2409:4043:4CA4:D629:D538:F9AE:6233:4EB7 at 16:54, 4 January 2022

2022-01-04T16:54:59Z

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{{About|the WDM-2 based locomotive series.|the original [[Diesel locomotive#Diesel–hydraulic|Diesel–hydraulic]] WDM-3|Indian locomotive class WDM-3|}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = WDM-3A
| powertype = Diesel
| image = File:RTM WDM3A.jpg
| image upright = 2.0
| alt =
| caption = Freshly repainted Ratlam based WDM-3A resting at Ghaziabad Jn.
| builder = [[Banaras Locomotive Works]], [[Diesel-Loco Modernisation Works]]
| ordernumber =
| serialnumber =
| buildmodel = [[ALCO-251C|ALCO DL560C]] variant
| builddate = 1994-2015
| totalproduction = '''WDM-3A''': 1402
| rebuilder = [[Diesel-Loco Modernisation Works]], [[Patiala]]
| rebuilddate =
| numberrebuilt =
| aarwheels =
| uicclass = Co-Co
| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm|lk=on}}
| trucks =
| bogies = ALCO Asymmetric cast frame trimount
| wheeldiameter = {{convert|1,092|mm|ftin|2|abbr=on|frac=8}}
| trailingdiameter =
| 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|18800|kg|abbr=on}}
| weightondrivers =
| locoweight = {{convert|112.8|t|abbr=on}}
| fueltype = [[Diesel fuel|Diesel]]
| fuelcap = {{convert|5000|L|abbr=on}}
| lubecap =
| coolantcap =
| watercap =
| sandcap =
| consumption =
| watercons =
| primemover = [[ALCO 251|ALCO 251-C]]
| rpmrange = 400 - 1050 rpm
| enginetype = [[V16 engine|V16]] [[Diesel engine]]
| aspiration = [[ABB]] VTC304-15 or [[D. Napier & Son|Napier]] NA 295 IR [[turbocharger]]
| displacement =
| alternator =
| generator =
| tractionmotors = [[Bharat Heavy Electricals]] TA 10102 CW (new), BHEL TG 10931 AZ(old)
| cylindercount = 16
| cylindersize = {{convert|228|x|266|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} <br />[[Bore (engine)|bore]] x [[Stroke (engine)|stroke]]
| transmission = [[Diesel electric]]
| multipleworking = 2
| maxspeed = {{convert|120|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| poweroutput = WDM-3A: 3100 HP, WDM-3D: 3300 HP, WDM-3E: 3500 HP,WDM3F: 3600 HP.
| tractiveeffort ={{convert|30.45|t|0|abbr=on}} 
| factorofadhesion = 0.27
| trainheating =
| locobrakes =
| locobrakeforce =
| trainbrakes = [[Railway air brake|Air]], [[Vacuum brake|Vacuum]] and [[Vacuum brake#Dual brakes|Dual]]
| safety =
| operator = [[Indian Railways]]
| operatorclass =
| powerclass =
| numinclass =
| fleetnumbers = 13xxx, 14001-14057, 14058-14143, 16000-, few in 18xxx series and 17xxx series
| officialname =
| nicknames = Cheetah, Prabal, Velociti, Awadh, Firex, Sher Punjab, Veer
| axleloadclass =
| locale = All over Indian Railways
| deliverydate =
| firstrundate =
| lastrundate =
| retiredate =
| withdrawndate =
| preservedunits = 1
| restoredate =
| scrapdate =
| currentowner =
| disposition = active
}}

The Indian locomotive class '''WDM-3A''' is a class of [[diesel-electric locomotive]] that was developed in 1993 by [[Banaras Locomotive Works]] (BLW), Varanasi for [[Indian Railways]]. The model name stands for [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|broad gauge (W)]], Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine, with 3300 horsepower (3A). The WDM-3A is a later classification of earlier WDM-2C. They entered service in 1994. A total of 143+ were built at ALCO and [[Banaras Locomotive Works]] between 1994 and 2003 with rest of the 1246 units being rebuild from [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM-2]] which made them the most numerous class of mainline diesel locomotive until the [[Indian locomotive class WDG-4|WDG-4.]]

The WDM-3A is one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways serving both passenger and freight trains for over 26 years. A few WDM-3A units were exported to neighboring countries like [[Sri Lanka Railways|Sri Lanka]] and [[Bangladesh Railway|Bangladesh]]. Despite the introduction of more modern types of locomotives like [[Indian locomotive class WDG-4|WDG-4]] and electrification, a significant number are still in use, both in mainline and departmental duties. As of 2020, 1,081 locomotives still retain "operational status" on the mainline as WDM-3A, with further examples having been converted back to [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM-2]] or WDM-2S. The loco is now widely used across India for long-distance passenger trains due to its ruggedness and high tractive loads and acceleration.

==History==
[[File:Padatik Express 01.jpg|thumb|230x230px|WDM3A with Padatik Express]]
[[File:WDM3AVTAVTA.jpg|alt=WDM3A Vatva Shed|thumb|228x228px|WDM3A VTA Shunting in Rajkot]]
[[File:KJM - KCG Special (34951344486).jpg|thumb|A WDM-3A Loco from [[Gooty]] Loco Shed hauling an Express train]]
[[File:Baldie ALCo of Kazipet - Flickr - Dr. Santulan Mahanta.jpg|alt=|thumb|Baldie]]
The first one was delivered on August 22, 1994, It was then WDM-2C.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=Indian Railways Fan Club| url=http://irfca.org/faq/faq-history5.html| title=IR History: Part - V (1970-1995)| access-date=August 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| title=Locomotives and Rail Road Transportation - Technology, Challenges and Prospects| editor1-first=Avinash Kumal| editor1-last=Agarwal| editor2-first=Atul| editor2-last=Dhar| editor3-first=Anirudh| editor3-last=Gautam| editor4-first=Ashok| editor4-last=Pandey| publisher=Springer| isbn=978-981-10-3787-0| year=2017| lccn=2017930134| page=16| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bhAbDgAAQBAJ&q=WDM-3A&pg=PA16| via=Google Books}}</ref> First 57 units produced till March 1996 (Indian Railway road number 14001-14057) had rounded front hood profile similar to contemporary newer classes of locos built by DLW ([[Indian locomotive class WDG-2/3A|WDG3A]] and [[Indian locomotive class WDP-1|WDP1]]). After that there was a gap of long four years in the WDM3A production line in [[Banaras Locomotive Works|BLW]]. These units have been retro-fitted with dual brakes, in addition to the air and vacuum brakes. The WDM-3A locos have a maximum speed of {{convert|120|km/h|abbr=on}}. The gear ratio is 65:18.<ref>{{cite web|title=About WDM-3A|url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2d.html#wdm-3a|publisher=Indian Railways Fan Club}}</ref> These new locomotives had their control stand shifted to the left side of the cabin. Meanwhile, Diesel Loco Modernization Works (erstwhile Diesel Modification Works which again was known as Diesel Component Works) in Patiala started rebuilding the existing [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2|WDM2]] locomotives, which had reached midlife, with upgraded power-packs. DLMW Patiala re-calibrates the power-pack and upgrades the output power rating to 3100HP.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=Indian Railways| url=http://www.dmw.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/Company%20Profile.pdf| access-date=March 2, 2018}}</ref> DLW again started building WDM3A from the year 2000 and continued till the end of 2002 with locomotive road numbers in the range 14058–14143. All the locomotives rebuilt by DLMW and later batch from DLW had regular WDM2 type square short hood profile and control stand position. DLW again built WDM3A variant locomotives, during 2005–2006, in the road number range 14144-14167 which were classified as WDM3B due to their difference in bogie design from classic ALCo asymmetrical trimount to HAHS design which was employed in WDG2 and later WDM3D classes too. Most of the WDM3B were later converted to WDM3D. In 2011, DLMW rebuilt locomotive number 16502 as WDM3A and equipped it with an Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) system jointly developed by Engine Research Laboratory of IIT Kanpur, Engine Development Directorate of RDSO, and DLMW Patiala.<ref>{{cite web |publisher= Indian Railways |website= iitk.ac.in |title= Direction Article Development of EFI for 204-stroke locomotive diesel engine |url= https://www.iitk.ac.in/erl/Index_files/Popular%20Publication/Direction%20Article%20Development%20of%20EFI%20for%204-stroke%20locomotive%20diesel%20engine.pdf |date= 2018 |access-date= March 2, 2018}}</ref> DLMW continues to rebuild WDM2 as WDM3A and recently they have started rebuilding the DLW built WDM3A too when they reach their midlife. Recent rebuilt locomotives are rated at 3300 HP, and from 2009 onward they are equipped with Daulat Ram DBR, and since 2014 they are also equipped with an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) in the short hood.<ref>{{cite web |publisher= Indian Railways |title= Company Profile |url= http://www.dmw.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/Company%20Profile.pdf |website= indianrailways.gov.in |access-date= March 2, 2018}}</ref> Some rebuilt locomotives have Co-Co-fabricated ATHS (Advanced Trimount High Speed) bogies instead of ALCo cast-iron type.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=RDSO |title= Motive Power |date= 2018 |url= http://www.rdso.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/motive_power.pdf |website= indianrailways.gov.in |access-date= March 2, 2018}}</ref> All the rebuilt WDM3A bear the {{nobr|"-R"}} suffix to their road numbers.

In 2012 [[Bangladesh Railway]] ordered 26 WDM3A from DLW. They are classified as [[Class 6500 of Bangladesh Railway|Class 6500]] there. These units, however, lack the dynamic braking which happens to be an essential component in their Indian counterparts.
[[File:The blues and reds of our life.jpg|thumb|230x230px|Bangladeshi Counterpart of WDM-3A]]

== Sub Classes ==

=== WDM-3C ===
The WDM-3C were just upgraded and more powerful WDM3As with the ALCO engine gain rebuilt to output 3300 hp. It was the first follow-up experiment after the WDM-3A to squeeze more power out of the ALCO engine, an intermediary that would later lead to the development of the WDM-3D. Not many were produced, all of which were rebuilds of the WDM2 or WDM3A and were identical to the previous variants in every aspect. They can no longer be found over the railway network as all of them have been rebuilt into the WDM-3A or WDM-2 type.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Diesel Loco Roaster WDM(ALCO) series|url=https://24coaches.com/indian-railways-wdm-series/}}</ref>

== Locomotive sheds ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Zone !! Name !! Shed Code !! Quantity
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Central Railway zone|Central Railway]] || [[Pune Junction railway station|Pune]] || PA || 5
|-
| [[Kurla railway station|Kurla]] || CLA || 0
|-
|rowspan="4" |[[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]] || [[Howrah Junction railway station|Howrah]] || HWH || 9
|-
| [[Bardhaman railway station|Bardhaman]] || BWN|| 46
|-
| [[Andal railway station|Andal]] || UDL || 6
|-
| [[Jamalpur railway station|Jamalpur]] || JMP || 22
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[East Central Railway zone|East Central Railway]] || [[Patratu railway station|Patratu]] || PTRU || 12
|-
| [[Mughalsarai]]
| MGS || 12
|-
| [[Samastipur Junction railway station|Samastipur]] || SPJ || 17
|-
| [[East Coast Railway zone|East Coast Railway]] || [[Visakhapatnam railway station|Visakhapatnam]] || VSKP || 20
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]] || [[Tughlakabad railway station|Tughlakabad]] || TKD || 27
|-
| [[Ludhiana Junction railway station|Ludhiana]] || LDH || 74
|-
| [[Lucknow Charbagh railway station|Lucknow]] || LKO || 16
|-
| [[North Central Railway zone|North Central Railway]] || [[Jhansi Junction railway station|Jhansi]] || JHS || 14
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[North Eastern Railway zone|North Eastern Railway]] ||[[Gonda, Uttar Pradesh|Gonda]] || GD || 4
|-
| [[Gonda, Uttar Pradesh|Izatnagar]] || IZN || 64
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Northeast Frontier Railway zone|Northeast Frontier Railway]] || [[Malda Town railway station|Malda Town]] || MLDT ||46
|-
| [[Guwahati railway station|Guwahati]] || NGC || 13
|-
| [[North Western Railway zone|North Western Railway]] || [[Abu Road railway station|Abu Road]] || ABR || 59
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]] || [[Erode Junction railway station|Erode]] || ED || 2
|-
| [[Ernakulam Junction railway station|Ernakulam]] || ERS || 33
|-
| [[Golden Rock railway station|Golden Rock]] || GOC || 15
|-
| [[Tondiarpet railway station|Tondiarpet]] || TNP || 13
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[South Central Railway zone|South Central Railway]] || [[Kazipet railway station|Kazipet]] || KZJ || 1
|-
| [[Gooty Junction railway station|Gooty]] || GY || 3
|-
| [[Guntakal Junction railway station|Guntakal]] || GTL||21
|-
| [[Moula Ali railway station|Moula Ali]] || MLY || 41
|-
| [[Moula Ali railway station|Vijaywada]] || BZA || 15
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]] || [[Kharagpur Junction railway station|Kharagpur]] || KGP || 0
|-
| [[Bondamunda railway station|Bondamunda]] || BNDM || 30
|-
| [[Bokaro Steel City railway station|Bokaro Steel City]] || BKSC || 0
|-
| [[South East Central Railway zone|South East Central Railway]] || [[Raipur Junction railway station|Raipur]] || R|| 26
|-
| [[South Western Railway zone|South Western Railway]] || [[Krishnarajapuram railway station|Krishnarajapuram]] || KJM || 22
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Western Railway zone|Western Railway]] || [[Ratlam Junction railway station|Ratlam]] || RTM || 14
|-
| [[Vatva Railway Station|Vatva]] || VTA || 35
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[West Central Railway zone|West Central Railway]] || [[Itarsi Junction railway station|Itarsi]] || ET|| 50
|-
| [[New Katni Junction railway station|New Katni Junction]] || KTE || 16
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Total Locomotives Active as of 01-12-2021'''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Railway Website Mechanical Department|url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,304,366,541,710,717|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref><ref>https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/mec_engg/downloads/freight/2021/Diesel%20loco%20availability%20targets%20for%20June%202021.pdf</ref> || '''803'''
|}


==Technical specifications==
Technical details are as follows:<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2d.html#wdm-2| title=Diesel Locomotive Classes – Broad Gauge| publisher=Indian Railways Fan Club}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rdso.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/WDM%203A%20(MP-MISC-102%20SEPT-2000).PDF| title=Diagram Book of WDM2C Locomotive| publisher=RDSO}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|Manufacturers
| DLW, DLMW (DMW/DCW)
|-
| Engine
| Alco 251-C, 16 [[cylinder (engine)|cylinder]], {{convert|3,300|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=on}}, earlier {{convert|3,100|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=on}} ({{convert|3007|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=or}} site rating, earlier {{convert|2,900|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=on}}) with Napier NA2951R/ ABB VTC-304-VG15/ GE 7s 1716 turbo supercharged engine. 1,050 rpm max, 400 rpm idle; {{convert|228.6|x|266.7|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} bore x stroke; compression ratio 12.5:1. Direct fuel injection, centrifugal pump cooling system ({{convert|2,457|L/min|abbr=on}} at 1,050 rpm), fan driven by [[eddy current]] clutch ({{convert|90|hp|kW|abbr=on|disp=or}} at 1,050 rpm)
|-
| Governor
| [[Eddy Current|EDC]] / Woodward 8574-650
|-
|Transmission
|Electric, with [[BHEL]] TA 10102 CW [[Alternator#Diesel electric locomotive alternators|alternator]] (1,050 rpm, 1100 V, 4,400 [[ampere]]s) (Earlier used BHEL TG 10931 AZ alternator)
|-
|[[Traction motor]]s
|BHEL TM 4906 AZ/ 4907 BZ ({{convert|435|hp|abbr=on|disp=or}}) (with [[roller bearing]]s)
|-
|[[Axle load]]
|{{convert|18.8|t}}, total weight {{convert|112.8|t|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Bogie]]s
|[[Alco]] design cast frame asymmetric trimount (Co-Co) bogies
|-
|Starting TE
|{{convert|30.45|t|abbr=on}} at adhesion 27%, continuous {{convert|28.05|t|abbr=on}}
|-
|Length over [[buffer beam]]s
|{{convert|15,862|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|-
|Distance between bogies
|{{convert|10,516|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|}

==See also==

*[[Indian locomotive class WDM-2]]
*[[Indian Railways]]
*[[List of diesel locomotives of India]]
*[[Rail transport in India]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:WDM-3A}}
{{Broad gauge locomotives of India |state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Diesel-electric locomotives of India|M-3A]]
[[Category:Banaras Locomotive Works locomotives]]
[[Category:Co-Co locomotives]]
[[Category:5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1994]]

Indian locomotive class WDM-3A - Revision history

2409:4043:4CA4:D629:D538:F9AE:6233:4EB7 at 16:54, 4 January 2022