>Monkbot at 05:08, 18 December 2020

2020-12-18T05:08:43Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = May 2020}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = WCG-2
| powertype = Electric
|image = File:WCG2 triplet Indian Railways.jpg
|caption = WCG2 triplets Banking near Bhor Ghats
| gauge = {{RailGauge|5ft6in|lk=on}}
| bogies =[[American Locomotive Company|ALCO]] Asymmetric cast frame trimount
| wheeldiameter = New:{{convert|1092|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}},<br>Half worn:{{convert|1055|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=2}} and<br>Full worn:{{convert|1016|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| builder = [[Chittaranjan Locomotive Works]]
| builddate = 1970-76
| length = {{convert|18.68|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=16}}
| width = {{convert|3.055|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=16}}
| height = {{convert|4.238|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=16}}
| totalproduction =57
| uicclass = Co′Co′
| axleload = {{convert|21.5|t}}
| tractiveeffort =Starting:{{convert|35600|kgf|kN|-1|abbr=on}}<br>Continuous:{{convert|33600|kgf|kN|-1|abbr=on}}
| factorofadhesion = 0.32
| locobrakes = [[Railway air brake|Air]]/[[Parking brake#Railroad hand brakes|Hand]]
| trainbrakes = Air, Dual and [[Vacuum drake|Vacuum]]
| safety = Slip control, Over voltage relay, No volt relay, Earth fault relay, Low pressure governor, Train parting alarms, and Brake cylinder cutoff valve
| electricsystem = 1.5 kV [[Direct current|DC]] [[Overhead line|Overhead]]
| collectionmethod = [[pantograph (rail)|pantograph]]
| multipleworking = 3
| maxspeed = {{convert|90|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}>or{{convert|80|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}
| poweroutput = Max:{{convert|4200|hp|kW|-1|abbr=on}}
| locoweight = {{convert|132|t}}
| tractionmotors = Heil TM4939AZ
| operator = [[Indian Railways]]
| fleetnumbers = 20104-20160
| nicknames = Howlers
| locale = Central Railways
|lastrundate=May 02 2010 (Mainline operations)
May 8 2012 (Shunting)
|retiredate= August, 2012
|preservedunits= 20108 - at CLW Loco Park, 20158 - at CSMT Heritage Gully
|scrapdate= August, 2012
| disposition = Two preserved, remainder scrapped
}}The Indian locomotive class '''WCG-2''' is a class of 1.5 [[Volt|kV]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[Electric locomotive|electric locomotives]] that was developed in the late 1960s by [[Research Design and Standards Organisation]] (RDSO) and [[Chittaranjan Locomotive Works]] (CLW) for [[Indian Railways]]. The model name stands for [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|broad gauge (W)]], DC Current (C), Goods traffic (G) engine, 2nd generation (2). They entered service in February 1971. A total of 57 WCG-2 were built at CLW between 1978 and 1983, which made them the most numerous class of DC electric locomotive.

The WCG-2 is one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways having served both passenger and freight trains for over 40 years. They were famously known for doing passenger duties and banking duties in the [[Bhor ghat|Bhor]] and [[Thal ghat|Thull]] ghats. However, with the advent of new 3-phase locomotives and conversion of [[Central Railway zone|Central Railways]] to 25 [[Volt|kV]] [[Alternating current|AC]], the aging fleet of WCG-2 locomotives have been fully withdrawn from mainline duties and were rapidly scrapped. Now 2 locomotives have been preserved.

== History ==

=== Background ===
In 1928-29, the then British [[Great Indian Peninsula Railway|GIPR]] decided to progressively electrify the [[Igatpuri railway station|Bombay-Igatpuri]] and [[Central Railway zone|Bombay-Pune]] sections of Central Railway with direct current (D.C.) electric traction. Thus 57 D.C electric locomotives (41 [[Indian locomotive class WCG-1|WCG-1]] and 16 [[Indian locomotive class WCP-1|WCP-1]]) were brought to be used in these sections. These locomotives performed well but due to aging they were due for replacement by 1963-64. So in September 1963, the Railway Board decided to replace these 57 old locomotives during the [[Fourth five-year plan of India|Fourth Five Year Plan]] period. A formal order for the manufacture of ten 1,500 V D.C. freight type locomotives was placed on CLW by the Railway Board in October 1964.

=== Production and trials ===
The design for the locomotive was finalized by RDSO in 1967. As per the specifications, it was expected that the locomotive with a single banker would be capable of hauling a trailing load of 3,660, tonnes goods wagons at balancing speed of 80 km/hr in ascending and descending directions on both ghat sections. This would give an intermediate increase of about 50 per cent in the line capacity for goods trains without having to increase the number of trains to be run. The delay in production of locomotives was due to delay in supply of equipment from [[Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited|BHEL, Bhopal]]. The bodywork bears a strong family resemblance to other CLW designs such as the [[Indian locomotive class WCAM-1|WCAM-1]] and [[Indian locomotive class WAM-4|WAM-4]].

Three prototypes of the locomotives were manufactured in January, March and June 1971 respectively and trial tests on these were conducted by Central Railway. Although the performance of the prototypes was not satisfactory, series production of locomotives was undertaken and by September 1972. The Railway Board stated (January 1977) that it was not considered desirable to wait for ideal conditions to prevail for the series manufacture to commence as the need for replacing old locomotives was pressing.

=== Service History ===
The new locomotives were brought into use in April 1972 in Kalyan-Igatpuri and Kalyan-Lonavala Sections and by the end of March 1976, 54 locomotives were in service. Since these locomotives could not haul the loads for which they were originally designed, lower hauling loads (permissible load) based on actual experience of the working of these locomotives were fixed by the RDSO to be the capability of the 'present design'. It was noticed that the incidence of failures in WCG-2 locomotives was very large during the period 1973 to 1976. So a new range of upgrades were brought and reliability increased.

Initially they were used on freight duties and departmental duties. After issues were sorted they replaced the WCG-1 fleet from banking duties. From 1992 to 1996 the aging WCM series fleet began to fail creating a huge shortage of locomotives. The punctuality of trains in and out of CSTM went haywire and many trains were cancelled. During this period the WCG-2 was used on many Express runs including the [[Deccan Queen]].

By 2000, none of the original 57 locomotives had been withdrawn from service. However, with declining coverage area due to AC electrification, three locomotives were withdrawn as life-expired in November 2006. But withdrawals were slow, mainly due to increased flow of freight and passenger traffic which required extra locomotives; only 21 locomotives had been withdrawn by the end of 2009. On 02 May 2010, the DC Bhor Ghat section was converted to AC marking the end of era of the WCG2 locomotives performing the banking duties. The last WCG-2s doing shunting duty at [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|CSTM]] were withdrawn from service on August 2012.

== Locomotive sheds ==
*[[Electric Loco Shed, Kalyan|Kalyan]] (KYN): All the locomotives of this class has been withdrawn from service.

== Preserved Examples ==
Two WCG-2 locomotives have been preserved.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ministry of Railways (Railway Board)|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,1706|access-date=2020-04-14|website=www.indianrailways.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=preserve loco list|url=https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1L7PMD3GYsSQibjrOjIk9dpekeDi7Gp9u}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Class
!Manufacturer
!Loco Number
!Previous shed
!LIvery
!Location
!ref
|-
|WCG-2
|CLW
|20108
|[[Electric Loco Shed, Kalyan|Kalyan]] (KYN)
|KYN cream/blue with red lining
|Plinthed at CLW Loco Park
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=[IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Chittaranjan Loco Works (CLW) WCG-2 20108 Show|url=https://www.irfca.org/apps/locos/show/8096?list_type=preserved&page=2|access-date=2020-07-03|website=www.irfca.org}}</ref>
|-
|WCG-2
|CLW
|20158
|[[Electric Loco Shed, Kalyan|Kalyan]] (KYN)
|KYN cream/blue with red lining
|Plinthed at CSMT Heritage Gully 2.0
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=[IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Kalyan (KYN) WCG-2 20158 Show|url=https://www.irfca.org/apps/locos/show/8146?list_type=preserved&page=2|access-date=2020-07-03|website=www.irfca.org}}</ref>
|}

== Technical Specifications ==
Originally, the Railway Board, after due consideration of the relative merits of the BB and Co-Co design locomotives, decided in 1965 to adopt the four-axled BB monomotor bogie for the WCG-2. <ref>[http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2e.html#loco Indian AC electric loco information]</ref> One of the important considerations was that the production of BB design A.C. locomotives ([[Indian locomotive class WAG-1|WAG-1]] and [[Indian locomotive class WAG-4|WAG-4]]) which was already established at Chittarajan Locomotive Works and the manufacture of D.C. locomotives of BB design would present no problem. However, in December 1966, the Railway Board decided to change over to six-axled Co-Co design for the locomotives on the following considerations:

* The BB design motor would require considerable modification necessitating change in the bogie. This would require prototype trials to prove the designs before bulk production commenced. This schedule would be totally unsuitable as the requirements, of Central Railway were urgent.
* For the Co-Co design, [[Research Design and Standards Organisation|RDSO]] proposed to adopt established traction motors and proven [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|ALCO bogies]]. This would enable CLW to start production in 2 years time and complete about 25/27 locomotives by March 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WCG-2 coupling|url=https://rdso.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/SMI%2028(1).pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=WCG-2 alternator|url=https://rdso.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/SMI%2037(2).pdf}}</ref>
* A fleet of 57 Co Co locomotives was expected to give-about 30 per cent additional throughput as compared to the BB design.

{|class=wikitable
|Traction Motors
| Heil TM4939AZ (690 hp, 700V, 800A, 1070 rpm, weight 3670 kg) Six motors, axle-hung, nose-suspended, force-ventilated. (4200 hp total power, 1640 1-hour continuous rating in series mode.)
|-
|Gear Ratio
|62:16 or 62:15
|-
|Transformer
|BHEL, type HETT-3900. 3900 kVA, 22.5 kV, 182 A. 32 taps, 11730 kg, Forced oil cooling, 'A' Insulation.
|-
|Rectifiers
|Silicon rectifiers (two) using 64 S-18FN-350 diodes each from Hind Rectifier. 2700 A / 1050 V per cubicle. 64 cells per bridge. Starting current at 3300 A. Motor (380 V, 970-1460 RPM)
|-
|Max Haulage capacity
|2375 t (WAG-5 original)
|-
|Pantographs
|Two [[Faiveley Transport|Faiveley]] AM-12 of 285 kg with four insulators
|-
|Current Ratings
|1100 A / 10 min, 750 A continuous
|-
|Sandboxes
|16
|-
|Auxiliaries
|2 Head lights (32 V, 250 W), Lead-acid Battery (50 cells, 110 V)
|-
|3 Elgi Compressors
|3 motors (12.5 hp, 380 V)
|-
|2 SF India Ltd. Traction Motor blowers
|MLBR-42.51-1-H4 type, 2 Siemens Motors (22 kW, 380 V, 41 A, 3000 rpm)
|-
|2 SF India Ltd. Smoothing reactor blower
|2 motors(3 hp, 380V, 2860rpm)
|-
|[[BHEL]] Breaking resistor blower
|Dy-3423M type, Moto r(532 kW, 70 hp, 325 V, 175 A, 3500 rpm)
|-
|2 SF India Ltd. Silicon rectifier blower
|Axial type
|-
|SF India Ltd. Oil cooler blower
|MLBH-60-1-H2 type, 22.2 m/hr, Motor (30 hp, 380 V, 6.6 A, 2865 rpm)
|-
|2 Smoothing reactors
|SL42 type, 1250 V, 950 A, 0.00718 ohms at 110 °C
|-
|BEST & Co. Pvt. Ltd. Oil pump for transformer
|Motor (3.3 kW, 380 V, 6.6 A, 2865 rpm)
|}

=== Hauling capacity ===
[[File:Indian locomotive class WCG-2 2.jpg|thumb|308x308px|WCG-2 Preserved in CSTM]]
WAG-5HB has the following capacity for 4 wheeler wagons (in tonnes):<ref name="Trainweb">{{cite web|title=Trainweb|url=http://trainweb.org/railworld/Electric_Locos/wcg2.htm}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Gradient !! Start !! 20 km/h !! 30 km/h !! 40 km/h !! 50 km/h !! 60 km/h !! 70 km/h !! 80 km/h
|-
| '''Level''' || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 4580 || 2665
|-
| '''1 in 500''' || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 5325 || 4965 || 3615 || 2700 || 1740
|-
| '''1 in 200''' || 3580 || 3580 || 3540 || 2960 || 2870 || 2140 || 1540 || 1070
|-
| '''1 in 150''' || 2800 || 2800 || 2800 || 2385 || 2310 || 1730 || 1330 || 875
|-
| '''1 in 100''' || 1920 || 1920 || 1920 || 1770 || 1725 || 1240 || 955 || 625
|-
| '''1 in 50''' || 1110 || 1020 || 1010 || 860 || 845 || 630 || ||
|}

WCG-2 has the following capacity for [[Box wagon|BOX wagons]] (in tonnes):
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Gradient !! Start !! 20 km/h !! 30 km/h !! 40 km/h !! 50 km/h !! 60 km/h !! 70 km/h !! 80 km/h
|-
| '''Level''' || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 4470
|-
| '''1 in 500''' || 5020 || 5020 || 5020 || 5020 || 5020 || 4520 || 3490 || 2200
|-
| '''1 in 200''' || 3450 || 3450 || 3450 || 3290 || 3200 || 2365 || 1910 || 1205
|-
| '''1 in 150''' || 2940 || 2940 || 2940 || 2550 || 2525 || 1920 || 1510 || 950
|-
| '''1 in 100''' || 2240 || 2100 || 2075 || 1870 || 1840 || 1310 || 1050 || 650
|-
| '''1 in 50''' || 1300 || 1045 || 1030 || 885 || 875 || 660 || 550 || 296
|}

WCG-2 has the following capacity for [[Open wagon|BOXN]] wagons (in tonnes):
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Gradient !! Start !! 20 km/h !! 30 km/h !! 40 km/h !! 50 km/h !! 60 km/h !! 70 km/h !! 80 km/h
|-
| '''Level''' || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 6000+ || 4705
|-
| '''1 in 500''' || 5775 || 5775 || 5775 || 5775 || 5775 || 5200 || 3560 || 2200
|-
| '''1 in 200''' || 3790 || 3700 || 3610 || 3510 || 2710 || 1630 || 1100 || 750
|-
| '''1 in 150''' || 3180 || 3180|| 3180 || 2630 || 2565 || 2165 || 1510 || 960
|-
| '''1 in 100''' || 2390 || 2265 || 2230 || 1800 || 1770 || 1500 || 1040 || 655
|-
| '''1 in 50''' || 1350 || 1115 || 1105 || 890 || 880 || 740 || 500 || 295
|}

==See also==

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Indian locomotive class WCG2}}
*http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-specs.html#WCG-2
*[http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2e.html]
*[http://www.irfca.org India railway fan club]

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

[[Category:Electric locomotives of India]]
[[Category:1500 V DC locomotives]]
[[Category:Co-Co locomotives]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1970]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:Chittaranjan Locomotive Works locomotives]]

Indian locomotive class WCG-2 - Revision history

>Monkbot at 05:08, 18 December 2020