me in steep gradients and ghats.........I am there as well
Need me in torrential Assam monsoon..........Present here as well
Who am I......I am your everyday loco the WDM-2!
Just spotted my favourite loco in action today at Hussian Sagar Junction...............felt like writing up a tribute to my alltime favourite "KHIT-KHIT" loco the WDM-2:-
Image link:-
click hereSome salient feautures of the WDM--2
"The Loco Story :
Initially imported from American Loco Company. Indigenously built by Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi first in 1964.
Maximum speed limit - 120 kmph. Power output of 2400 hp.
The first unit were imported fully built from ALCO. After DLW was set up, 12 of these were produced from kits imported from ALCO.
A single WDM2 can usually haul around 9 passenger coaches & two units MUed can haul 18-coach trains.
The WDM-2A is a variant of the original WDM-2. These units have been retro-fitted with air brakes, in addition to the original vacuum brakes.
The WDM-2B is a more recent locomotive, built with air brakes as original equipment.
A few WDM-2 locos downgraded for shunting duties have been seen marked with a WDM-2S class
The original Alco designs usually had a 10-day or 3000 km maintenance schedule which was later extended following some modifications to a 14-day schedule. Presently the schedule is being further extended to 30 days by increasing the capacities for various fluids like lubrication oil, etc. and improving some bearings mainly, using roller bearings for the suspension.
Technicalities :
Engines --- Alco 251-B, 16 cylinder, 2,600 hp, turbo supercharged engine, 1,000 rpm max, 400 rpm idle.
Direct fuel injection, centrifugal pump cooling system (2,457 l/min at 1,000 rpm), fan driven by eddy current clutch (86 hp at 1,000 rpm)
Gear Ratio --- 65:18
Governor --- GE 17MG8 / Woodwards 8574-650 / Medha MEG 601
Traction motors --- GE752 (original Alco models) (405 hp), BHEL 4906 BZ (AZ?) (435 hp) and (newer) 4907 AZ (with roller bearings)
Transmission --- Electric, with BHEL TG 10931 AZ generator (1,000 rpm, 770 V, 4,520 amperes).
Axle Load --- 18.8 tonnes
Loco weight --- 112.8 tonnes
Bogie type --- Alco cast frame trimount (Co-Co) bogies
Tractive effort --- 30.4 t, at adhesion 27% "\
Source:-
click hereMore Images:-
click hereIRFCA Article:-
"
WDM-2
(Class name unchanged after reclassification.) 2600 hp Alco models (RSD29 / DL560C). Co-Co, 16-cylinder 4-stroke turbo-supercharged engine. Introduced in 1962. The first units were imported fully built from Alco. After DLW was set up, 12 of these were produced from kits imported from Alco (order no. D3389). After 1964, DLW produced this loco in vast numbers in lots of different configurations. This loco model was IR's workhorse for the second half of the 20th century, and perhaps the one loco that has an iconic association with IR for many people. These locos are found all over India hauling goods and passenger trains — the standard workhorse of IR. Many crack trains of IR used to be double-headed by WDM-2 locos; this has decreased now owing to the electrification of most important sections and the use of more powerful locos. A single WDM-2 can generally haul around 9 passenger coaches; twin WDM-2's were therefore used for 18-coach trains.
WDM-2 JumboJumbos – A few locos of the WDM-2 class produced in 1978-79 have a full-width short hood; these are unofficially termed 'Jumbos' by the crew. These range from serial numbers around 17796 or so to about 17895 or so (17899 and above are known to be 'normal' WDM-2s). These were apparently produced with the idea of improving the visibility for the drivers, but it was learned later that it did not make much of a difference under the typical operating conditions of these locos. Some of these were later modified to have narrower short hoods to look more like the other WDM-2's. Two locos, #17881 and #17882, were trial locos produced by DLW when they were considering shutting down Jumbo production; these look like ordinary WDM-2 locos, even though there are other Jumbos with higher road numbers than them. Some Jumbos have undergone further modifications: Loco #17854 was a Jumbo based at Jhansi in 1981; now [6/04] it has been rebuilt as a WDM-3A locomotive (based at Pune) by DCW, Patiala.
WDM-2 JumboThe classification WDM-2A is applied to those that were re-fitted with air brakes (most of these therefore have dual braking capability), while WDM-2B is applied to more recent locos built with air brakes as the original equipment (these very rarely have vacuum braking capability in addition, especially if they have been rebuilt by Golden Rock). (However, in the past, before the widespread use of air-brakes, a few modified versions with a low short hood at one end like the WDS-6 were also classified WDM-2A.) A few WDM-2 locos of the Erode shed have been modified and sport a full-forward cab at one end, with the dynamic brake grid, blower, etc. moved between the cab and the traction alternator.
The original Alco designs had a 10-day, 3000km maintenance schedule, which was later extended by some modifications to a 14-day schedule. Now [1/02], the schedule is being extended to 30 days by increasing the capacities for various fluids (lubrication oil, etc.), and improving some bearings (mainly, using roller bearings for the suspension). The original WDM-2 bearings were very susceptible to failure. However, given the age of this model, unsurprisingly even locos that have been modified for a 14-day schedule do often require more frequent maintenance or minor repair so they end up being put on a 7-day schedule anyway.
WDM-2 locos are excepted from the new mainline diesel classification scheme and will remain classified as WDM-2 and not 'WDM-2F' as they might be in the new scheme based on their horsepower.
The first one supplied by Alco was #18040. This one is no longer in use and is now preserved at the National Railway Museum at New Delhi. The second one from Alco, #18041, is currently [7/05] homed at Kalyan shed and is often seen hauling the Diva - Vasai DMU service. The first WDM-2 built by DLW, #18233, is now at Andal shed (not much in use). The last WDM-2's were in the 16000 series. The very last one is #16887.
The WDM-2 locos have a max. speed of 120km/h. There are generally speaking no restrictions for running with the long hood leading, although it's been reported that in some cases the practice was to limit it to 100km/h. The gear ratio is 65:18.
Some WDM-2 units are being converted [2/02] to have AC-DC transmission (alternator driving DC traction motors) by DCW, Patiala. Golden Rock workshops have also been renovating some WDM-2 locos with new features such as twin-beam headlamps.
Only one WDM-2 loco (#16859, Ernakulam shed) is known to have had cab air-conditioning fitted. This was the first loco to have air-conditioning in India; this was done by the ERS shed in 1997 right after receiving the loco from DLW, but it was disabled later as the auxiliary alternator proved too weak to run the air-conditioner well.
A few WDM-2 locos downgraded for shunting duties have been seen marked with a WDM-2S class name; e.g., some at Itwari shed [2003] and some at Kurla. A few have also been spotted bearing the class name WDS-2, e.g., those at the Kalyan shed where they are used for shunting. These appear to be quirks of the local shed staff and not officially recognized classifications.
DCW Patiala has rebuilt some WDM-2 units to class WDM-3A/WDM-2C specifications. WDM-3A These are a little different from the normal WDM-2C from DLW. They look very similar to WDM-2's, except for a bulge on one of the doors of the hood; this is due to the presence of a centrifugal fuel filter which moved there because the model required larger aftercoolers. There are some other slight differences in appearance. These units have a GE turbocharger and a different expressor with integral air drying facility. They have a Woodwards governor which leads to even running and idling, and (to the great disappintment of Alco smoke fans) reduces the amount of black smoke during intense acceleration. These also have roller bearings for the suspension, improving on the longstanding problem of bearing failures on the regular WDM-2 model.
Following the new mainline diesel classification scheme, new WDM-2C's converted or overhauled by DCW, Patiala, are being labelled WDM-3A (new).
Brief Notes
Builders: Alco, DLW
Engine: Alco 251-B, 16 cylinder, 2600hp (2430hp site rating) with Alco 710/720/?? turbocharger. 1000rpm max, 400rpm idle; 228mm x 266mm bore/stroke; compression ratio 12.5:1. Direct fuel injection, centrifugal pump cooling system (2457l/min @ 1000rpm), fan driven by eddy current clutch (86hp @ engine rpm 1000).
Governor: GE 17MG8 / Woodwards 8574-650.
Transmission: Electric, with BHEL TG 10931 AZ generator (1000rpm, 770V, 4520A).
Traction motors: GE752 (original Alco models) (405hp), BHEL 4906 BZ (AZ?) (435hp) and (newer) 4907 AZ (with roller bearings)
Axle Load: 18.8 tonnes, total weight 112.8t.
Bogies: Alco design asymmetric cast frame trimount (Co-Co) bogies (shared with WDS-6, WDM-7, WAM-4, WCAM-1, WCG-2).
Starting TE: 30.4t, at adhesion 27%.
Length over buffer beams: 15862mm.
Distance between bogies: 10516mm.
For details, refer to the loco specifications page.
Comparative Specifications
WDM-2D There are a few WDM-2D units in ER used for push-pull operations (Sealdah-Hasnabad, Ranaghat-Krishnagar, Lalgola-Murshidaba, Bardhaman-Rampurhat). It is not known how they differ from the WDM-2 / WDM-2C classes. "
Serial nos in use:-
Source:-
click here16000-16887/17100-17999/
18040-079/18112-18514/
18523-18900/18903-18999.
Above list includes WDM-2A's. 17796-17895 (?) are the 'Jumbo' versions.
Many (17802+, etc.) now rebuilt as WDM-2C, new name WDM-3A.
Numbers are *not* chronological!
18040 was the first ever WDM-2, from Alco.
The first kit-built from DLW was 18233.
The first fully-built from DLW was 18299.
The last ones were in the 16000 series,
when the older number range was reused.
Numbers in use:- 2700+
To put the sheer dominance of the WDM-2 in perspective.....here is a stat the next most popular locomotive the WAG-5 is about 1100 in number.....less than half of the number of the WDM-2s!
