Indian locomotive class WAP-3 explained

WAP-3
Powertype:Electric
Designer:RDSO, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
Builder:Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
Ordernumber:RDSOE-17
Buildmodel:WAP-1 FMII
Builddate:1987–1988
Totalproduction:9 (all from previous WAP-1 units)
Rebuilder:Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
Rebuilddate:1987–1988
Numberrebuilt:9
Aarwheels:C-C
Uicclass:Co′Co′
Britishclass:Co-Co
Bogies:Fabricated bogie assembly (Flexicoil Mark II and later Mark IV)
Wheeldiameter:New: 10920NaN0
Half worn: 1055abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Full worn: 10160NaN0
Wheelbase:17350NaN0
Over Bufferbeams:18.794abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Body:17.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Width:3.179abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Height:4.272abbr=onNaNabbr=on
Frametype:Flexicoil (cast steel bogies); primary and secondary wheel springs with bolsters
Axleload:18800kg (41,400lb)
Locoweight:112000kg (247,000lb)
Sandcap:8 Sandboxes
Powersupply:110v DC
Electricsystem: Overhead
Collectionmethod:Pantograph
Tractionmotors:Alstom TAO 659
Locobrakes:Air
Trainbrakes:Air, Dual
Safety:Slip control, Over voltage relay, Main overload relay, Earth Fault Relay, Low Pressure Governor, Brake Cylinder Cutoff Valve, Train parting alarms and No OHE volt relay
Maxspeed:1300NaN0
Poweroutput Start:3900hp
Poweroutput Cont:37600NaN0
T/E Starting:22400-1NaN-1
T/E 1 Hr:22400-1NaN-1
Operator:Indian Railways
Operatorclass:WAP-3
Nicknames:Jawahar
Fleetnumbers:22003, 22005-22009 and 22034, 22051, 220052
Locale:All over India
Deliverydate:1987
Firstrundate:1988
Withdrawndate:February 2017
Preservedunits:1 (as Loco pilot trainer)
Disposition:All reverted to WAP-1 and in service.

The Indian locomotive class WAP-3 was a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was designed by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) for Indian Railways in 1987. The model name stands for Broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Passenger traffic (P) locomotive, 3rd generation (3). They entered service in 1988. They were the faster variant of the previous WAP-1 class. A total of 9 WAP-3 were converted from existing WAP-1 units at CLW between 1987 and 1988, but were later reverted back to WAP-1 specifications.

History

The history of the WAP-3 begins in the early 1980s with the WAP-1 class. The WAP-1 was the first attempt to create a dedicated high-speed electric passenger locomotive.[1] They were first used on the Howrah Rajdhani Express,[2] but Indian Railways was not satisfied with the performance of the WAP-1, as they could haul around 19 coaches at a max speed of 120 km/h. So Indian Railways decided to procure a faster version of the WAP-1.[3]

The WAP-3 was ordered from CLW to the design of RDSO. The Flexicoil cast steel bogies of the WAP-1 was replaced by Flexicoil Mark II versions. This increased max speed to 140 km/h. Five prototype locomotives of this type were made from existing WAP-1 units. The first prototype WAP-1 numbered '22005 Jawahar' was put into service in 1988. Initially these locomotives were classified as WAP-1 FM II,[4] with FM II standing for " Flexicoil Mark II " and were certified to run at 130 km/h between Jhansi and lalitpur section.[5] Later Flexicoil Mark 4 bogies were provided for Subsequent WAP-3 which increased max speed to 160 km/h.

They were first used on the Taj Express and then the Shatabdi express.[6] [7] The Bhopal Shatabdi used to run with WAP-3 for some time. But as trains got longer the WAP-3 struggled to perform and required banking locomotives on moderately graded sections, and so did not meet their design goals these were reverted to WAP-1 class again.

The WAP-3 and WAP-1 provided the basis for the WAP-4 class.

Locomotive sheds

The current list of the former WAP-3 class

Loco NoCurrent ShedStatusCurrent classCommentREF
22003Arakkonam (AJJ)Training LocoWAP-1Converted to training loco with glass panels in bodyside[8]
22005Arakkonam (AJJ)In serviceWAP-1Named Jawahar[9]
22006Tughlakabad (TKD)
In serviceWAP-1Named Rajhans[10]
22007Arakkonam (AJJ)In serviceWAP-1[11]
22008Arakkonam (AJJ)In serviceWAP-1[12]
22009Arakkonam (AJJ)In serviceWAP-1[13]
22034Tughlakabad (TKD)In serviceWAP-1[14]
22051Tughlakabad (TKD)In serviceWAP-1Now a WAP-4[15]
22052Tughlakabad (TKD)In serviceWAP-1[16] [17]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019-06-19. [IRFCA] A Brief History of Railway Electrification in India]. www.irfca.org.
  2. Web site: Railmanak Lucknow . 9 October 1989 . rdso.indianrailways.gov.in . 1.
  3. Web site: Electric Locomotive Roster: The WAP Series!. 3 September 2016.
  4. Web site: WAP-3 name.
  5. Web site: Speed certificate.
  6. Web site: wap1_jawahar_taj_exp.jpg. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.
  7. Web site: WAP-3 RDSO.
  8. Web site: 2217080-0: Modal Locomotive AJJ 22003 WAP1 ARAKKONA - Railway Enquiry. Maharshi. Tageeru Anubharadwaj. indiarailinfo.com.
  9. Web site: [IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Arakkonam (AJJ) WAP-1 22005 Show]. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.
  10. Web site: [IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Tughlakabad (TKD) WAP-1 22006 Show]. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.
  11. Web site: [IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Arakkonam (AJJ) WAP-1 22007 Show]. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.
  12. Web site: [IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Arakkonam (AJJ) WAP-1 22008 Show]. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.
  13. Web site: [IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Arakkonam (AJJ) WAP-1 22009 Show]. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.
  14. Web site: [IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Tughlakabad (TKD) WAP-1 22034 Show]. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.
  15. Web site: [IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Mughalsarai (MGS) WAP-4 22051 Show]. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.
  16. Web site: [IRFCA] Indian Railways Locomotive Roster Tughlakabad (TKD) WAP-1 22052 Show]. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.
  17. Web site: 2_G.jpg. www.irfca.org. 2020-05-20.