Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, commissioned in 1950, was the first locomotive manufacturing unit in India.[8]Banaras Locomotive Works, commissioned in 1961, is the second locomotive manufacturing unit operated by Indian Railways.[9] In the 1960s, Integral Coach Factory-Chennai (ICF) started developing self-propelled Electric multiple units for short-haul and local routes.[10][11] BHEL and Patiala Locomotive Works, established in 1981, also manufacture locomotives in India.[12] In 2015, the first compressed natural gas (CNG) powered trains were rolled out by ICF.[13] In 2018, a semi-high speed self-propelled train-set capable of reaching speeds of over 160 km/h (99 mph) was rolled out from ICF.[14][15] As of 2023[update], Indian Railways maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 13,000 trains daily with a fleet of over 14,800 locomotives.[16][17] 37% of the trains are operated by diesel locomotives and rest mostly by electric locomotives.[18] As of December 2023[update], Indian Railways had 10,238 electric and 4,543 diesel locomotives amongst others.[19][20]
Classification
Locomotives are classified by track gauge, motive power, function, power rating and model in a four- or five-letter code.[21] The locomotives may be Longer Hood Front (LHF), where the driver cabin is behind the hood of the engine or Short Hood Front (SHF), where the cabin is located towards the front.[21]
Electric
In 1925, the first electric train ran between Bombay and Kurla, hauled by a imported SLM locomotive on a DC traction.[22] In 1927, the first electric locomotive hauled passenger train was pulled by an imported WCP-1.[6] In 1957, Indian Railways adopted 25 kV 50 Hz AC traction with the first runs beginning in December 1959 with the WAM-1 locomotives.[22]
Broad-gauge
Metre-gauge
EMU
In 1925, the Electric Multiple Units (EMU) introduced in Bombay were 1.5KV DC units imported were from Cammell Laird and Uerdingenwagonfabrik.[22] In the 1960s, EMUs were developed by Intergral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. Indian Railways uses multiple DC units in operation in several suburban sections which are classified from WCU-1 through WCU-15. BHEL developed AC-DC dual use EMUs which can run on 25kV AC and 1.5kV DC traction lines.[22] In the late 1990s, MEMUs were developed which ran on 25KV AC power. AC Electric multiple units are designated WAU-1 to WAU-4.[24] In 2019, ICF rolled out three-phase AC units to replace conventional DC units.[25]
Diesel
In 1954, the first diesel locomotive was used in India, which was manufactured by North British Locomotive Company.[7] In 1958, WDM-1, the first locomotive used for mainline traffic was imported from ALCO.[26] In 1964, the first broad-gauge WDM-2 diesel locomotive was rolled out by Banaras Locomotive Works.[9]
In 1993-94, Diesel multiple units (DMU) were introduced into service. Depending on their transmission system, they are classified as DEMU (diesel-electric transmission) or DHMU (diesel-hydraulic transmission).[24] With increase in electrifiction, DEMUS have been replaced by MEMUs in stages.[24]
Dual
Steam
Broad-gauge
Indian Railways locomotives: (clockwise from upper left) HPS, NRM WP 7200, B-26 and YP-class locomotives
In the 19th century, the railway companies ordered custom-built steam locomotives, usually from British manufacturers. With non-standardized and multiple designs, manufacturing cost was high and production was slow. During the 1890s, Indian railway companies imported locomotives from Germany and the United States when British manufacturers were suffering from work outages.[32] List of locomotives used below:
EIR class G: 2-2-2T, first two named Express and Fairy Queen; Built in 1855, the latter is the world's oldest locomotive to be in working order and was rebuilt by ICF; Housed at East Indian Railway (EIR)
Class PTC: 2-6-4T, owned by Northern Railway (NR); probably a converted passenger locomotive
Class Y2: 2-8-2T, reclassified L2
Phoenix: 0-4-0T, one is at the National Rail Museum
Ramgotty: 2-2-0T, the National Rail Museum's oldest locomotive, it was converted to broad gauge
Sultan, Sahib and Sindh: Hauled the first passenger train in 1853
In the early 1900s, the British Engineering Standards Committee (later the British Engineering Standards Association) began designing a series of locomotives for use by Indian railways. The first two designs emerged in 1903: a 4-4-0 passenger and 0-6-0 goods. They were revised in 1905 and 1906 with additional heavier, more-powerful locomotives:
These advisory BESA designs were customized by the railway companies, which used different classification systems; only the state-operated railways used the class designations SP, SG, PT, HP, AP, HG and HT. When superheating was accepted, superheated versions were classified SPS, SGS and so on (if built with superheaters) and SPC, SGC and so on (if converted from saturated to superheated).
Indian Railways locomotives: 1935 XP class (left) and 1927 XB class
After World War I, larger and more-powerful locomotives were designed by British consulting engineers for the Indian government. They began to operate from 1927:
During World War II, large numbers of 2-8-2 locomotives were acquired from the United States and Canada and classified AWD and CWD. The Baldwin Locomotive Works adapted the USATC S160 Class locomotive design for India, and it became class AWC. Sixty broad-gauge locomotives were built in 1944 as part of an order of 180 S160 engines. In addition to modified frame spreaders, axles, cylinders, and cab, the Indian locomotives had a turbo generator and electric lighting (not included in the standard European design). Many parts (including boilers) were identical to those in standard-gauge locomotives.[33]
(clockwise from upper left) WL- and YG-class locomotives; an M2-162, and a display engine in Guntur Division
Although new classes were designed shortly before the war, many did not enter service until the post-war period. The new classes were indicated by the change of broad-gauge prefix from X to W, and plans were implemented to begin manufacturing locomotives in India. The new classes were:
In 2015, the first compressed natural gas (CNG) powered Multiple unites were rolled out by ICF.[13] In 2020, Southern Railway zone introduced the first battery/AC dual shunter termed as WAG5HA with "H" for hybrid.[34]
^ a bUnderstanding Indian Railway Heritage (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. p. 6. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^"Chennai: The track record". New Indian Express. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
^First running of a railway locomotive in India (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. p. 6. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^"When India's first train blew steam". The Times of India. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^"Oldest locomotive: Built in Ajmer, pride of Delhi". The Times of India. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^ a b cEvolution of Electric Locomotives (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^ a bGandhidham shed details (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^Chittaranjan Locomotive works (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^ a b c d e fBanaras Locomotive works (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^Electrical Multiple Units (PDF). Indian Rail Info (Report). 15 October 1999. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^"Historical Background of Railway Electrification". Indian Railways. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^"Indian railway facilities". Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
^ a b"India's first CNG train for the Rewari-Rohtak section". The Economic Times. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^"Indian Railways to roll out 'Make in India' 160 kmph self-propelled 'world-class' train sets at half the cost of import!". The Financial Express. 20 February 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^"Train 18: Country's first engine-less train rolled out; Train 20 next". The Economic Times. 29 October 2018. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^"About Indian Railways". Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
^Trains at a glance (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
^"37% of trains in India being hauled by diesel locomotives, rest by electric engines". The Hindu. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^ a b c d eDiesel locomotive holding (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
^ a b cLocomotive classification (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
^ a b c d eElectrification history (Report). Indian Railways. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^ a b c d eHeritage list of locomotives (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^ a b c"Multiple Units". IRFCA. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^"3-phase MEMU to replace conventional DC rakes soon". The Hindu. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^De Cet, Mirco; Kent, Alan (2006). The Complete Encyclopedia of Locomotives. Rebo International. p. 286. ISBN 978-9-0366-1505-1.
^ a b c d"Loco classes". IRFCA. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^Loco availability April 2024 (PDF) (Report). Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
^"Locomotive FAQ". IRFCA. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^"Achievements of 2021". RDSO. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
^"Railways to manufacture dual-mode locomotives that run on diesel, electricity". The Times of India. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
^Hughes 1979, p. 17
^Baldwin Locomotive Works drawing index and bill of materials for special order 43306, locomotive design 2-8-0 19S, numbers 666 to 845 for the U.S. Government, War Department.
^"Indian Railways goes green with eco-friendly loco! Adds battery-operated shunting locomotive to its fleet". Financial Express. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
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Hughes, Hugh (1990). Indian Locomotives: Part 1 – Broad Gauge 1851–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9503469-8-5. OCLC 21871114.
Hughes, Hugh (1992). Indian Locomotives: Part 2 – Metre Gauge 1872–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9503469-9-3. OCLC 26549293.
Hughes, Hugh (1994). Indian Locomotives: Part 3 – Narrow Gauge 1863–1940. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-0-3. OCLC 39496543.
Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1. OCLC 35135033.
Marshall, Lawrence G (2001). Indian Narrow Gauge Steam Remembered. East Harling, Norfolk: Plateway Press. ISBN 1871980488.
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