| EMD GT46PAC | |
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| Power type | Diesel-electric |
| Builder | EMD & DLW |
| Model | GT46PAC |
| Build date | (EMD) 2001; (DLW) 2003–Present |
| Total produced | (EMD) 10; (DLW) 80+ under license (in production) |
| AAR wheel arr. | A1A-A1A |
| Gauge | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Trucks | HTSC |
| Bogies |
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| Fuel type | diesel |
| Fuel capacity | 1,600 US gallons (6,000 liters) |
| Prime mover | 16-710G3B |
| Engine type | 2-stroke diesel |
| Aspiration | turbocharged |
| Displacement | 11,360 in3 (186.2 liters) |
| Alternator | TA-17-CA6A |
| Traction motors | AC |
| Cylinders | V16 |
| Transmission | electric; AC alternator, 1 inverter per truck, AC traction motors |
| Power output |
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| Locomotive brakes | air |
| Train brakes | air |
The EMD GT46PAC is a passenger-hauling diesel-electric locomotive with AC electric transmission designed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and built by both GM-EMD and under license by Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) of Varanasi, India for Indian Railways as their classes WDP-4, WDP-4B and WDP-4D. The GT46PAC is a passenger version of the previous Indian Railways EMD GT46MAC freight locomotive. The locomotive has a 16 cylinder 710G3B diesel engine with a maximum speed of 904 RPM.
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There are three variants of this loco - the original WDP-4 which is a 4000 hp loco, the WDP-4B which is a 4500 hp loco with a single cab and the newest WDP-4D which is a 4500 hp loco with dual cabs.
The locomotives are numbered from Road No. 20000 upwards till 20103 and further numbering of the loco along with its WDP-4B variant has started from the 40XXX series. This is due to the numbering of the 20XXX series almost breaching the start of numbering of another locomotive class, the WCG-2 which is a DC electric locomotive whose numbering started from 20105.
The WDP-4 is capable of hauling 24 coach trains at 110-120 km/hour. It has also been used for speed trials where it has hauled 8 coach trains at 160 km/hour.
The locomotives can be used in either direction, and frequently haul trains long hood forward, as in the picture. Newer editions with 4500hp have been produced which have been named with the sub class WDP-4B /WDP-4D which have different traction control with six traction motors and are Co-Co bogie equipped, unlike the original which has a Bo-1-1-Bo arrangement with four traction motors.
The loco is very fuel efficient and has minimal exhaust emissions due to its 2 stroke diesel engine. It is characterized by its loud horn, which can be heard for large distances around, and aircraft-like sound of its running engine.
The first set of 10 locos starting from road number 20000–20009 were manufactured by the Electro Motive Division (EMD) of (General Motors) while road numbers 20011 upwards have been manufactured by Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) of Varanasi in collaboration with EMD and GM (General motors). Siemens too are part of this group providing a large component of the electronics on board this loco.
A particular loco with road number 20012 had a different light blue livery with a fiberglass shell and has been named "Baaz" which stands for Bird of prey in Hindi. This loco has however has been repainted to a dark blue livery and the cabin has been rebuilt to the ones found on rest of the series by its new home shed, Siliguri. Some of the earlier locomotives were fitted with air conditioning units which were subsequently removed.
The locomotive is used on the following zones of Indian Railways:
Notable trains hauled by this locomotive include:
This locomotive is currently homed at seven sheds in the Indian Railways, spread across the country which are Hubli (Code:UBL) and Krishnarajapuram (Code:KJM) in the South Western Railway zone, Golden Rock (code:GOC) in the Southern Railway Zone, Siliguri (Code:SGUJ) in the Northeast Frontier Railway zone, Bhagat ki Kothi (Code:BGKT) in the North Western Railway zone, Itarsi Junction (Code:ET) in the West Central Railway and Tughlakabad (Code:TKD) of the Northern Railway.
The Hubli is the parent shed of all the EMD sheds in India and currently homes locos with following road numbers
The Krishnarajapuram diesel locomotive shed currently homes these locos with the following road numbers
The Golden Rock homes WDP-4B 40063–40067
Siliguri homes the following:
Bhagat ki Kothi homes
The Tughlakabad Diesel Shed (Code: TKD) homes
Itarsi (Code: ET) shed homes:
In the near future, most Diesel Locomotive sheds of the Indian Railways are expected to home the WDP-4B and WDP-4D class locos. Kalyan shed of Central Railway Zone and Mughalsarai shed of East Central Railway Zone are being equipped to home these locos.
The use of the locomotives "long hood forward" has been criticised because the driver might have difficulty in seeing signals. This criticism has been rejected by Indian Railways.[1]
I think instead of WDP-4 and WDG-4 and its vafiants the Indian railways should manufacture more WDP-3A which is a passenger loco and also go for its Goods loco. Because WDP-3A is having twin cabins like a electric loco..
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