EMD GT46PAC
| EMD GT46PAC | |
|---|---|
| |
| Specifications | |
| 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. | B1-1B (WDP-4), C-C (WDP-4B/4D) |
| Gauge | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) |
| Trucks | HTSC |
| Bogies |
|
| Fuel type | Diesel fuel |
| Fuel capacity | 1,600 US gal (1,300 imp gal; 6,100 L) |
| Prime mover | 16-710G3B |
| Engine type | 2-stroke diesel |
| Aspiration | turbocharged |
| Displacement | 11,360 cu in (186.2 L) |
| Alternator |
TA-17-CA6A AC, 1 inverter per truck |
| Cylinders | V16 |
| Transmission | Diesel electric |
| Power output |
|
| Locomotive brake | Air |
| Train brakes | Air |
| Career | |
| Railroad(s) | Indian Railways |
| Locale | India |
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.
Variants
There are three variants of this loco - the original WDP-4 which is a 4,000 hp (2,980 kW) loco, the WDP-4B which is a 4,500 hp (3,360 kW)126 t (124 long tons; 139 short tons) weighted loco with a single cab and the newest WDP-4D which is a 4,500 hp (3,360 kW) loco with dual cabs.
Numbering
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.
Performance
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 4500 hp 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 (more similar to WDG-4), unlike the original which has a Bo-1-1-Bo arrangement with four traction motors. Due to some controversies regarding visibility hindrances faced by loco pilots in driving long hood front, the basic WDP-4B model has been modified to dual cab to eliminate any such possibility. Other features of WDP-4B and WDP-4D are same. The cabs have a slightly wider profiles, to improve visibility.
Some of the WDP-4B/WDP-4D are spotted having provision for an inverter-driven head-end power unit, allowing running trains without a generating car (EOG) for hotel power.
The loco is very fuel efficient and has minimal exhaust emissions unlike ALCO based locomotives, thanks to its 2 stroke high efficiency 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.
Builders
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.
Features
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.
Use
The locomotive is used on the following zones of Indian Railways:
- South Western Railway
- Southern Railway
- Central Railway
- South Central Railway
- Northern Railway
- North Western Railway
- Northeast Frontier Railway
- Konkan Railway (WDP4's of KJM and BGKT are used in this zone)
- West Central Railway
- East Central Railway
Sheds
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, Tughlakabad (Code:TKD) of the Northern Railway,Gooty (Code:GY) in the South Central Railway,Pune (code:PUNE) in Central Railways and Izzatnagar (code:IZN) in the North Eastern Railway.
- Hubli
The Hubli is the parent shed of all the EMD sheds in India and currently homes locos with following road numbers
- WDP-4: 20005–20009, 20020, 20026, 20035 and 20065.
- WDP-4B: 40007–40009, 40046 and 40054–40057
- Krishnarajapuram
The Krishnarajapuram diesel locomotive shed holds the largest number of WDP4/WDP4Bs currently homes these locos with the following road numbers
- WDP-4: 20019, 20021–20025, 20027–20034, 20036–20046, 20053–20060, 20062, 20067 and 20068
- WDP-4B: 40010, 40015, 40016, 40017, 40018,40036, 40065 and 40066.
- Golden Rock
The Golden Rock homes the following:
- WDP-4B: 40063,40064,40067,40068,40075,40077
- WDP-4D: 40093,40099,40100-40103,40105,40106,40114,40115
- Siliguri
Siliguri homes the following:
- WDP-4: 20000–20004, 20011–20018, 20048–20052, 20061, 20063–20064, 20066, 20069– 20074, 20075, 20076, 20079, 20081–20085, 20094
- WDP-4B: 20047, 20075, 40022–40025, 40028, 40029, 40032, 40035, 40037, 40045
- WDP-4D: 40089–40091,40096,40108,40120,40129
- Bhagat ki Kothi
Bhagat ki Kothi homes
- WDP-4: 20085–20099, 20080, 20077, 20078 which are nicknamed 'Aravali' (named after the mountain ranges).
- WDP-4B: 40027, 40030, 40031, 40033, 40034, 40038–40040, 40043, 40044, 40060
- WDP-4D: 40086,40088,40092,40094,40095,40116,40127,40128
- Tughlakabad
The Tughlakabad Diesel Shed (Code: TKD) homes
- WDP-4B: 40001, 40003–40006, 40011–40013, 40019–40021, 40049–40051, 40058, 40059
- WDP-4D-40014,40026,40087,40109,40110
itarsi Itarsi (Code: ET) shed homes:
- WDP-4B: 40041, 40042, 40047, 40048 and 40052, 40053, 40061 and 40062.
- Gooty
Gooty (Code:GY) shed homes:
- WDP-4D: 40104,40111,40112,40113,40117,40118,40119,40121,40135,40142,40148,40150,40152
- Pune
Pune (code:PUNE) shed homes:
- WDP-4D:40143,40144,40153
- Others
In the near future, most Diesel Locomotive sheds of the Indian Railways are expected to home the WDP-4B and WDP-4D class locos.Two WDP-4Ds were allotted to Ratlam shed of Western railways but were transferred to Gooty due to some unknown reasons.It is not known if Ratlam will see any WDP-4D allotment in future as there are nearby sheds already having them or are stronger contenders.
Criticism
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] But the solution to this problem is to upgrade all WDP-4 and WDP-4B models from single cabins to WDP-4D models of dual cabins. Older locomotives of Indian Railways like the WDM-2 models have been upgraded from WDM-2 series to WDM-3 and WDM-3A series, to enhance other shortcomings in design of WDM-2 series.
See also
References
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Indian locomotive class WDP4. |
- EMD specification
- Autocar India has a detailed profile of the WDG-4 locomotive.
- Diesel loco specification at IRFCA website
- Detailed Specifications for the WDP4D
- Detailed Specifications for the WDP4B
- Traction Motor Specifications and Model Numbers
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