Indian locomotive class WDG-5 explained

WDG-5
Powertype:Diesel-electric
Designer:RDSO, EMD
Builder:BLW, EMD
Buildmodel:EMD GT50AC
Totalproduction:7
Builddate:2012–2018
Primemover:EMD 20-710G3B-ES
Rpmrange:200-950
Britishclass:Co-Co
Bogies:HTCF Bogie
Pivotcentres:14610mm
Over Couplers:22262mm
Over Bufferbeams:20880mm
Width:3250mm
Height:4382mm
Axleload:22.3t
Locoweight:134t
Fueltype:Diesel fuel
Fuelcap:7500 Litres
Enginetype:Two-stroke diesel engine
Aspiration:Turbo-supercharged
Alternator:EMD TA20-CA9
Tractionmotors:EMD A 2921-6
Cylindercount:20
Transmission:Diesel-electric AC-AC IGBT Microprocessor Controlled
Gear Ratio:20:91
Multipleworking:AAR
Locobrakes:Air Brake, Dynamic Brake, Hand Brake
Trainbrakes:Air Brakes
Coupling:Buffers and chain coupler, CBC coupler
Maxspeed:1000NaN0
T/E Starting:560kN
T/E Continuous:405kN
Dynamicpeakeffort:270kN
Operator:Indian Railways
Fleetnumbers:50001-50007
Nicknames:BHEEM
Locale:India
Notes: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 5500hp, it is the second most powerful diesel locomotive class on Indian Railways, just out-powered by the 6000hp 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 2-stroke Turbocharged EMD 20-710G3B-ES (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 7 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

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

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IRFCA.