| WCG-2 |
|---|
WCG2 triplets Banking near Bhor Ghats |
|
| Specifications |
|---|
Configuration:
| |
|---|
| • UIC | Co′Co′ |
|---|
| Gauge | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) |
|---|
| Bogies | ALCO Asymmetric cast frame trimount |
|---|
| Wheel diameter | New:1,092 mm (3 ft 7 in),
Half worn:1,055 mm (3 ft 5+1⁄2 in) and
Full worn:1,016 mm (3 ft 4 in) |
|---|
| Length | 18.68 m (61 ft 3+7⁄16 in) |
|---|
| Width | 3.055 m (10 ft 1⁄4 in) |
|---|
| Height | 4.238 m (13 ft 10+7⁄8 in) |
|---|
| Axle load | 21.5 tonnes (21.2 long tons; 23.7 short tons) |
|---|
| Loco weight | 132 tonnes (130 long tons; 146 short tons) |
|---|
| Electric system/s | 1.5 kV DC Overhead |
|---|
| Current pickup(s) | pantograph |
|---|
| Traction motors | Heil TM4939AZ |
|---|
| MU working | 3 |
|---|
| Loco brake | Air/Hand |
|---|
| Train brakes | Air, Dual and Vacuum |
|---|
| Safety systems | Slip control, Over voltage relay, No volt relay, Earth fault relay, Low pressure governor, Train parting alarms, and Brake cylinder cutoff valve |
|---|
|
| Performance figures |
|---|
| Maximum speed | 90 km/h (56 mph)>or80 km/h (50 mph) |
|---|
| Power output | Max:4,200 hp (3,130 kW) |
|---|
| Tractive effort | Starting:35,600 kgf (350 kN)
Continuous:33,600 kgf (330 kN) |
|---|
| Factor of adh. | 0.32 |
|---|
|
| Career |
|---|
| Operators | Indian Railways |
|---|
| Numbers | 20104-20160 |
|---|
| Nicknames | Howlers |
|---|
| Locale | Central Railways |
|---|
| Last run | May 2, 2010 (Mainline operations)
May 8, 2012 (Shunting) |
|---|
| Retired | August, 2012 |
|---|
| Preserved | 20108 - at CLW Loco Park, 20158 - at CSMT Heritage Gully |
|---|
| Scrapped | August, 2012 |
|---|
| Disposition | Two preserved, remainder scrapped |
|---|
|
The Indian locomotive class WCG-2 (colloquially also known as Howlers due to very noisy blowers) is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in the late 1960s by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), DC Current (C), Goods traffic (G) engine, 2nd generation (2). They entered service in February 1971. A total of 57 WCG-2 were built at CLW between 1978 and 1983, which made them the most numerous class of DC electric locomotive.
The WCG-2 is one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways having served both passenger and freight trains for over 40 years. They were famously known for doing passenger duties and banking duties in the Bhor and Thull ghats. However, with the advent of new 3-phase locomotives and conversion of Central Railways to 25 kV AC, the WCG-2 locomotives were withdrawn from mainline duties, with two of the locomotives being preserved.
