Indian locomotive class WDS-6
{{Short description|Indian Railway shunter class diesel locomotive}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = WDS-6
| powertype = Diesel
| image = Tughlakabad-based WDS-6 locomotive at Anand Vihar Terminal.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Tuglakabad
based WDS-6 roaming at Anand Vihar Terminal.
| builder = BLW, Central Railway Loco Workshop, Parel
| ordernumber =
| serialnumber =
| buildmodel =
| builddate = 1975+
| totalproduction = WDS-6: 300
WDS-6AD: 111
| rebuilder = Parel Workshops
| rebuilddate =
| numberrebuilt =
| Britishclass = Co-Co
| uicclass = Co′Co′
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1676mm|lk=on}}
| trucks =
| bogies =ALCO Asymmetric cast frame trimount
| wheeldiameter = {{convert|1092|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| trailingdiameter =
| minimumcurve =
| wheelbase = {{convert|12.834|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
| length = {{convert|16.088|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
| width = {{convert|2.864|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
| height = {{convert|4.185|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}
| axleload = {{convert|21000|kg|abbr=on}}
| weightondrivers =
| locoweight = {{convert|113000|kg|abbr=on}}
| fueltype = Diesel
| fuelcap = {{convert|3000|L|abbr=on}}
| lubecap = {{convert|530|L|abbr=on}}, {{convert|630|L|abbr=on}} DLW
| coolantcap =
| watercap = {{convert|22|L|abbr=on}}, {{convert|28|L|abbr=on}} DLW
| sandcap =
| consumption =
| watercons =
| primemover = ALCO 251-D
| rpmrange = 400-1100
| enginetype = Inline, 6-cylinder, diesel
| aspiration = Turbo-supercharged
| displacement = 267 mm
| alternator =
| generator = DC
| tractionmotors = 6 DC
| cylindercount = 6
| cylindersize =
| transmission =Diesel–electric transmission
| multipleworking =2
| maxspeed = {{convert|71|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| poweroutput = Max:{{convert|1400|HP|abbr=on}}
Site rated:{{convert|1300|HP|abbr=on}}
| tractiveeffort ={{convert|34.000|t|0|abbr=on}} maximum {{convert|16.050|t|0|abbr=on}} continuous
| factorofadhesion =
| trainheating =
| locobrakes = 28LV-1, Air brake for Locomotive using SA-9 brake handle
| locobrakeforce =
| trainbrakes = Originally vacuum, or air, but some modified to dual
| safety =
| operator =Indian Railways
| operatorclass =
| powerclass =
| numinclass =
| fleetnumbers =
| officialname =
| nicknames =
| axleloadclass =
| locale =All over Indian Railways, also leased and sold to some private- and public-sector industrial concerns
| deliverydate =
| firstrundate =
| lastrundate =
| retiredate =
| withdrawndate =
| preservedunits =
| restoredate =
| scrapdate =
| currentowner = Indian Railways, private industries
| disposition = Active
}}
The Indian locomotive class WDS-6 is a diesel–electric locomotive used by the Indian Railways mainly for shunting and also for performing departmental duties. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Shunting (S) engine, 6th generation (6). As of April 2022, 375 units of this class are currently in use all over India.
History
This class was designed in 1975 to address the need for a powerful shunting locomotive with the ability to haul 20- to 24-coach rakes. The previous WDS-4 class was found to be grossly underpowered for this kind of operation. A WDS-6 locomotive basically consists of a YDM-4 powerpack (a 6-cylinder, 4-stroke, inline, turbo-supercharged ALCo engine) mounted on a WDM-2 body frame.
Beginning in 1975, these were initially manufactured solely by BLW, Varanasi, but later, the Parel Workshop started building them using CKD (completely-knocked-down) kits provided by DLW.
WDS-6 units can be easily recognized by their low short hoods (with two cab windows above these) and flat-ended cabs on the long-hood end. Many of them were sold and transferred to private industrial concerns and public sector undertakings (PSUs) in huge numbers, but still display their IR road numbers.
Locomotive sheds
Total Locomotives active as of March 2025 : 270
Liveries
Generally, these locomotives are seen with the typical yellow livery with green/red stripes.
Technical specifications
| class="wikitable"
|Manufacturers |DLW, Parel Workshop |
| Engine
|Alco 251-D, Inline-6, {{convert|1,400|hp|abbr=on|lk=on}} ({{convert|1,300|hp|abbr=on|disp=or}} site rating) with Alco turbocharged engine. 1,100 rpm max, 400 rpm idle; {{convert|228|x|267|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} bore x stroke; compression ratio 12.5:1. |
| Transmission
|Electric, DC-DC (DC Generator and DC Traction motor) |
| Traction motors
|GE for original Alco and MLW models, BHEL for DLW |
| Axle load
|{{convert|21|t|abbr=on}} |
| total weight
|{{convert|113|t|abbr=on}} |
| Bogies
|Alco design cast frame trimount (Co-Co) bogies |
| Starting TE
|{{convert|34|t|abbr=on}}, at adhesion 27% |
| Length over buffer beams
|{{convert|17,370|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}} |
| Distance between bogies
|{{convert|10,516|mm|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}} |
Gallery
File:WDS-6AD locomotive used in Indian Railways.jpg|A WDS-6AD locomotive in the outer area of Saharanpur Junction
File:A Tondiarpet-based WDS6 locomotive at Chennai Central Station.jpg|A Tondiarpet-based WDS6 locomotive at Chennai Central Station
File:Tughlakabad-based WDS-6 locomotive at Anand Vihar Terminal.jpg|A Tughlakabad(TKD)-based WDS-6 locomotive at Anand Vihar Terminal(ANVT)
File:SHUNTING DUTY OF WDS-6AD AT NAGPUR JUNCTION.jpg|A KURLA(CLA)-based WDS-6AD locomotive (36292) assigned SHUNTING DUTY at NAGPUR JUNCTION.
See also
- {{section link|Rail transport in India|History}}
- Locomotives of India
- Rail transport in India
- Indian locomotive class YDM-4
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{Hughes-IndianLocos4}}
{{refend}}
References
{{reflist}}
- [https://rdso.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/WDS6.PDF RDSO document for WDS-6]([https://web.archive.org/web/20190701124918/https://rdso.indianrailways.gov.in/works/uploads/File/WDS6.PDF archived copy])
- https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2d.html
- https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-specs.html#WDS-6
- https://www.irfca.org/apps/locos/list
{{commons category|Indian locomotive class WDS6}}
{{Broad gauge locomotives of India |state=open}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:WDS-6}}
Category:Banaras Locomotive Works locomotives
Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1975