Indian Economy-News & Updates

[Ankit Kumar 002]

The lesser known hunks of Indian Railways !

Ask any Indian today with a bit of interest in Railways about the most powerful locomotive in IR fleet , and he will not delay in saying the name " WAG 9" , true but it was not the same earlier.

Even today they are the most powerful non 3 phase locomotive in Indian Railway and probably in the world.

Yes talking about WAG 6.

Powered by 6 motors generating 6110HP, they were delivered from ASEA and Hitachi in variants WAG 6A and WAG 6B/C respectively. Close to extinction today only 11 are operational.

They had some very unique features among its other locomotive cousins serving Indian Railways .

One was Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement ( Co-Co and Bo-Bo are prevalent in India ) .

3 Sets of such wheel sets for 1 locomotive.

Second unique thing is vestibules in the locomotive , something which we see in the coaches .

You can see the open vestibule doors of the loco here.

Did you knew that Sweden ( From where WAG 6A were imported ) built a broad gauge line to test the locomotive ? Delivery was to Göteborg harbour on standard-gauge bogies, where they were fitted with broad-gauge bogies before they were placed on board.

Some Technicalities ....
Six bogie-mounted separately excited DC traction motors are used, and speed control is via the manipulation of the phase angle by a thyristor converter and a separately powered field coil. Microprocessor control with ground speed detection (slip control) and creep control system to maximize adhesion. Air brakes for loco and train; dynamic brakes provided. WAG-6A and WAG-6B locos have Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangements, whereas the WAG-6C locos have a Co-Co arrangement.

Traction Motors:
ASEA make (WAG-6A), L3 M 450-2. Six motors, fully suspended, force-ventilated, separately excited, 3100kg ;
(WAG-6B) Hitachi HS 15556-OIR, bogie mounted, force-ventilated, compound-wound, 3200kg ; (WAG-6C) Hitachi HS 15256-UIR, axle-hung nose-suspended, force-ventilated, compound-wound, 3650kg.

Transformer: (WAG-6A) ASEA: TMZ 21, 7533kVA; (WAG-6B/C) Hitachi AFIC-MS, 6325kVA.
Thyristor controller: (WAG-6A) 24 YST 45-26P24C thyristors each with 24 YSD35-OIP26 diodes, 2x511V, 2x4500A; (WAG-6B/C) 32 CGOIDA thyristors each with 24 DSP2500A diodes. 2x720A, 850V.

Pantographs: (WAG-6A) Two Stemman BS 95; (WAG-6B/C) Two Faiveley LV2600

Now you may wonder why didn't we went ahead and built more of these in India ?

The answer is

1.) Introduction of better 3PHASE technology in the form of WAP5 and WAG9.

2.)Cheaper costs of our own DC motor locomotives , though of older tech , they are highly reliable and rugged .

All WAG-6 locos were are at Vishakhapatnam and have generally been used for ore freights and material trains on the Kirandul-Kottavalasa line. Until about 1999 or 2000, they were in regular service, although maintenance problems began affecting their service from about 1997. Later, repeated problems have been experienced with the unavailability of spare parts which kept them from getting needed periodic overhauls.

Some of them still are utilised , while others stand and are scavenged so their brothers carry on.

If you are lucky , a visit to the line may find you a MUed WAG6 couple hauling an ore rake.....
They will eventually be replaced by green monsters hauling the ores....

Some Details and Pics taken from IRFCA and others.

 

[anant_s]

 

[Grevion]

Never heard about WAG 6 before and never saw any picture of it in service.
Thank you guys for that.

 

[Śakra]

Why is there a jaali infront on the front windows?

 

[Nilgiri]

Worth watching

@fsayed @Rain Man @The_Showstopper @itachii @Levina @Stephen Cohen @randomradio @anant_s @PARIKRAMA @Ryuzaki et al.

 

[Nilgiri]

Why is there a jaali infront on the front windows?

Protect the windows from large FOD impact. It is how you know you are in India since I have not seen this applied anywhere else

Welcome to the forum BTW.

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

Protect the windows from large FOD impact. It is how you know you are in India since I have not seen this applied anywhere else

Welcome to the forum BTW.

Why is there a jaali infront on the front windows?

To protect the loco pilot from incidents like bird hits.

2 Months ago news was there about how a loco pilot in a WAG5 headed rake was injured when a peacock came out of nowhere and struck the Windows, the loco pilot only received minor injured due to the grill .

It also provides them protection from the likes of Kejriwals who know only to disrupt the railways for anything and everything .... some months back a whole rake was burned including the locomotive , the grills saved the loco pilots from initial stone pelting.

 

[Śakra]

To protect the loco pilot from incidents like bird hits.

2 Months ago news was there about how a loco pilot in a WAG5 headed rake was injured when a peacock came out of nowhere and struck the Windows, the loco pilot only received minor injured due to the grill .

It also provides them protection from the likes of Kejriwals who know only to disrupt the railways for anything and everything .... some months back a whole rake was burned including the locomotive , the grills saved the loco pilots from initial stone pelting.

Protect the windows from large FOD impact. It is how you know you are in India since I have not seen this applied anywhere else

Welcome to the forum BTW.

Thank you. Doesn't the jaali obstruct FOV? Use tempered glass to protect against stone pelting.

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

@anant_s @PARIKRAMA @Abingdonboy
PIB Release on DFC

Ministry of Railways20-July, 2016 16:56 IST
DFC Projects

The status of implementation of the Eastern (Ludhiana to Dankuni-1856 km.), and Western (Jawaharlal Nehru Port to Dadri-1504 km.) Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) is as under :-

(i) Land Acquisition:- Compensation Award for 90.9% of the land to be acquired has been given.

(ii) Contract Award:- 84% of Civil Contracts, 78% of Electrical and 78% of Signal Contracts have been awarded.

(iii) Overall physical progress- 29% and Financial Progress:- 27.4%.

Progress of the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Project is regularly reviewed. As a result of the reviews, critical issues affecting work such as land acquisition, forestry clearance and contract award etc. are identified and taken up.

For both Eastern and Western DFCs, implementation schedule and timelines have been drawn up and are being monitored on regular basis. The total expenditure upto 31.05.2016 (including for land) for DFC Projects is Rs.22315.66 crore (Eastern DFC- ` 8354.04 crore and Western DFC- ` 13961.62 crore).

In Budget Speech 2016-2017, the following freight corridors:- (i) East-West Corridor (2328 kms) (Kolkata-Mumbai) ; (ii) North-South Corridor (2343 km) (Delhi-Chennai) ; and (iii) East Coast Corridor (1114 km) ( Kharagpur-Vijaywada) have been identified.

This Press Release is based on information given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Communications and Minister of State for Railways in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 20.07.2016 (Wednesday).

****


AKS/DK
(Release ID :147366)

Thank you. Doesn't the jaali obstruct FOV? Use tempered glass to protect against stone pelting.

Trials were conducted and it found no major reduction in FOV with or without the grills in rain, dusty and foggy weather.

At present this method is preferred by our officials , unlikely will change soon.

PIB Press Release on Passenger Convenience.

Ministry of Railways20-July, 2016 16:57 IST
Passenger Convenience

With a view to facilitate the passengers, in recent past, Indian Railways have taken various steps, some of which are as under:

i. Introduction of the Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme known as ‘VIKALP’ to give option to waitlisted passengers to shift to alternate train having vacant accommodation.

ii. Provision of facility to physical handicapped persons to book reserved tickets online.

iii. Introduction of paperless unreserved tickets on mobile.

iv. Provision of All India 24x7 helpline No. 138.

v. Automatic refund of confirmed/RAC/e-tickets on cancellation of trains.

vi. Launching of Hindi Portal of IRCTC.

vii. Enhancement of Senior Citizen Quota as well as quota earmarked for physically handicapped persons.

viii. Making provision in the system for preparation of reservation charts at least four hours before the scheduled departure of train.

ix. Provision of facility to book available accommodation after preparation of first reservation chart through internet as well as across any computerized PRS counter.

x. E-ticketing facility to foreign debit/credit cards for foreign tourists and non-resident Indians (NRIs).

The announcements made in the Rail Budget 2016-17 are being monitored to ensure their implementation at the earliest. A large number of announcements have already been implemented or action initiated to implement them, some of which are enhancement of Senior Citizen Quota, Extension of ‘VIKALP’ Scheme, ticket booking through international credit/debit card, cancellation of tickets through Railway Enquiry No.139, extending e-catering services to all 408 A1 and A class stations, availability of adequate wheel chairs, enforcing reservation in catering units to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Class, Women and Divyang etc., making mandatory catering services optional in trains, availability of children’s menu items on trains as well as baby food at stations, exploring the feasibility of providing an option to the customers for drinking tea in Kulhad etc.

Ministry of Railways has not proposed any such scheme.

( Waiting list of train is monitored on regular basis and to cater to additional rush during peak periods, special trains are run and load of existing trains are augmented subject to operational feasibility.

This Press Release is based on information given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Communications and Minister of State for Railways in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 20.07.2016 (Wednesday).

****


AKS/DK
(Release ID :147369)

 

[Levina]

Worth watching

@fsayed @Rain Man @The_Showstopper @itachii @Levina @Stephen Cohen @randomradio @anant_s @PARIKRAMA @Ryuzaki et al.

Too long.
Could you tell me what was the discussion about?

 

[Nilgiri]

Too long.
Could you tell me what was the discussion about?

PVN Rao role and Chandra Sekhar role very underrated in economic reforms of 1991.

Most of what was repealed was introduced by your favourite madam indira

PVN biggest obstacle was from inside his party itself, and he used much of Nehru quotes/approach to assuage/convince the various quarters.

Modi minimum government maximum governance a great ideal, but needs more implementation w.r.t bureaucratic core today which is regressing somewhat.

 

[Nilgiri]

Thank you. Doesn't the jaali obstruct FOV? Use tempered glass to protect against stone pelting.

Its within requirements I suppose. I think its high time they did invest in some better glass as well....but maybe @anant_s can tell us if there are some specifics we are forgetting.

This is India after all

EDIT: just realised ankit addressed it already whoops!

 

[ashok321]

https://twitter.com/x/status/755566185496752128

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

HOG progressively being implemented.
@anant_s The locomotives I am assuming are WAP7 and WDP4B/D ?


Ministry of Railways20-July, 2016 16:54 IST
Head Over Generation Method

Head On Generation (HOG) technology enables drawing of power from the overhead lines in electric locomotives and from engine itself in diesel locomotives to feed the coaching train compartments for running various electrical appliances. At present, 25 electrical locomotives and 10 diesel locomotives are provided with HOG system.

This Press Release is based on information given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Communications and Minister of State for Railways in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 20.07.2016 (Wednesday).

****


AKS/DK
(Release ID :147361)

 

[anant_s]

HOG progressively being implemented.
@anant_s The locomotives I am assuming are WAP7 and WDP4B/D ?


Ministry of Railways20-July, 2016 16:54 IST
Head Over Generation Method

Head On Generation (HOG) technology enables drawing of power from the overhead lines in electric locomotives and from engine itself in diesel locomotives to feed the coaching train compartments for running various electrical appliances. At present, 25 electrical locomotives and 10 diesel locomotives are provided with HOG system.

This Press Release is based on information given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Communications and Minister of State for Railways in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 20.07.2016 (Wednesday).

****


AKS/DK
(Release ID :147361)

Head-on-Generation:
This is the concept making round in Indian Railways since 1970’s. In this system, power is tapped from the locomotive and fed to the train through inter coach coupler. There are large many advantages with this system but still could not find enthusiasm among the designer and planners. The load of 24 coach train (mix of SL and AC) is around 250kW and that of 21 all-AC coach train is around 1000kW. For this 2x500kVA inverter to convert single phase into three phases is provided on Electric Locomotive and first such WAP5 locomotive is now working Shatabadi express between New Delhi and Kalka successfully since 2010. Similar efforts are also in progress for provisions in Diesel Locomotive since long.

World Scenerio:
There is hardly any railway using SG system anymore. The prevailing system all over the world is either EOG or HOG. The concept of Train-sets is prevailing for medium and high speed train operation in which power supply for coaches is an integral part of the power supply system wherein power for traction as well as coach is drawn from Over head power supply system. Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) type train works on the same concept in which the lighting and fan load is supplied from traction supply. The Metro coach air conditioning is also on this concept. The transformer capacity is to be enhanced along with provision of inverter to feed the AC load making the concept of MEMU to work as inter-city trains. This is in line with the concept of Head on generation. It is unfortunate that there is so much of drive to import of train-set from Japan or elsewhere, but no enthusiasm or commitment for developing MEMU-Intercity trains. For HOG, IR is mainly looking for its application on existing fleet of locomotive and interconnected rakes where EOG is functional.

Comparative performance of EOG/HOG/SG
SG system existed from the time of illumiantion of first lamp on the coach and EOG made its begining when full AC Rajdhani type trains were introudced.

EOG Vs HOG

1. Energy Saving: NR provided HOG on locomotive number 30277WAP7 to work 2005/2006 Kalka Shatabdi and as per RDSO study, an annual saving of Rs. 55lakhs/year is estimated for this train alone.
2. Saving of one power car: There are two power cars of which one can be dispensed when HOG power is available on the system. Saving one power car means generating capacity for passenger travel.
3. Noise: IR has not been able to address the problem of noise emanating from power car and is the biggest irritant to passenger at station and even those living in nearby colonies during night time. Residential colonies have not raised any objective so far.
4. Beside inter-coach power coupler, communication coupler is also provided which helps in enhancing passenger amenities with TV/Video/Internet/announcement from central location.
5. The train integrity has to be maintained and when any coach is marked sick, it can only be replaced with identical coach.

HOG Vs SG

1. Generating power by each coach is certainly energy inefficient. The energy efficiency of alternator, pulley-belt mechanism, Regulating unit and battery comes into play making the efficiency of power generation very low, around 35% as compared to HOG system.
2. The maintenance cost is also high as it involves large number equipment such as alternator, belt drive, pulley, regulating unit and battery with double the numbers of higher capacity for AC coach and also two number of 25kVA inverter. Somehow actual assessment of the capital, operating and maintenance cost of the system has never been worked out and compared with HOG or even EOG. Such comparison would have helped the planner to expedite development of HOG or at least more and more EOG.

Expected future developments

This is the area which offers innovation and development opportunity with the help of industry and research organisations. RDSO is looking for

1. Finalisation of HOG scheme and large scale implementation
2. Development of end power coach with mounting of under slung one DG set of 500/250 kW and two Inverter set of 500/250kVA capacity for full AC train and others with part AC coaches respectively.