Wikipedia

Indian locomotive class WG

The Indian Railways WG class was a type of broad gauge 2-8-2 goods locomotive introduced in the 1950s. 2,450 of the class were built between 1950 and 1970.

Indian WG
WG class 10491 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works from 1966/7, with a passenger train at Bareilly Junction, in 1993
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderChittaranjan Locomotive Works (1908)
North British Locomotive Company (115)
NBL (subcontracted to Vulcan Foundry) 10
Anglo-Franco-Belge (La Croyère) (18)
AFB (subcontracted to Henschel) (64)
Gio. Ansaldo & C. (25)
Baldwin Locomotive Works (50)
Henschel & Sohn (60)
Hitachi (100)
Krupp (40)
Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf (60)[1]
Build date1950–1970[2]
Total produced2,450
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-2
 • UIC1′D1′ h2
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Driver dia.61+1⁄2 in (1,562 mm)
Axle load18 long tons 10 cwt (41,400 lb or 18.8 t)
Loco weight101 long tons 17 cwt (228,100 lb or 103.5 t)[citation needed]
Tender weight71 long tons 16 cwt (160,800 lb or 73 t)[citation needed]
Total weight173 long tons 13 cwt (389,000 lb or 176.4 t)[citation needed]
Fuel typeCoal
Firebox:​
 • Grate area46 sq ft (4.3 m2)[3]
Boiler pressure210 lbf/in2 (1.45 MPa)[citation needed]
Heating surface2,920 sq ft (271 m2)[3]
CylindersTwo, outside[citation needed]
Cylinder size21+7⁄8 in × 28 in (556 mm × 711 mm)
Loco brakeVacuum
Train brakesVacuum
Performance figures
Maximum speed80 kmph (50 mph)
Power output2600 HP
Tractive effort38,890 lbf (172.99 kN)[citation needed]
Career
Numbers8000–8289
8301–8999
9100–10560
LocaleAll over India
Withdrawn1970s
Disposition9 preserved, remainder scrapped
Sources:[4] except where noted

History and design edit

The WG design was introduced in 1950; it utilised identical equipment (boiler, motion, springs, tender bogies, and rear truck) as used in the 4-6-2 WP class passenger locomotives. The first hundred units (No. 8301 to 8400) were built by North British and subcontractor Vulcan Foundry (ten units). Number 8350 was exhibited at the Festival of Britain in 1951.[5]

Locomotives were also sourced from the Société Franco-Belge in Raismes, France,[6] Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf in Austria,[7] and from elsewhere in Europe and from Japan. The rolling stock works of Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in West Bengal initially manufactured locomotives from imported parts; by 1953, 70% of the locomotives were domestically produced, and by 1956 the works was able to entirely satisfy the domestic production need for WG locomotives. Production ceased in 1970; the final unit being named Antim Sitara (Last Star).[6]

Class table edit

Table of orders and numbers
Year Manufacturer Serial Nos. Qty Ordered Qty Built All-India Nos. Notes
1950 North British 26415-26514 100 90 8301-8400 10 were subcontracted to Vulcan Foundry
1950 Vulcan (Subcontract) 5996-6005 — 10 8307,8309,8315,8322,
8328-8329,8335-8336,
8342-8343
1950-1954 Chittaranjan — 100 100 8401-8500
1954-1955 Société Anglo-Franco-Belge 2687-2768 82 18 8501-8582 64 were subcontracted to Henschel & Sohn
1954-1955 Henschel & Sohn (Subcontract) 29217-29280 — 64
1954-1956 Chittaranjan — 257 257 8583-8839
1954 Henschel & Sohn 28984-29043 60 60 8840-8899
1954 Krupp 3391-3430 40 40 8900-8939
1954 Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf 17704-17763 60 60 8940-8999
1955 Baldwin 76039-76088 50 50 9100-9149
1955-1956 Hitachi 12261-12285 25 25 9150-9174
1955 North British 27594-27618 25 25 9175-9199
1956 Gio. Ansaldo & C. 1398-1422 25 25 9200-9224
1954-1955 Hitachi 12173-12247 75 75 9225-9299
1956-1970 Chittaranjan — 1261 1261 9300-10560
1959-1960 Chittaranjan — 290 290 8000-8289

Preservation edit

Nine WG's are now preserved in India, WG 9673 is preserved on a pedestal (without its tender) outside Rajendra Nagar Station New Delhi, WG 10253, was plinted at the Zonal Training School Bhusaval, but 2018 removed from the pedestal and sent to Rewari to be restored in working condition,[8] WG 9428 is used at the UP Cement Corporation, WG 9391 is preserved and stored in Burdwan, WG 8258 is preserved on a static pedestal on public display in Sahibganj Junction railway station, WG 10527 is stored in a shed in Burdwan, WG 9286 is preserved by Sri Durga Trading Company, WG 8407 "Deshbandhu" became the first WG to be preserved into Indian Railway Heritage, it is stored Pedestal along with WG 10560 "Antim Sitara" at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works.

Working Class Number Location Built Zone Builders Build No Name
No WG 8407 Chittaranjan Locomotive Works 1950 CLW Chittaranjan Locomotive Works - Deshbandhu
No WG 9391 Burdwan Loco Shed 1956 ER Chittaranjan Locomotive Works -
No WG 8258 Sahibganj Loco Shed 1959 ER Chittaranjan Locomotive Works -
In Restoration WG 10253 Rewari Steam Shed 1964 NW Chittaranjan Locomotive Works -
No WG 10527 Burdwan Loco Shed 1969 ER Chittaranjan Locomotive Works -
No WG 10560 Chittaranjan Locomotive Works 1970 CLW Chittaranjan Locomotive Works - Antim Sitara
No WG 9673 Rajendra Nagar Station New Delhi 1957-1959 ECR Chittaranjan Locomotive Works -
No WG 9428 UP Cement Corporation 1957-1959 Chittaranjan Locomotive Works -
No WG 9286 Sri Durga Trading Company 1955 Hitachi 12234

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Hughes 1996, p. 19.
  2. ^ Hughes, Hugh (1979). Steam locomotives in India. Part 3, Broad gauge. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. p. 24. ISBN 0950346942.
  3. ^ a b Hughes 1996, p. 110.
  4. ^ Indian Steam Pages – Post War Steam, IRFCA
  5. ^ Indian Steam Pages – Post War Steam, IRFC, Development of post war standard goods locomotive
  6. ^ a b Indian Steam Pages – Post War Steam, IRFC, Building locomotives at Chittaranjan
  7. ^ Ingrid Trummer; Alexander Stollhof (2005), Bei uns in der Lofag.. – Erinnerungen an die Floridsdorfer Lokomotivfabrik – Wiens größten Industriebetrieb (PDF), EDITION VOLKSHOCHSCHULE, Verband Wiener Volksbildung und Volkshochschule Floridsdorf, ISBN 3-900799-67-9
  8. ^ Bhushan, Shashi (15 July 2018). "1955 steam engine to be restored, will soon be back on tracks". The Asian Age. Retrieved 1 November 2022.

Bibliography edit

External links edit

 
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