The Indian locomotive class WDS-8 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in 1979 by the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for Indian Railways, but ended up being delivered exclusively to the private sector. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Shunter (S) engine, 8th generation (8). They entered service in 1979. A total of five WDS-8 locomotives was built at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), Chittaranjan between 1979 and 1982.

Indian locomotive class WDS-8
A brand new WDS-8 (possibly #001) at CLW, after completion
Type and origin Power type Diesel Builder CLW Build date 1979-1982 Total produced 5
Specifications Configuration: ​  • UIC Bo′Bo′  • Commonwealth Bo-Bo Gauge 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) Wheel diameter 1,092 mm (3 ft 7 in) Wheelbase 10.834 m (35 ft 6+1⁄2 in) Width 2.764 m (9 ft 7⁄8 in) Height 4.195 m (13 ft 9+1⁄8 in) Loco weight 73,000 kg (161,000 lb) Fuel type Diesel Fuel capacity 1,000 L (220 imp gal; 260 US gal) Lubricant cap. 530 L (120 imp gal; 140 US gal), 630 L (140 imp gal; 170 US gal) DLW Water cap. 20 L (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal), 28 L (6.2 imp gal; 7.4 US gal) DLW Prime mover MAK 800hp diesel engine Engine type Inline-6 diesel Aspiration Turbo-supercharged Generator DC Traction motors 6 DC Cylinders 6 Transmission Diesel-electric transmission MU working 2 Loco brake Air, Vacuum Train brakes Vacuum , Air
Performance figures Maximum speed 35 km/h (22 mph) Power output Max: 800 hp (600 kW) Site rated: 700 hp (520 kW) Tractive effort 22.000 t (22 long tons; 24 short tons) maximum, 16.050 t (16 long tons; 18 short tons) continuous
Career Operators Steel Authority of India Locale Leased and sold to some industrial concerns First run 1972 Current owner Steel Authority of India Disposition Withdrawn from service, scrapped

All WDS-8 units were exported to the Steel Authority of India. As of November 2020, these locomotives have been withdrawn from service.

History

The history of the WDS-8 class begins in the early 1970s with the Railway Board's dual aims of addressing the shortcomings of the previous class of shunter/switcher locomotive (WDS-4) and of removing all of Indian Railways' steam locomotives from operational service by a target date of 1990. The WDS-8 was a competing bid from CLW to the Banaras Locomotive Works's WDS-6 class, intended for industrial concerns in the private sector as well as for the Railways itself.[1] The WDS-8 had a MAK diesel engine with a maximum output of 800 HP which was similar to the engine used in the newly upgraded YDM-1 class. They possessed short cabs modeled on those of CLW's electric locomotives with a single long, narrow hood. But unfortunately, this design was severely underpowered compared to the WDS-6 class.[2]

As a result of these shortcomings, CLW decided not to produce any more WDS-8 locomotives after these 5 units and they were then transferred to the plants of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL).[3]

As of November 2020, no locomotives of this class are in service.

See also

• Rail transport in India#History
• Locomotives of India
• Rail transport in India

References

Notes

Bibliography