WDG6G: The Most Powerful Diesel Locomotive of Indian Railways
Indian Railways, the fourth-largest railway network in the world, has been constantly upgrading its fleet of locomotives to meet the growing demand for freight and passenger transportation. One of the latest additions to its diesel locomotive portfolio is the WDG6G, a 6,000 hp (4,500 kW) diesel-electric locomotive that is designed and built by GE Transportation in collaboration with Indian Railways.
The WDG6G is a higher power variant of the WDG4G locomotive, which was also designed by GE Transportation and is currently in service with Indian Railways. The WDG6G is based on the GE Evolution Series, a family of diesel locomotives that are known for their fuel efficiency, reliability and low emissions. The WDG6G features a 4-stroke 16-cylinder fully turbocharged engine, which delivers around 6,000 horsepower (4,500 kW), making it the most powerful diesel locomotive of IR (second-most being the WDG5 aka EMD GT50AC).
The WDG6G has a Co-Co bogie configuration, which means that it has six axles, each with a traction motor. The traction motors are AC type, which offer better performance and control than DC motors. The locomotive has a diesel electric transmission system, which means that the engine drives an alternator, which converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy, which is then fed to the traction motors. The locomotive also has a dynamic braking system, which uses the traction motors as generators to slow down the train and reduce wear and tear on the brakes.
The WDG6G has a sleek and modern design, with a black livery and yellow stripes. The locomotive has a spacious and ergonomic cab, which provides a comfortable and safe working environment for the loco pilot and assistant loco pilot. The cab has an operator console, which displays various parameters and controls of the locomotive. The console also has a touch screen display, which provides access to various functions and diagnostics of the locomotive. The cab also has an engine control panel, which monitors and regulates the engine performance and fuel consumption. The cab also has a circuit breaker panel, which houses various circuit breakers and relays for the electrical system of the locomotive.
The WDG6G has a length of 22.313 m (73 ft 2 in), a width of 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) and a height of 4.227 m (13 ft 10 in). The locomotive has a wheelbase of 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) and a pivot centre distance of 14.224 m (46 ft 8 in). The locomotive has a wheel diameter of 1.092 m (43 in) when new and 1.016 m (40 in) when condemned. The locomotive has a minimum curve radius of 174 m (571 ft). The locomotive has an axle load of 23 t (23,000 kg; 51,000 lb) and a total weight of 138 t (138,000 kg; 304,000 lb).
The WDG6G has a fuel capacity of 8,300 L (1,800 imp gal; 2,200 US gal), a lubricant capacity of 1,300 L (290 imp gal; 340 US gal), a coolant capacity of 1,468 L (323 imp gal; 388 US gal) and a sandbox capacity of 170 L (37 imp gal; 45 US gal). The locomotive has a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and can haul up to 5,000 t (4,900 long tons; 5,500 short tons) of freight load. The locomotive has a starting tractive effort of 570 kN (130,000 lbf), a continuous tractive effort of 420 kN (94,000 lbf) and a brakeforce of 290 kN (65,000 lbf).
The WDG6G is manufactured at two locations: GE Transportation’s plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA and Diesel Locomotive Factory in Marhowra, Bihar, India. The first two units were produced by GE Transportation in USA and delivered to India in 2019. Under the ‘Make in India’ initiative of Indian Government, GE will manufacture all remaining units at its factory in Marhowra. GE has also built maintenance sheds at Roza in Uttar Pradesh and Gandhidham in Gujarat for servicing the WDG6G locomotives.
The WDG6G is currently undergoing field trials on various sections of Indian Railways network. The locomotive is expected to improve the operational efficiency and productivity of Indian Railways, as well as reduce the fuel consumption and emissions. The WDG6G is a testament to the technological prowess and innovation of GE Transportation and Indian Railways, and is set to become the new benchmark for diesel locomotives in India.
