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Indian locomotive class WDG-5

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WDG-5
Sabarmati based GT50AC - WDG-5 named "BHEEM"
Type and origin
Power typeDiesel–electric
DesignerRDSO, EMD
BuilderBLW, EMD
ModelEMD GT50AC
Build date2012–2018
Total produced7
Specifications
Configuration:
 • CommonwealthCo-Co
Gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
BogiesHTCF Bogie
Pivot centres14,610 mm (47.93 ft)
Length:
 • Over couplers22,262 mm (73.038 ft)
 • Over beams20,880 mm (68.50 ft)
Width3,250 mm (10.66 ft)
Height4,382 mm (14.377 ft)
Axle load22.3 t (21.9 LT; 24.6 short tons)
Loco weight134 t (132 LT; 148 short tons)
Fuel typeDiesel fuel
Fuel capacity7500 Litres
Prime moverEMD 20N-710G3B-EC
RPM range200-950
Engine typeTwo-stroke diesel engine
AspirationTurbo-supercharged
AlternatorEMD TA20-CA9
Traction motorsEMD A 2921-6
Cylinders20
TransmissionDiesel–electric AC–AC IGBT Microprocessor Controlled
Gear ratio20:91
MU workingAAR
Loco brakeAir Brake, Dynamic Brake, Hand Brake
Train brakesAir Brakes
CouplersBuffers and chain coupler, CBC coupler
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Tractive effort:
 • Starting560 kN (125,893.01 lbf)
 • Continuous405 kN (91,047.62 lbf)
Dynamic brake peak effort270 kN (60,698.41 lbf)
Career
OperatorsIndian Railways
Numbers50001-50007
NicknamesBHEEM
LocaleIndia
Data source: | Progress Rail website

The Indian locomotive class WDG-5 (EMD GT50AC) is a class of heavy haul Diesel–electric locomotive built by Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi in collaboration with Electro-Motive Diesel. At a rated power output of 5,500 horsepower (4,100 kW), it is the second most powerful diesel locomotive class on Indian Railways, just out-powered by the 6,000 horsepower (4,500 kW) WDG-6G. Derived from the EMD SD80MAC, it was meant as a direct upgrade to the WDG-4 aka GT46MAC (an SD70MAC derivative). The locomotive series is named Bheem, after the strong Pandav brother from epic Mahabharata. The loco has the two-stroke Turbocharged EMD 20N-710G3B-EC (20 cylinder engine) of the EMD SD80MAC and an AC-AC transmission. Since the loco has been developed by installing a v20-710 prime mover and replacing the standard v16 in the WDG4 GT46MAC locomotive, the model was re-designated by adding 4 to the predecessor model, with GT-46 becoming GT-50, owing to the number of cylinders going from 16 to 20, thereby making it the First EMD locomotive in the GT-series to use a v20-710 engine.

The class was stopped only with seven units due to poor tractive effort – it provided only 560 kilonewtons, which is just 20 kilonewtons more than the WDG-4. Also, the v20-710 powerpack having high fuel consumption, similar to why the original SD80MAC were discontinued and were ultimately scrapped. Compounding the issue was Indian Railways aiming for complete network electrification as part of the Net Zero-Carbon Emission programme, during which it discontinued building EMD 710 locomotives and transitioned to greener diesel locomotives based on General Electric (GE)'s GEvo Evolution Series platform. Examples of such are the 4,500 hp (3.4 MW) WDG-4G (GE ES43ACmi) that uses the 12-cylinder version of the GEvo Prime Mover, and the 6,000 hp (4.5 MW) WDG-6G (GE ES57ACi) that uses the 16-cylinder version of the same engine.

Locomotive shed

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Zone Name Shed Code Quantity
Western Railway Sabarmati SBT 7
Total Locomotives Active as of May 2024[1] 7

References

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  1. ^ "IRFCA".

See also

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