IRFCA>[http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco-electric-dc.html#WCAM-2 WCAM-2] at Indian Railways Fan Club</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|Manufacturers
|[[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited]]
|-
|Traction Motors
|TAO 659 ({{convert|575|kW|abbr=on}}, 750 V). Axle-hung, nose-suspended, force-ventilated.
|-
|Gear Ratio
|62:15, 58:21
|-
|Transformer
|BHEL 5,400 kVA.
|-
|Rectifiers
|Two silicon rectifier units D1800N44 (Siemens), 16 cells per bridge. 1 kV / 3.6 kA
|-
|[[Axle load]]
|{{convert|18.8|t|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Bogie]]s
|Co-Co trimount fabricated bogies with secondary suspension.
|-
|Pantographs
|Stone India AM-12 (AC) and Stone India AM-18B (DC) (past)
|-
|Notches
|Total 32
|-
|Weight
|{{convert|113|t|abbr=on}}
|-
|Length
|{{convert|20950|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|-
|Total wheelbase
|{{convert|15698|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|-
|Brakes
|[[Vacuum brake|Vacuum]] (past) and/or [[Railway air brake|Air]]
|}

== Locomotive shed ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Zone !! Name !! Shed Code !! Quantity
|-
|[[Central Railway zone|Central Railway]]
| [[Electric Loco Shed, Kalyan|Kalyan]] || KYN || 12
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Total Locomotives Active as of March 2026'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Indian Railways Electric Loco Holding |url=https://elocos.railnet.gov.in/Holding/holding_03_26.pdf |access-date=2026-03-04}}</ref>|| 12
|}


== Trains hauled by WCAM-2/2P ==

# [[Pragati Express]]
# [[Sahyadri Express]]
# [[Jhelum Express]]
# [[Kanyakumari Mumbai Express]]
# [[Diva- Ratnagiri Passenger]]
# [[Shinhagad Express]]

==See also==

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

==References==

{{reflist}}


==External links==
{{commons category|Indian locomotive class WCAM2}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.irfca.org/apps/locos/show/9520?page=9|title=[IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Kalyan (KYN) WCAM-2 21861 Show|publisher=irfca.org|access-date=2014-05-30}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco-electric-dc.html|title=[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Locomotives -- Specific classes : DC & Dual Current Electric|publisher=irfca.org|access-date=2014-05-30}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.trainweb.org/railworld/Electric_Locos/wcam2.htm|title=WCAM2|publisher=trainweb.org|access-date=2014-05-30}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:WCAM-2}}
[[Category:Electric locomotives of India]]
[[Category:1500 V DC locomotives]]
[[Category:25 kV AC locomotives]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:Multi-system locomotives]]
[[Category:Co-Co locomotives]]
[[Category:BHEL locomotives]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1995]]

Indian locomotive class WCAM-2 - Revision history

CoyCallaghan at 04:40, 23 March 2026