Indian locomotive class WCG-1

The Indian locomotive class WCG-1 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in the late 1920s by Vulcan Foundry and Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM for Indian Railways. Its class designation stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Freight traffic (G) engine, 1st generation (1). They entered service in 1930. A total of 41 WCG-1 locomotives were built in England between 1928 and 1929.

GIPR EF/1 Indian locomotive class WCG-1
A GIPR 4502 WCG-1 preserved at National Rail Museum, New Delhi
Type and origin Power type Electric Designer Vulcan Foundry, Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Builder Vulcan Foundry, Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works Order number M3559/53261/51 Model EF/1 Build date 1928- 1929 Total produced 41
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC C′C′  • Commonwealth C-C Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) Wheel diameter New:1,220 mm (4 ft 0 in), Half worn:1,182 mm (3 ft 10+1⁄2 in) and Full worn:1,114 mm (3 ft 8 in) Wheelbase 4,596 mm (15 ft 1 in) Length: ​  • Over couplers 20.142 m (66 ft 1 in) Width 3.169 m (10 ft 4+3⁄4 in) Height 4.292 m (14 ft 1 in) Axle load 20.50 tonnes (20.18 long tons; 22.60 short tons) Loco weight 123.00 tonnes (121.06 long tons; 135.58 short tons) Power supply 110 V DC Electric system/s 1.5 kV DC Overhead Current pickup(s) pantograph Loco brake Air/Hand, Regenerative braking Train brakes Vacuum Safety systems e
Performance figures Maximum speed 80 km/h (50 mph) Power output Max:2,600 hp (1,940 kW) Tractive effort: ​  • Starting 30,482 kgf (300 kN)  • 1 hour 25,481 kgf (250 kN)  • Continuous 18,144 kgf (180 kN)
Career Operators Indian Railways Class EF/1 Numbers GIPR 4500–4540 IR 20027–20067 Locale Central Railways Delivered 1930 First run 1930 Last run 2000 as shunters Retired January 2000 Withdrawn Early 2000 Preserved 2 Scrapped May 2000 Current owner National Rail Museum, New Delhi Disposition Two preserved, remainder scrapped

The WCG-1 worked both passenger and freight trains for over 72 years. With the introduction of more modern types of locomotives and 25 KV AC electrification, all were withdrawn by the early 2000s. Today 2 locomotives are preserved with the rest of the units being scrapped.

History

The locomotives were ordered in 1926. The first 10 mechanical components were built by SLM in Winterthur, and the remaining 31 were built by Vulcan Foundry in Newton-le-Willows. The electrical components of all 41 locomotives was built by Metrovick based on drawings by BBC from Baden AG. These were the first electric locomotives built by Vulcan Foundry.

The locomotives were used in front of freight trains on the GIPR's Bombay-Pune and Bombay-Igatpuri routes, but were also assigned to bank trains on the up to 3% steep Bhor Ghat gradient. They were referred to by the staff as खेकडा [Khēkaḍā], English 'crab', and distinguished themselves by being able to negotiate curves well on mountain ranges. It is often mentioned that the locomotives made a strange moaning sound when standing and made a wiping sound when driving, which was typical for most crocodile locomotives.

From 1974 the WCG-1s were only used in shunting in Bombay and Lonavla, where the last locomotives were still in use in 1992. In Bombay they were located in the Wadi Bunder depot near the Bombay Victoria terminus and were mainly used to assemble passenger trains.

The first locomotive was named Sir Leslie Wilson, who was governor of Bombay from 1923 to 1928. The nameplate is fitted on locomotive no. 4502, on display in the National Rail Museum of India.

Design

The total weight of the locomotive was 123 t, with the mechanical components weighing 72.25 t and the electrical components 50.75 t.

The locomotive has two bogies with three coupled axles, which were driven by an SLM inclined rod drive. The drive axle was the third axle in the bogie, the drive was from a double drive motor via a blind shaft, which is arranged between axes 1 and 2, on the drive and coupling rods. The two powered bogies, on which the pulling and pushing devices were also attached, had lower structures in which the traction motors and the reversing switches were housed. The locomotive box with the two cabs connected the two powered bogies. The locomotive was able to drive arches with a radius of 500 ft (152 m).

The 650 HP traction motors had winding designed for 1500 V. The following groupings were possible: all four motors connected in series and two motors in series connection in parallel to the other two motors in series connection all traction motors in parallel. The electro-pneumatic control had nine speed levels - three in each grouping. There was also an electric useful brake that worked in the speed range from 8 mph (12.8 m / h) to 35 mph (56 km / h). The excitation of the traction motors was ensured by an axle generator.

The locomotive was fitted with a vacuum brake, the brake of the locomotive itself being designed as a vacuum-controlled compressed air brake. There were two vacuum pumps and two piston compressors, the compressors being driven by 1500 V motors supplied directly with the contact line voltage. The sand spreaders working with compressed air discharge could be operated via a pedal. The pantographs could be raised and lowered using a manually operated compressed air valve. A compressed air pipe was available as an acoustic warning device.

Preserved examples

Class	Manufacturer	Loco Number	Previous shed	Name	Livery	Location	ref
WCG-1	SLM and Vulcan Foundry	4502/20063	Wadi Bunder	Sir Leslie Wilson	Black	Preserved at National Rail Museum, New Delhi
WCG-1	Vulcan Foundry and SLM	20067	Wadi Bunder	Sir Leslie Wilson	Black	Preserved at Heritage Gully, CSTM

Former sheds

• Wadi Bunder: all locomotives of this class have been withdrawn from service.

Gallery

• 
  One of the surviving EF-1 (WCG-1) locos at the Heritage Gully at CSMT. View from Cab-1 Side
• 
  One of the surviving EF-1 (WCG-1) locos at the Heritage Gully at CSMT. View from its Cab-2 Side

See also

• Rail transport in India#History
• Indian Railways
• Locomotives of India
• Rail transport in India

External links

• 2,600 H.P. 0-6-6-0 Electric Freight Locomotive, Great Indian Peninsula Railway (PDF). Vulcan Foundry. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
• http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-specs.html#WCG-1
• [1]
• India railway fan club