Indian locomotive class WCAM-1

WCAM-1
Type and origin Power type Electric Total produced 53
Specifications Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) Electric system/s 25kV 50Hz AC, 1.5kV DC
Performance figures Power output 3850hp AC (1hr),2930hp DC/3640hp AC (cont.) Tractive effort 28200 DC and 33840 AC kg/force
Career Nicknames "Vallabh" for No.-21800 Locale Western Railways

WCAM-1 is a class of locomotives used in the Indian Railways system. They are the first of the WCAM series. These locos can be seen in Mumbai-Vadodara-Ahmedabad section but occasionally they travel up to Pune but not beyond these because the maintenance facilities are not available beyond this point. An occasional loco has also appeared on Mumbai C.S.T.-Igatpuri route. This locos works on both AC as well as DC as their classification suggests.

These locos hauls the trains from DC section of suburban trains to AC section and performs very critical task as they can easily operate on both AC and DC. However they perform poorly in DC mode compared to AC mode but they are very robust and have easy operating and handling characteristics. These loco are now very less in use as Western Railways DC section has been converted in AC. They are used for the second tier general/express/superfast trains of Western Railway.

Technical specifications

Manufacturers	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works
Traction Motors	Alstom/CLW TAO 659 A1 (575 kW, 750V). Axle-hung, nose-suspended
Gear Ratio	61:16, 58:21
Transformer	BHEL BOT 34600. 3460kVA
Rectifiers	Silicon rectifiers, 48 cells (321 UFR200) per bridge, 1000A/1270V
Axle load	18.8 t
Bogies	Alco asymmetric Co-Co trimount cast bogies
Pantographs	Faiveley AM-12 (AC) and Faiveley AM-18B (DC)
Notches	Total 28
Weight	113t
Brakes	Vacuum and/or Air breaks

Sheds Holding WCAM-1

• Valsad (BL) - All 53 ever built were being held by Valsad Loco Shed in Gujarat. After Western Railway converted the remaining 1.5 KV DC section to 25 KV AC, some were condemned. Valsad Loco Shed presently holds 38 locos (September, 2012).

Trains Hauled by WCAM-1

• Valsad-Bandra T.Passenger
• Valsad-Viramgam Passenger
• Bharuch-Virar Passenger
• Valsad Fast Passenger
• Vapi Passenger
• Ahmedabad Passenger
• Surat-Virar Shuttle
• Ahmedabad-Valsad Passenger

See also

• Indian Railways
• History of rail transport in India
• Locomotives of India
• Rail transport in India

References

Bibliography

• Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1. OCLC 35135033.

External links

• Details of WCAM-1 #21800 at IRFCA
• WCAM-1 specifications