Indian locomotive class WCM-3

The Indian locomotive class WCM-3 is a class of 1.5 kV DC electric locomotives that was developed in 1958 by Hitachi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Direct Current (C), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 3rd generation (3). They entered service in 1958. A total of 3 WCM-3 locomotives was built at Japan between 1957 and 1958.

Indian locomotive class WCM-3
A WCM-3 and a WCG-1 at Vasai Railway station.
Type and origin
Power typeElectric
DesignerHitachi
BuilderHitachi
Order number55/459/18RE
ModelEM3
Build date15 December 1967
Total produced3
RebuilderResearch Design and Standards Organisation
Rebuild dateAugust 5, 1976
Number rebuiltAll 3
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • AARC-C
 • UICCo′Co′
 • CommonwealthCo-Co
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Bogies3 Axle Cast Steel frame, Swing bolster with Equalizer beams
Wheel diameterNew:1,200 mm (3 ft 11 in),
Half worn:1,182 mm (3 ft 10 1⁄2 in) and
Full worn:1,114 mm (3 ft 8 in)
Wheelbase2,426 mm (8 ft 0 in)
Length:
​
 • Over couplers19.583 m (64 ft 3 in)
 • Body18.313 m (60 ft 1 in)
Width3.199 m (10 ft 5 15⁄16 in)
Height4.264 m (13 ft 11 7⁄8 in)
Frame type3 Axle Cast Steel frame
Axle load19.11 tonnes (18.81 long tons; 21.07 short tons)
Loco weight113.00 tonnes (111.22 long tons; 124.56 short tons)
Sandbox cap.24 sandboxes each with 63.5 Kg capacity
Power supply110 V DC
Electric system/s1.5 kV DC Overhead
Current pickup(s)pantograph
Traction motorsHitachi HS-373-AR-16
 • Rating 1 hour330A
 • Continuous231A
Gear ratio16:51
MU workingNot possible
Loco brakeAir/Hand
Train brakesVacuum
Compressor7.00 kg/cm²
Safety systemsSlip man Control, Over voltage relay, No volt relay, Low pressure governor
Performance figures
Maximum speed120.7 km/h (75 mph)
Power output:
​
 • StartingMax:3,610 hp (2,690 kW)
 • 1 hourMax:3,610 hp (2,690 kW)
 • ContinuousMax:2,460 hp (1,830 kW)
Tractive effort:
​
 • Starting28,200 kgf (280 kN)
 • 1 hour16,900 kgf (170 kN)
 • Continuous10,220 kgf (100 kN)
Factor of adh.25
Career
OperatorsIndian Railways
ClassEM/3
Numbers20073-20076
LocaleCentral Railways
Delivered1957-1958
First runER: 1957 CR:1961
Last runJanuary 1995
RetiredMarch 1995
Withdrawn1995s
Preservednone
ScrappedAfter 1995
DispositionAll have been scrapped.

The WCM-3 served both passenger and freight trains for over 37 years. With the introduction of more modern types of locomotives and 25 KV AC electrification, all were withdrawn in early 1990s after repeated failures. Today sadly all locomotives have been Scrapped.

History

The history of WCM-3 begins in the early 1950s with the stated aim of the Indian Railways (IR) to remove steam locomotives working in the Eastern Railways (ER) after recommendation of Karnail Singh Fuel Committee.[1][2] In 1950s the Kolkata Suburban Railway was established and electrified with overhead 3000V DC supply.[3] So Indian Railways began to look at various designs.

Initially, the Indian railways invited tenders to build locomotives to the new specification. The following responses were received:

  • Hitachi submitted their model with 3600 hp with top speed of 105 km/h. They also had Co-Co bogies

Each company submitted their prototypes and Indian Railways designated these prototypes as the WCM-3 class and WCM-2 class respectively.[4]

So Indian Railways decided to procure 3 3000 V DC electric locomotives from Hitachi. They are manufactured in Japan and shipped to India in 1957. These locomotives were the third mixed class electric locomotive to roam India and also had now common Co-Co wheel arrangement.[5] Initially the WCM-3 class were known as EM/3 class. They were easily recognizable with their smaller size and separate light enclosures for the marker lights and the tail lamps (just above the buffers). They had their cab doors placed near the cab unlike the WCM-1 class.

The WCM-3 were first used on trains in the Kolkata suburban section and a black livery with a red lining in the middle.[6] But by 1960 the Kolkata Suburban Railway was converted to 25,000 V AC, so the 3 year old WCM-3 units were rendered unusable. So Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) decided to converted the quite new locomotives to run on the 1500V DC Power supply used in Central Railway (CR) without loss of power.

They began their CR zone service in 1961.The WCM-3 locomotives were used on many Express trains but had some problems and were relegated to hauling low speed passenger trains, shunting and freight duties only. In mid 1990s Central Railways decided to withdraw these locomotive from services and all units were scrapped with non preserved

Former sheds
  • Pune
  • Kalyan (KYN)
  • All the locomotives of this class has been withdrawn from service.
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See also

References
  1. "Report of the expert Committee on Coal Consumption on Railways, 1958". INDIAN CULTURE. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  2. Gudgin, D.S.E. (1976). Vulcan Foundry Locomotives 1832–1956. Truro: Bradford Barton. ISBN 978-0-85153-215-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  3. History of EMU on Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway, 27 November 2018
  4. "[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Locomotives - General Information - I". www.irfca.org. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  5. "Refer pg 260" (PDF).
  6. Express train in India with commuters in the doorways, 1960's. Archive film 61232, retrieved May 21, 2020
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