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Indian locomotive class WAG-9

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The Indian locomotive class WAG-9 is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 1995 by ABB for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Goods traffic (G), 9th generation (9) locomotive. They entered service in 1996. A total of 5140 WAG-9 have been built at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), with more units being built at Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Patiala Locomotive Works (PLW). It was the most powerful freight locomotive in the Indian Railways fleet until the introduction of the WAG-12.

WAG-9
CLW made WAG-9HC #38447 at Dankuni yard.
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
Builder
Build date1995-present
Total produced5732 as of December 2024
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • UICCo′Co′
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
BogiesAdtranz Fabricated Flexicoil IV
Wheel diameterNew: 1,092 mm (3 ft 7 in),
Half worn: 1,054 mm (3 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Full worn: 1,016 mm (3 ft 4 in)
Wheelbase15.7 m (51 ft 6 in)
Length20.562 m (67 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Width3.152 m (10 ft 4+1⁄8 in)
Height4.525 m (14 ft 10+1⁄8 in)
Axle loadWAG-9 : 20.5 tonnes (20.2 long tons; 22.6 short tons) WAG-9H/Hi/9i : 22.0 tonnes (21.7 long tons; 24.3 short tons)
Loco weightWAG-9 : 123 tonnes (121 long tons; 136 short tons)

WAG-9H/9Hi/9i/9HH : 132 tonnes (130 long tons; 146 short tons) WAG-9TWIN/EF12K:

264 tonnes (260 long tons; 291 short tons)
Electric system/s25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead
Current pickup(s)dual pantographs
Traction motorsWAG-9/9H/9i : Adtranz 6FRA6068
MU working2
Loco brakeAir and Regenerative
Train brakesAir
Safety systemsSlip/slide control, Main overload relay, Over voltage relay, No volt protection, Vigilance Control Device, Fire Detection Equipment, Fire Extinguishers and Earth fault relay
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Power outputWAG-9 Original : 6,120 hp (4,564 kW)

WAG-9HC : 6,120 hp (4,564 kW)

WAG-9HH/EF9K : 9,000 hp (6,711 kW)

WAG-9TWIN/EF12K : 12,000 hp (8,948 kW)
Tractive effortWAG-9 Starting Effort : 475 kN (107,000 lbf)

WAG-9H/HH Starting Effort : 510 kN (110,000 lbf)

WAG-9TWIN Starting Effort:1,040 kN (230,000 lbf)
Career
OperatorsIndian Railways
NumbersStarting from
  • 31000-31999, 32000-32999, 33000-33999, 38000+, 51001+ & 65001+(A & B unit) CLW
  • 34001+ BHEL
  • 41000-41500 & 43000+ BLW
  • 41501+ PLW
LocaleAll Over India
DispositionActive

The WAG-9 is one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways,[peacock prose] serving freight trains since its introduction in 1995. A passenger variant of the WAG-9 was developed, namely the WAP-7 locomotive, by modifying the gear ratio to pull lighter loads at higher speeds. Nowadays,[when?] WAG-9 locomotives are commonly used to haul freight trains.

Introduction

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The WAG-9 locomotive is referred to as the "Heavy Haul" freight locomotive of the Indian Railways (IR). It was conceived in response to the extreme growth in the rail freight transportation sector, which is considered to be of great importance to the growth of the economy of India. The need for more electrification and electric locomotives in India had increased. Around 60-65% of the freight haulage of the IR takes place on the electrified section of the Golden Quadrilateral (Indian Railways) and diagonals (which account for 25% of the route). These are very busy routes, so clearance is a necessity. Electrical powers give it a great sectional clearance ability. Thus, these locomotives are important for the Indian Railways.

These locomotives have entered the Western Railway zone of Mumbai. The first 22 units were imported from ABB. Of these, the first six were fully assembled and rest were in kit form. CLW started producing of WAG-9 traction motors on 1 November 1999. The units built by ABB have pantographs with two end horns while the CLW built units have pantographs with single end horns which are common in India. This class had a capacity to MU several units, but IR restricts them to two, because of dynamic loading restriction on most bridges. Regenerative brakes provide about 260 kN of braking effort.

The WAG-9H also has different application software than the WAG-9. The first WAG-9H was commissioned on 30 June 2000. The #30130 prototype was housed at Gomoh (GMO). This was then converted back to standard WAG-9 in 2002. This unit has a livery of twin white stripes on green, instead of yellow stripe on green, seen on the other WAG-9(x)s.

The WAG-9i was introduced in 2010, and was No. 31215. It was homed at the GMO shed. With IGBT, even if one traction motor failed, other traction motors can function with a total output of 5500 hp.

Newer WAG-9 units have "CLW Glorious 60 years" marked on their sides. Some WAG-9(x)s are fitted with a solid cowcatcher while others are fitted with grilled cowcatchers. Some have American style flasher lamps while others have Indian style flasher lamps.[1]

Newer versions of the WAG-9 feature full Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) traction control; the debut model was the WAG-9 31248. The class as a whole is denoted by the WAG-9i prefix in its model number, although there is a technical variant of this class named WAG-9H, with the "H" meaning "Heavy".

The WAG-9H/9Hi locomotives are the second heaviest in regular service in India (after the WAG-12), the only freight-dedicated three-phase AC locomotives in the country, and the only electric locomotives in India fitted with IGBT. They are also the freight locomotives with the highest operational speed in India.

It is similar to the WAP-7 class locomotive but features a different gear ratio, which makes it suitable for heavy freight operations. In November 1998, the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) started producing these with indigenous components. The first of which, named Navyug (New Era), was produced on 14 November 1998. Like the WAP-5 units, the WAG-9 has GTO thyristor converters and three-phase asynchronous motors.

Variants

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The following variants are built from the WAG-9:

  • WAG-9: Original version.
  • WAG-9H: Heavy version with additional ballast, total weight: 132 t.
  • WAG-9i: Version with IGBT Technology.
  • WAG-9Hi: Version with additional ballast and IGBT Technology.
  • WAG-9HC: Heavy version with brake rigging.
  • EF9K/WAG-9HH: Heavy Version with 9000 HP
  • EF12K/WAG-9 Twins: A 12000 hp variant developed by CLW to equal WAG-12 horsepower.

Operations

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WAG-9 Locomotive at Vangaon Railway station, pulling an automobile carrier rake.
 
Bhilai EF12K (WAG-9 Twins) on duty
 
Tughlakabad EF9K (WAG-9HH) "Nava Utkarsh" on duty.

WAG-9 has quickly become one of the important locos in the Indian railways. With its higher power, this locomotive has replaced WAG-7 which was the main electric loco before WAG-9's arrival. Applications where twin WAG-7s were required are now handled by a single WAG-9. This includes both leading a long consist and for banking operations. The regenerative braking capabilities of WAG-9 has also helped reduce the electricity consumption. The original WAG-9 had some wheel slippage incidents while hauling heavy load. This was rectified through the introduction of WAG-9H and subsequently using WAG-9i. This has significantly reduced the issue that were associated with the original version. Nowadays, it is quite common to see special passenger trains hauled by WAG-9 locomotives.

 
New Katni Jn. WAG-9HC hauling Asansol-Hatia Express

Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) turned out its first 9,000 hp WAG-9 freight locomotive on 31 March 2019, the last day of the financial year. This 9,000 hp version of the WAG-9H has been classified by IR as WAG-9 HH. The first H stands for higher axle load and the second H stands for the higher power rating. The class has been allocated a block of serial numbers starting with 90001, the number of the first unit. The decision to upgrade the power output of the WAG-9 was taken to partly meet the demands of the upcoming electrified Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The upgraded locomotive class will also augment hauling capacity on the existing network of the Indian Railways.[2]

Locomotive sheds

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Zone Name Shed Code Quantity Introduction Year
WAG-9 WAG-9H EF9K EF12K
Central Railway Bhusawal BSLL 26 2013
Daund DNDE 47 2024
Ajni AQE 234 2000
Pune PADX 22 2022
Eastern Railway Asansol ASNL 187 2020
East Central Railway Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya DDUE 2 59 2020
Gomoh GMOE 1 207 1997
Barauni BJUE 185 2019
Patratu PTRX 5 127 2020
East Coast Railway Visakhapatnam WATE 206 2014
Visakhapatnam (D) WATD 225 2021
Angul ANGE 86 2023
Northern Railway Ghaziabad GZBE 30 2023
Ludhiana LDHE 205 2015
Khanalampura KJGE 129 2020
Tughlakabad TKDD 92 2022
North Central Railway Kanpur CNBE 228 2016
Jhansi JHSE 18 2024
North Eastern Railway Gonda GDDX 35 2021
Saiyedpur Bhitri SYHE 40 2022
Izzatnagar IZND 24 2023
Northeast Frontier Railway Malda Town MLDD 73 2021
Siliguri SGUD 13 2022
New Guwahati NGCD 13 2023
North Western Railway Bhagat Ki Kothi BGKD 100 2023
Southern Railway Arakkonam AJJE 34 2020
South Central Railway Vijayawada BZAE 96 2021
Lallaguda LGDE 52 76 2007
Kazipet KZJL 3 204 2013
Gooty GYD 100 2019
Vijayawada BZAD 20 2023
Moula Ali MLYD 45 2023
South Eastern Railway Tatanagar TATE 195 2010
Bondamunda BNDL 245 2016
Bokaro Steel City BKSE 232 2019
Rourkela ROUE 237 2019
South East Central Railway Bhilai BIAE 265 11 2024
Bilaspur BSPE 236 2020
South Western Railway Krishnarajapuram KJMD 73 2020
Hubli UBLD 89 2022
Western Railway Vadodara BRCE 44 2024
Valsad BLEE 144 2020
Vatva VTAD 87 2023
Sabarmati SBT 59 2024
West Central Railway Tughlakabad TKDE 21 130 55 2008
New Katni Jn. NKJE 197 2017
Itarsi ETE 163 2020
Total 84 5582 55 11
Total Locomotives Active as of December 2024[3] 5732

Performance

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Two WAG-9 class units can haul a load of 4,500 tonnes (4,400 long tons; 5,000 short tons) on grades of 1 in 60 (1.67%). The WAG-9H was expected to haul 58 BOXN wagons, i.e.,4,700 tonnes (4,600 long tons; 5,200 short tons), without multiple units on grades of 1 in 150 (0.67%). The locomotive can run even in 100% humidity, or in deserts, where there is high saturation of conductive particles. For shunting up to 15 km/h (9.3 mph), it can haul 7,500 tonnes (7,400 long tons; 8,300 short tons) on grades of 1 in 1000 (0.1%) or less. The atmosphere may be humid and salty. Regenerative braking will provide braking force of no less than 260 kN (58,000 lbf) at 10–62 km/h (6.2–38.5 mph) and closer to 260 kN (58,000 lbf) at higher speeds. Below is the capacity of the WAG-9 while hauling BOX wagons (in tonnes):[4]

Grade\km/h Start 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Level 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+
1 in 500 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 6000+ 4985 4150 3500
1 in 200 5060 5060 5060 5060 5060 4045 3325 2780 2365 2040
1 in 150 4250 4250 4165 4080 3985 3200 2640 2220 1895 1640
1 in 100 3205 2910 2870 2825 2775 2240 1855 1565 1345 1165
1 in 50 1820 1455 1445 1435 1420 1440 945 795 680 590

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Study Material".
  2. ^ "New 9,000 hp WAG-9 HH Locomotive Rolls Out of CLW". RailPost.in - Indian Railways News & Analysis. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. ^ "e-Locos".
  4. ^ "Trainweb".
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