Indian Railways Creates Global Benchmark in Engineering Adaptation

New Delhi: Indian Railways rolled out a new prototype electric locomotive converted from diesel locomotive with noteworthy adaptations. In keeping with the Indian Railway’s Mission 100 per cent electrification and de-carbonization agenda, Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi has developed this prototype using resourceful and ingenious adaptation of mid-life diesel locomotive. The high-point of this adaptation is all the more significant as it the first of its kind adaptation of Diesel locomotives into Electric worldwide.

After mandatory trials, the locomotive hauled a 5200 tonnes load in its maiden journey from Varanasi to Ludhiana commenced from Dec. 3, 2018 cruising at a maximum permissible speed of 75kmph.

The work on the ambitious and historic project began on December 22, 2017 and the new locomotive was dispatched on February 28, 2018. From concept to execution the conversion of the diesel locomotive to electric was carried out in just 69 days.

It’s a ‘Make in India’ project done at DLW with their in-house resources and support of Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Diesel Loco Modernization Works and Research Designs & Standards Organisation.

It has been planned to discontinue mid-life rehabilitation of Diesel locomotive and convert them to electric locomotive and gainfully utilize them till their codal life. Midlife rehabilitation of Diesel Locos at Rs 5-6 cr is inescapable and unavoidable for running of the Diesel locos beyond 18 years. Only 50 per cent of this expenditure will be used for conversion of Diesel locomotive to Electric locomotive.

A WDG3-class diesel locomotive which was due for a mid-life rehabilitation has been converted to electric and the new indigenous ‘Make in India’ Electric locomotive delivers 5,000 HP which is 92% more than the rail Horse Power of 2,600 HP of the older version of the locomotive. The locomotive packs 10000 HP Power adequate to haul a load of up to around 5000 tonnes providing a 2:1 horse power to trailing load ratio considered appropriate for faster transit of trailing loads and improving mobility on IR.

It is worth-mentioning that conversion cost is around 2.5 crore which is only 50% of mid-life rehabilitation of Diesel locomotive expenditure, hence there will be overall saving to the tune of 2.5-3.0 crore per locomotive by converting diesel locomotive to Electric locomotive instead of carrying out Mid-life rehabilitationof these Locos.

Source: Milllenium Post

Image Courtesy: The Financial Express