Indian locomotive class WP

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WP is the name of the class of a steam locomotive used in India. It was a Pacific class introduced after World War II for passenger duties, marking the change from 'X' to 'W' for broad gauge locos. It was capable of doing up to 110km/h and was easily recognized by the cone-shaped bulging nose with (usually) a silver star device painted on it. WP's were designed specifically for low-calorie, high-ash Indian coal, by Railway Board designers in India.

755 WPs were built between 1947 and 1967, bearing serial numbers 7000 to 7754. The first batch of sixteen came from Baldwin, USA in 1947, and these were classed WP/P. (P for Prototype). Some of the later WP were built as WP/1. The WP/1s were 5 tonnes heavier. Production began on Indian ground in 1961 at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works.

It is mistakenly believed that the bullet nose makes it streamlined and thus helps reduce air resistance. This is completely wrong as anyone who has studied fluid mechanics will know that a hemispherical smokebox door, i.e., the WP's famous bullet-nose, cannot be the cause of low aerodynamic drag or streamlining.

Several WP's remained in service until the '80s. Early prototypes from Baldwin were labelled WP/P; CLW versions after about 1965 were labelled WP/1. A few reconditioned WP's have been exported to countries in the middle East (after regauging?).

WP was Indian railways' crack locomotive in 60's and 70's. Before the advent of diesel and electric locomotives several prestigious trains, such as the Taj Express, the Grand Trunk Express, Howrah-Madras Mail, Frontier Mail and the AirConditioned Express were once hauled by WP class locomotives.

Contents 1 Technial speifications 2 Notes and Referenes 3 See also 4 External links 5 Udyan Express

[edit] Technial speifications

Wheel arrangement:4-6-2, Tractive effort: 30,600lb, Axle load: 18.5 tons, Boiler: 5'11", Boiler Pressure: 210 psig, Heating Surface: 3082 sq.ft, Grate Area: 46 sq.ft, Cylinders: (2), 20 1/4" Bore x 28" Stroke, Wheel Diameter: 5'-7", Nominal Axle Load: 18.1 tonnes, Maximum Train Load: 680 tonnes, Drawbar Horsepower:1500 hp (est.)

[edit] Notes and Referenes

• Indian steam locomotives
• The WP class locomotive
• The WP glory

[edit] See also

• Indian Railways
• Indian Locomotives
• Indian locomotive class WAP-4
• Indian locomotive class WAP-5
• Indian locomotive class WAP-7
• Indian locomotive class WAG-9
• Indian locomotive class WDM-2
• Indian locomotive class WAG-7
• Southern Pacific class AC-2

[edit] External links

• Image 1
• Image 2
• Image 3
• Baldwin class

1. REDIRECT Template:Named Passenger trains of India

[edit] Udyan Express

6529Dn/6530 up Udyan Express was introduced in 1980 and itis the premier train and actually the first broadguage train connecting Mumbai with Bangalore city. It plies via Guntakal and takes roughly 24 hours to cover the distance of 1218 Km.s . It reaches Bangalore in the morning unlike the other two trains Dadar( Mumbai) Bangalore Chalukya Express( via Miraj - 6 days a week) and Lokmanya Tilak terminus ( Mumbai ) Coimbtore ( via Guntkal, Bangalore ) express which reach Bangalore around 22-00 P.M. Right Since inception Udyan is an elite train and patronized by educated elite crowd. the train is very punctual and clean but bit slow.The train is also patronized very heavily by Mumbai-Pune commutersand in the Dn. Direction S6 coach is reserved for mumbai -Pune commuters.

Few years ago only for one day railways ran Superfast train to Bangalore starting from Dadar at 11-20 a.m to reach Bangalore at 8-50. a.m on the next day. The train does not have a pantry car. Recently it's speed is reduced by 50 minutes as it now halts at Gooty at 2-00a.m to disturb the sleep of passengers ( earlier it used to ply via Bypass) and this is exactly opposite to the current policy of railways to introduce bypass. If around 28 Km.s of track between Guntakal and Anantpur is converted to broadguage the distance will be reduced by 20 Km.s Moreover if the train takes the other route rather than plying via SaiPrashanti nilayam between Anantpur and dharmavaram the distance can be further reduced.

Perhaps the most severe criticism is faced by Udyan express through Media (The Dailies Navbharat times, Maharashtra times a couple years ago ) for the anti environmental practices employed by railways on this train. The train plies on diesel traction on the Electrified Mumbai-Pune track ( Electrified since 1935) and wastes fuel as well as spoils the scenic area of khandala ghat section. We give the schedule in below. CST stands for mumbai Chatrapati Terminus Dn direction 6529 DN:- CST 8-05 Dadar8-20 Kalyan 9-05 lonavala 10-25 Pune 11-40 Solapur 15-55 Bangalore city 8-50(II day) Up Direction 6530 UP:- Bangalore: 20-00 Solapur 11-10 Pune 15-40 Kalyan18-40 Kalyan 19-30 Dadar19-30 CST 19-55. The train alos halts at Bangalore cantoment and Bangalore East. Besides the train halts at many stations between Wadi Junction and bangalore city surprisingly more than the halts of Parbhani-Bangalore express. Anil.pedgaonkar 14:01, 13 December 2006 (UTC)Anil Pedgaonkar