Indian locomotive class WAP-7

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WAP-7
WAP-7 of Lallaguda Shed
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
BuilderChittaranjan Locomotive Works, West Bengal, India
Specifications
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Current pickup(s)25 kV, 50 Hz overhead AC with pantograph
Performance figures
Power output6,350 hp (4,735 kW)
Career
LocaleNorthern Railways, South-Central RailwayEastern Railway South East Central Railway

WAP 7 is a high speed locomotive indigenously developed by Chittaranjan Locomotive Workswith colaboaration with ABB Transportation. It is capable of hauling trains at speeds ranging between 140 and 160 km per hour and is now largely used by Northern Railways (NR), South Central Railways (SCR),Southern Railways (SR), Eastern Railways (ER), South East Central Railway (SECR),Central Railways (CR), West Central Railways (WCR).

Similarity with WAG 9

The WAP-7 is actually a modified version of the WAG 9 freight locomotive with modified gear ratios and is set to replace the fleet of WAP 4's, the most widely used passenger locomotive today. The process will be a very slow one however, with WAP-4s still being produced and the production of WAP-7's increasing at a slow pace.

Performance

With a maximum speed rating of 180  km/h (IR restricts it to 160 km/hr), the WAP-7 has the highest acceleration figures while hauling mail/express trains. The WAP-7 can also haul loads of 24-26 passenger coaches (1430-1550t) at 110+ km/h per hour. It is also known to haul 16 heavyweight Air Conditioned coaches (1120t) in 1:40 inclines single-handedly. At a trial conducted by Indian Railways, it clocked a speed of 177 km/h. It is the most successful passenger locomotive in the Indian Railways portfolio after the WAP-4. It is used to haul premium trains like the Rajdhani Express and the Shatabdi Express apart from other regular mail/express trains.[1] It also regularly hauls other trains like the Hyderabad - New Delhi, H.Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram, H.Nizamuddin-Chennai, H.Nizamuddin-Bangalore, New Delhi-Sealdah and the New Delhi - Mumbai Rajdhani Express and Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Duronto Express.

WAP-7 locomotive can deliver 6000 HP with regenerative braking being one of its salient features. The regenerative braking is deployed on down gradients conserving energy to the tune of 30-35 percent. It has an inbuilt microprocessor based fault diagnostic system to make trouble shooting easier.[2] Another feature of this locomotive is that it eliminates the need to have separate DG sets for air-conditioning in long distance trains hence providing significant amount of savings on maintenance and running costs. This technology, called HOG or "Head On Generation", transfers electric power from the loco's pantograph to the coaches instead of "End on Generation" in which a Power Car equipped with diesel generator capable of generating adequate power of 3-phase 50-cycle 415V/750V AC (called as hotel load) is provided at either end of the train rake to supply power.[3][4][5]

A 24-coach (1500t) passenger rake can be accelerated to 110 km/h in 240 seconds (over 4.7 km) by a WAP-7; to 120 km/h in 304 sec. (6.7 km); and to 130 km/h in 394 sec. (9.9 km).

The locomotive has started running to/from the Mumbai area of Western Railway from February 2012 and is expected to be used in the Mumbai area of Central Railway by January 2013. 160 WAP-7 locomotives have been put to service as of June 2013.[citation needed]

Currently a 7000 hp version codenamed WAP 7-D with IGBT traction is under development by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works.

Technical specifications

Manufacturers Chittaranjan Locomotive Works[6]
Traction Motors 6FRA 6068 3-phase squirrel-cage induction motors (850 kW, 2180V, 1283/2484 rpm, *270/310A; Weight- 2100 kg, forced-air ventilation, axle-hung, nose-suspended; Torque 6330/7140Nm. *95% efficiency.)[6]
Gear Ratio 72:20[6]
Axle load 20.5t[6]
Power 6350 HP[6]
Wheel diameter 1092mm new, 1016mm wor[6] n
Wheelbase 15700mm[6]
Bogies Co-Co, Fabricated Flexicoil Mark IV bogies; bogie wheelbase 18500mm + 18500mm[6]
Unsprung mass per axle 3.984t[6]
Length over buffers 20562mm[6]
Length over headstocks 19280mm[6]
Body width 3152mmn[6]
loco weight 123t[6]
Cab length 2434mm[6]
Pantograph locked down height 4255mm[6]

Locations

The current locomotive sheds which house this locomotive are:

Trains hauled by WAP-7

Delhi-bound AP Express being hauled by a WAP-7 near Lallaguda in Secunderabad early in the morning
Chattisgarh Express being hauled by a WAP-7 class electric loco
Telangana Express being hauled by a WAP-7 loco
SC-Patna Express being hauled by a WAP-7 loco of Lallaguda

Accidents and incidents

Main article: Kalka Mail derailment

Kalka Mail which derailed on 10 July 2011 was being hauled by a WAP-7 locomotive.[7]

Malfunction of the undergear of the locomotive could also be a reason. The driver of the Kalka Mail said he saw the engine shaking. [8]

A post-accident diagnostic revealed that the first axle (leading) of the locomotive registered a jerk and the fourth axle (trailing bogie) showed loss of contact of the wheel with the track.

The locomotive in question (30221) has been re-railed and is undergoing fault diagnostics and repairs.

See also

References

  1. ^ "New energy-efficient loco introduced for high speed train". Economic Times. 09-Feb-2012. Retrieved 25-Aug-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Southern Railway inducts fast locomotive". The Hindu. 18-Oct-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Train had WAP-7 engine, 'black box' may reveal cause". Zee News. 09-Aug-2010. Retrieved 25-Aug-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Recent Developments". Chittaranjan Loco works. Retrieved 25-Aug-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Development of Electric locomotive with Head On Generation (HOG) facility" (PDF). Indian Railways. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Recent Developments". IRFCA. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Train had WAP-7 engine, 'black box' may reveal cause". The Indian express. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  8. ^ "Engine failure behind Kalka Mail tragedy". IBN Live. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.

External links

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