Indian locomotive class WDS-8

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = Indian locomotive class WDS-8

| powertype = Diesel

| image =

| alt =

| caption = A brand new WDS-8 (possibly #001) at CLW, after completion

| builder = CLW

| ordernumber =

| serialnumber =

| buildmodel =

| builddate = 1979–1982

| totalproduction = 5

| rebuilder =

| rebuilddate =

| numberrebuilt =

| Britishclass = Bo-Bo

| uicclass = Bo′Bo′

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1676mm|lk=on}}

| trucks =

| bogies =

| wheeldiameter = {{convert|1092|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| trailingdiameter =

| minimumcurve =

| wheelbase = {{convert|10.834|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}

| length =

| width = {{convert|2.764|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}

| height = {{convert|4.195|m|ftin|abbr=on|frac=8}}

| axleload =

| weightondrivers =

| locoweight = {{convert|73000|kg|abbr=on}}

| fueltype = Diesel

| fuelcap = {{convert|1000|L|abbr=on}}

| lubecap = {{convert|530|L|abbr=on}}, {{convert|630|L|abbr=on}} DLW

| coolantcap =

| watercap = {{convert|20|L|abbr=on}}, {{convert|28|L|abbr=on}} DLW

| sandcap =

| consumption =

| watercons =

| primemover = MAK 800hp diesel engine

| rpmrange =

| enginetype = Inline-6 diesel

| aspiration = Turbo-supercharged

| displacement =

| alternator =

| generator = DC

| tractionmotors = 6 DC

| cylindercount = 6

| cylindersize =

| transmission =Diesel–electric transmission

| multipleworking =2

| maxspeed = {{convert|35|km/h|0|abbr=on}}

| poweroutput = Max: {{convert|800|HP|abbr=on}}
Site rated: {{convert|700|HP|abbr=on}}

| tractiveeffort ={{convert|22.000|t|0|abbr=on}} maximum, {{convert|16.050|t|0|abbr=on}} continuous

| factorofadhesion =

| trainheating =

| locobrakes = Air, Vacuum

| locobrakeforce =

| trainbrakes = Vacuum, Air

| safety =

| operator =Steel Authority of India

| operatorclass =

| powerclass =

| numinclass =

| fleetnumbers =

| officialname =

| nicknames =

| axleloadclass =

| locale = Leased and sold to some industrial concerns

| deliverydate =

| firstrundate = 1972

| lastrundate =

| retiredate =

| withdrawndate =

| preservedunits =

| restoredate =

| scrapdate =

| currentowner = Steel Authority of India

| disposition = Withdrawn from service, scrapped

}}

The Indian locomotive class WDS-8 was a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1979 by the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for Indian Railways, but ended up being delivered exclusively to the private sector. The model name stood for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Shunter (S) engine, 8th generation (8). They entered service in 1979. A total of five WDS-8 locomotives was built at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), Chittaranjan between 1979 and 1982.

All WDS-8 units were sold to the Steel Authority of India. As of November 2020, these locomotives have been withdrawn from service.

History

The history of the WDS-8 class began in the early 1970s with the Railway Board's dual aims of addressing the shortcomings of the preceding WDS-4, and to remove all of Indian Railways' steam locomotives from operational service by a target date of 1990. The WDS-8 was a competing bid from CLW to the Banaras Locomotive Works's WDS-6 class, intended for industrial concerns in the private sector as well as for the Railways itself.{{Cite web|title=[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Diesel and Electric Locomotive Specifications|url=https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-specs.html#WDS-8|website=www.irfca.org|access-date=2020-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313020424/https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-specs.html#WDS-8 |archive-date=13 March 2018}}{{Failed verification|date=January 2025}} The WDS-8 had a MAK diesel engine with a maximum output of 800 hp, which was similar to the engine used in the newly upgraded YDM-1 class. They possessed short cabs modeled on those of CLW's electric locomotives with a single long, narrow hood. {{Failed verification span|text=The WDS-8 was severely underpowered compared to the WDS-6 class.|date=January 2025}}{{Cite web|title=Diesel Locomotive Classes – Broad Gauge|url=https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2d.html|website=www.irfca.org|access-date=2020-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402033018/https://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco2d.html |archive-date=2 April 2016}}

{{Failed verification span|text=As a result of these shortcomings, CLW decided not to produce any more WDS-8 locomotives after five units,|date=January 2025}} which were then transferred to the plants of the Steel Authority of India (SAIL).{{Cite web|title=[IRFCA] Indian / South-Asian Industrial Locos : Builders: Chittaranjan Locomotive Works|url=https://www.irfca.org/docs/locolists/industrial/display.php?file=builder-CLW.txt&title=Builders:%20Chittaranjan%20Locomotive%20Works|website=www.irfca.org|access-date=2020-05-22 }}

As of November 2020, no locomotives of this class are in service.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}