>Bohfiners at 03:18, 10 June 2021

2021-06-10T03:18:06Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}{{Use Indian English|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox locomotive
|name= WDP-3A
|image=File:TKD WDP3A.jpg
|alt=
|caption= TKD DLS based WDP-3A named "PUSHPAK" roaming light at Ambala Cantt.
|powertype=Diesel
|builder=[[Banaras Locomotive Works]]<br>[[Diesel-Loco Modernisation Works]]
|ordernumber=
|serialnumber=WDP-2-1 to WDP-2-44
|buildmodel=[[ALCO DL560C]] variant|builddate=October 4, 1998, to February 1, 2001
|totalproduction= '''44'''
|rebuilder=[[Diesel-Loco Modernisation Works]], [[Patiala]]
|rebuilddate=
|numberrebuilt=
|aarwheels=
|uicclass=Co-Co|gauge={{track gauge|1676mm|lk=on}}
|trucks=|bogies=Flexicoil Mark V fabricated bogies
|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|18.62|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|width={{convert|2.964|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|height={{convert|4.185|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
|axleload={{convert|19500|kg|abbr=on}}
|weightondrivers=
|locoweight={{convert|117|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
|trainheating=
|locobrakes=
|trainbrakes=[[Railway air brake only|Air]]
|safety=
|maxspeed={{convert|160|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
|poweroutput=WDP-3A: 3100 HP,
|tractiveeffort={{convert|30.45|t|0|abbr=on}} 
|locobrakeforce=
|operator=[[Indian Railways]]
|operatorclass=
|powerclass=
|numinclass=
|fleetnumbers='''15501'''-'''15544'''
|officialname=
|nicknames='''Toasters''', '''Pushpak'''
|axleloadclass=
|locale=SR (GOC), NER (IZN) and CR (KYN)
|deliverydate=
|firstrundate=
|lastrundate=
|retiredate=
|withdrawndate=
|preservedunits=
|restoredate=
|scrapdate=
|currentowner=
|disposition=active
}}

The Indian locomotive class '''WDP-3A''' is a class of [[diesel-electric locomotive]] that was developed in 1998 by [[Banaras Locomotive Works]], Varanasi for [[Indian Railways]]. The model name stands for [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|broad gauge (W)]], Diesel (D), Passengers traffic (P) locomotive with 3100 horsepower (3A). The WDP-3A is a later classification of earlier WDP-2. They entered service in 1998. A total of 44 were built between 1998 and 2001.

They are the Fastest ALCo based locomotive breed found in India with a Top speed of 160 Km/h, on par with the premier Electric Locomotives.The WDP-3A served IR for over 22 years. A significant number of these locomotives are still in use, both on mainline and departmental duties. As of January 2020, most of the locomotives still retain "operational status" on the mainline as WDP-3A, with further examples having been used for departmental works.

== History ==

The first one was delivered on October 1998,under the name of WDP-2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://irfca.org/faq/faq-history6.html|title=IR History: Part - VI (1970-1995)|publisher=Indian Railways Fan Club|access-date=August 22, 2017}}</ref> 44 units produced till February 2001 (Indian Railway road number 15501-15544) had dual cab forward design different from other classes of locos built by DLW ([[Indian locomotive class WDM-3A|WDM3A]], [[Indian locomotive class WDG-2/3A|WDG3A]] and [[Indian locomotive class WDP-1|WDP1]]).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bhAbDgAAQBAJ&q=WDM-3A&pg=PA16|title=Locomotives and Rail Road Transportation - Technology, Challenges and Prospects|publisher=Springer|year=2017|isbn=978-981-10-3787-0|editor1-last=Agarwal|editor1-first=Avinash Kumal|page=16|lccn=2017930134|editor2-last=Dhar|editor2-first=Atul|editor3-last=Gautam|editor3-first=Anirudh|editor4-last=Pandey|editor4-first=Ashok|via=Google Books}}</ref> These new locomotives have control stand similar to many electric locomotives. They are the re-geared versions of the [[Indian locomotive class WDM-3A|WDM-3A]]. This was IR’s attempt to build a high speed loco on ALCO platform. But the [[EMD GT46PAC|EMD]] locos came with a much better performance with higher HP rating to kill the prospect of WDP3As. These units have air brakes only and the gear ratio is 64:19.<ref>{{cite web|title=About WDP-3A|url=http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2d.html#wdp-3a|publisher=Indian Railways Fan Club}}</ref>

These locos (WDP-2s then) were introduced initially the Chennai Egmore - Kanyakumari Section, hauling many Prestigious trains like the ''[[Pallavan Express]], [[Vaigai Express]], [[Rockfort Express]], [[Nellai Express]]'' and ''[[Pothigai Express]]'' to name a few.

A problem with the WDP-3A was that it would get uncomfortably hot inside the driving cabin on the radiator side and the locos were nicknamed “toasters” by the locomotive pilots. The WDP3A was best known for hauling the ''[[Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express|Trivandrum Rajdhani]]'' and later on the ''[[Mumbai CSMT - Karmali Tejas Express]]'' through the [[Konkan Railway]] at a top speed of 120 kmh single handedly.

However due to age issues, the WDP3A locomotives of DLS GOC and KYN were withdrawn gradually from hauling the Trivandrum Rajdhani and Tejas express.

In 2018, a couple of GOC Based WDP3A locomotives were rebuilt at DMW Patiala with better bogies for Riding comfort. Such Rebuilt toasters bear the suffix 'R' to their road numbers.

In 2021, GOC announced the Withdrawal of all WDP3A's in their shed.

== Locomotive sheds ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Zone!! Name !! Shed Code !! Quantity
|-
| [[Central Railway zone|Central Railway]] || [[Kalyan Junction railway station|Kalyan]] || KYN || 10
|-
| [[Northern Railway zone|Northern Railway]] || [[Tughlakabad railway station|Tughlakabad]] || TKD|| 20
|-
| [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]] || [[Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock|Golden Rock]]|| GOC || 9
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Total Locomotives Active as of 01-05-2021'''<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> || 39
|}


==Gallery==
[[File:KYN WDP3A.jpg|thumb|KYN based WDP-3A in Tejas express livery rest at Diva Jn.]]
[[File:Monsoon Train - Flickr - Dr. Santulan Mahanta.jpg|thumb|KYN WDP-3A hauling the Mumbai-Karmali Tejas Express]]
[[File:Trivandrum rajdhani.jpg|thumb|left|GOC WDP-3A with Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express]]
[[File:WDP3A c 15543 PUSHPAK.jpg|thumb|Tughlakabad WDP-3A named "Pushpak"]]
[[File:NZM - TVC Rajdhani (16481426561).jpg|thumb|GOC WDP 3A with TVC Rajdhani Express]]
[[File:WDP 3A ready to haul the 22120 Tejas Express at Karmali railway station - 1.jpg|thumb|Kalyan based WDP-3A in Tejas livery at Karmali]]
[[File:Golden Rock WDP-3A 15532.jpeg|thumb|GOC based WDP-3A looped at Kille(TN)]]

== See also ==

* [[Indian locomotive class WDM-3A]]
* [[Indian locomotive class WDM-2]]
* [[List of diesel locomotives of India]]
* [[Rail transport in India]]
* [[Indian Railways]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Broad gauge locomotives of India|state=open}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:WDP-3A}}

[[Category:Diesel-electric locomotives of India|P-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 WDP-3A - Revision history

>Bohfiners at 03:18, 10 June 2021