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by Shirish Paranjape, 2000
Note: This article originally appeared in 'Indian Railways', Dec. 2000. It is reproduced here by
generous permission of the author, Shirish Paranjape. Readers may also be interested in the
FAQ pages on locomotives.
All travellers and enthusiasts would have observed, during their journeys, the alphanumeric
numbers, such as 'WAP-4', 'WAG-7' boldly painted on the body of the locomotives operating on
the Indian Railways. This article attempts to explain the system for nomenclature adopted by the
Indian Railways for the locomotives operating on the Indian Railways.
The numbering system of locomotives comprises two parts. First, the code prefix such as 'WDM2' or 'WAM-4' which denotes the type/class of the loco; and second, a serial number such as
'17604'. Each letter in the code-prefix has a specific significance, and the understanding of this
would help us in the overall understanding of the nomenclature adopted on IR, as well as the
varied types of locomotives running on the IR.
The first (left-most) letter denotes the gauge. Thus, 'W' stands for Broad Gauge, 'Y' is Metre
Gauge and 'Z' is Narrow Gauge. We will normally see one of these letters as the first letter in the
number of the loco.
'WP' class locos, with a hemispherical front, which gave the loco a very majestic and
powerful look.
'WG' class locos, which had a flat front.
The letters 'P' and 'G' indicated Passenger service and Goods service, respectively. Which means
that 'WP' was a broad gauge passenger service loco, while 'WG' was a broad gauge goods service
loco. Due to the shift to diesel and electric traction, both these types of locos are no longer in
service on IR, and can be seen only in museums.
On the metre gauge, we had the omnipresent 'YP' class locos, which, unlike their broad-gauge
counterparts (WP), had a flat front. The goods trains on the metre gauge were pulled by 'YG'
class locos, which had a look similar to the 'YP' locos.
Thus, in the days of steam traction, the second letter indicated the 'service class' of the loco, and
mainly the 'WP'. 'WG', 'YP' & 'YG' class of steam locos dominated the IR scene.
(1,500V DC), while all other sections are fed by AC supply (25,000V AC). Therefore, the
nomenclature system for electric locos includes a letter to differentiate between locos with DC
traction from those with AC traction. As per this system, 'A' indicates 'AC traction' while 'C'
indicates 'DC traction (not 'D', so as to avoid any confusion with diesel). One can, therefore, find
'WCG' class locos (Broad Gauge, DC traction, Goods duty) operating on the Mumbai Division,
while their counterparts 'WAG' locos haul broad gauge goods trains on AC traction elsewhere on
LR. Similarly, trains, such as Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen Express were, till recently, hauled by
gigantic 'WCM-l' and 'WCM-5' ('M' for 'Mixed' service, just as in 'WDM-2'), while Mail/Express
trains in the other parts of the country are powered by AC electric locos such as 'WAM-4' (Broad
Gauge, AC Traction, Mixed service).
The WAM-4 Ioco has been produced in very large numbers (upward of 500), and is in service
very widely in India. Its predecessor WAM-1/2/3 can be seen operating on Eastern Railway, for
instance, on Sealdah Division. 'WAG-2' is of Hitachi design and operates mainly on the
Bhusawal Division of Central Railway. This is a very handsome-looking loco, which is also the
case with its 'younger brother', the 'YAM-1' used for hauling trains on the only electrified metre
gauge section on IR namely the Chennai-Chengalpattu section. Under Project Umgauge being
implemented by the railways, this section will get converted to broad gauge, and rail enthusiasts
will surely miss the sight of this lovely loco hauling a load of metre gauge coaches.
What WAM-4 is to Mail/Express trains, 'WAG-5' is to goods trains operating on the broad
gauge. The WAG-S is the most common loco for hauling BG freight trains on AC traction. More
than 700 locos of this variety can be seen on LR.
Driven by the ever-growing need for more speed & power, we have seen technological
advancements on the IR scene too. Thus we now can commonly see a huge, 5000 horsepower,
red-coloured, and well-contoured loco, the 'WAP-4' hauling super-fast Mail pr Express trains of
as many as 24 coaches in various parts of the country. This BG-AC Passenger Service loco is
capable of achieving speeds upto 140 kilometres per hour. Its predecessors, the 'WAP-l' and
'WAP-3' can be found in much lesser numbers -- they were probably used to improve the
designs, which has now been adopted on the 'WAP4'
Modern Technology
The conventional locos had:
DC motors fed by DC overhead supply, such as for WCM, WCG locos (Electric locos,
DC traction)
AC overhead supply, stepped down through a multi-winding transformer, rectified by
static rectifiers, whose output was fed to the DC motors. Locos such as WAM, WAP,
WAG are equipped with this technology. (Electric locos, AC traction).
Diesel fuel driving an engine, which operates an alternator, whose AC Electric output
was rectified and fed to the DC motors, in locos such as WDM-2, WDP, WDG. Due to
this the diesel locos are actually 'diesel-electric locos. These locos were actually with an
on-board moving powerhouse operated on diesel fuel.
The latest technological innovation in traction is the use of 3-phase AC motors instead of DC
motors as the prime movers in the loco. With a desire to implement this technology, IR
purchased, under a transfer of technology agreement, two new types of electric locos from
ADtranz. These locos, one with 6000hp, 160km/h (upgradable to 200km/h), and the other with
6000hp, 100km/h capability, are christened as WAP-5 and WAG-9 on the Indian Railways.
These can be seen operating on the Northern and Eastern Railways hauling maillexpress and
goods trains respectively.
The technology of AC motors as pnme movers applied to diesel traction is also now available
with the IR. in the form of the WDG-4 loco, being produced at DLW under another technology
transfer agreement (with General Motors, USA). This 4000hp, 160km/h loco will be found in
increasing numbers as the production gradually increases.
While on one side this technology transfer was under progress, IR, through Chittaranjan
Locomotive Works and RDSO, have in parallell developed an indigenous, powerful 5000hp loco
for freight traffic, called the 'WAG-7'. This loco is already under manufacture at CLW, and can
operate at speeds upto 100km/h.
The Numerals
After having discussed and understood the alphabetic nomenclature prevalent in naming the
locos operating on IR, let us take a brief look at the numerals too. Today, most locos have a 5digit number after the type-code. The first two digits (from left) also signify the type of the loco,
and the remaining three digits denote the serial number in that category. Thus WAP-4 class locos
always have numbers beginning 22, while WCG class locos start with 20. The new generation
WAP-5 and WAG-9 locos have numbers in the 30 and 31 series.
steam locos of the bygone era, many 'YP' class MG steam locos were made by Tata Engineering
and Locomotive Company. Though TELCO no longer produces locomotives, the word
'locomotive' has remained etched in the name of the company. Similarly, while DLW has
contributed to almost all diesel locos, some shunting locos were made at CLW.
With this basic understanding of the loco numbering system adopted on the Indian Railways, the
readers will now be able to distinguish and recognize each type of loco separately, and perhaps,
make their friends and relatives too more aware of the interesting intricacies of the Indian
Railways, while continuing to enjoy their rail travel.