Indian locomotive class WP

Indian WP

Locomotive class WP by Fablok in 1959

Locomotive class WP by Fablok in 1959
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works (116)
Canadian Locomotive Company (200)
Montreal Locomotive Works (120)
Fabryka Lokomotyw, (30)
Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf (30)
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (259)
Build date 1947–1967
Total produced 755
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-2
UIC class 2′C1′ h2
Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Leading dia. 3 ft 7 in (1.092 m)
Driver dia. 5 ft 7 in (1.702 m)
Trailing dia. 3 ft 7 in (1.092 m)
Length 77 ft 5 3⁄8 in (23.61 m) over buffers
Axle load 18.5 long tons (18.8 t; 20.7 short tons)
Loco weight 101.5 long tons (103.1 t; 113.7 short tons)
Tender weight 72.0 long tons (73.2 t; 80.6 short tons)
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 15 long tons (15 t; 17 short tons)
Water cap 5,500 imp gal (25,000 l; 6,600 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		 46 sq ft (4.3 m2)
Boiler pressure 210 psi (1.45 MPa)
Heating surface 2,920 sq ft (271 m2)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 20 1⁄4 in × 28 in (514 mm × 711 mm)
Valve gear Walschaerts
Valve type 12 in (305 mm) piston valves
Valve travel 7 1⁄2 in (191 mm)
Performance figures
Power output 2,680 hp (1,998 kW) drawbar (est.) at 74 mph (119 km/h)
Tractive effort 30,600 lbf (136.12 kN)
Career
Numbers 7000–7754
Disposition nine preserved, remainder scrapped

The Indian locomotive class WP was a class of 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotives used in India. It was introduced after World War II for passenger duties, marking the change from 'X' to 'W' as the classification code for broad gauge locomotives.

The class was designed specifically for low-calorie, high-ash Indian coal, by Railway Board designers in India.

WP class locomotives were capable of doing up to 110 km/h (68 mph) and were easily recognized by their cone-shaped bulging nose, usually with a silver star device painted on it.

History

WP/P class no. 7200 at the National Rail Museum, New Delhi, 1993.
WP/P class 7200 by Baldwin from 1947, at the National Rail Museum, New Delhi (1993)

A total of 755 WPs were built between 1947 and 1967, bearing fleet numbers 7000 to 7754. The first batch of sixteen, numbers 7200–7215, came from the Baldwin Locomotive Works, USA in 1947, and these were classed WP/P. (P for Prototype).

A main production batch of 300 locomotives followed in 1949, with production split between Baldwin (100), Montreal Locomotive Works (120), and Canadian Locomotive Company (80). The locomotives in this group were numbered 7216–7515, but the running numbers were issued in blocks as the locomotives were issued to the pre-nationalisation companies, and so bore no relation to the manufacturers' serial numbers, or even the manufacturer.[1]

A further 180 locomotives were built between 1955 and 1959, with production split between Canadian Locomotive Company (120), Fabryka Lokomotyw, of Chrzanów, Poland (30), and Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf of Vienna, Austria (30).

Between 1963 and 1966, 259 more were built, but these were ordered from Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), and were manufactured in India, and classified WP/I.[1] The WP/Is were 5 tonnes heavier.

The WP was Indian railways' crack locomotive in 1960s and 1970s. Before the widespread introduction of diesel and electric locomotives several prestigious trains, such as the Taj Express, the Grand Trunk Express, Howrah-Madras Mail, Frontier Mail and the AirConditioned Express were once hauled by WP class locomotives.

The entire WP class remained intact into the 1980s. Some WPs remained in service until the 1990s, and nine have been preserved. One constructed by Baldwin (7200) in 1947 and the other by Fablok in 1959 are a part of the collection of the National Rail Museum, New Delhi.[2]

WP7200 received a full heavy overhaul at Amritsar works in April 2015 and is now kept at Rewari shed near New Delhi for excursion service. asides from 7200, the remaining eight engines include (7278) constructed by Montreal Locomotive Works and preserved at Charbagh Loco Works, (7581) built by Canadian Locomotive Company is preserved at Sonepur DRM, (7656) built by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works is preserved at Jhansi Institute Railway, (7000) built by Fabryka Lokomotyw or in Charznow Poland is preserved in Bhusaval shed, (7411) however its builder is not identified as of yet for (7411) and yet it is not told whether or not was built by either Baldwin, Canadian Builders, Montreal, Fabryka, Lokomotivfabrik, or Chittaranjan itself, as the builders plate for (7411) was not identified, the engine is preserved in Burdwan and awaiting transfer to the Chennai Museum although however there are not wheels on its tender as a result, (7015) built by Fabryka Lokomotyw or Charznow Poland is another Polish preserved WP engine and is in good working order it is restored to full working order and is preserved and runs mainline heritage excursion special trains, it is preserved at Rewari shed, (7161) is another built by Chittaranjan and this engine is fully restored to full working order on mainline excursions along with Polish built (7015) as it well runs together as well, (7161) is preserved at Siliguri,

Technical specifications

Class table

Table of orders and numbers
Year Manufacturer Serial Nos. Qty First Nos. All-India Nos. Notes
1947 Baldwin 73408–73423 16 — 7200–7215 Prototypes
1949 Baldwin 74294–74393 100 1–100 In range 7216–7515
1949 Canadian 2544–2623 80 C251–C330 In range 7216–7515
1949 Montreal 77200–77259
77345–74399
77576–77580 		120 M1–M120 In range 7216–7515
1955–56 Canadian 2730–2849 120 — 7516–7635
1958–59 Fablok 4997–5006
5031–5050 		30 3000–3029 7000–7029
1957 Floridsdorf 17827–17856 30 3030–3059 7030–7059
1963 Chittaranjan — 36 — 7060–7095
1963–64 Chittaranjan — 50 — 7096–7145
1964–65 Chittaranjan — 33 — 7146–7178
1965 Chittaranjan — 73 — 7179–7199
7636–7687
1966 Chittaranjan — 37 — 7688–7724
1966 Chittaranjan — 30 — 7725–7754

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Hughes 1996, p. 16.
  2. ↑ http://www.irfca.org/~shankie/nrm/outdoor_page_2.htm

Bibliography

  • Hughes, Hugh (1976). Steam in India. Truro, Cornwall: D. Bradford Barton Ltd. ISBN 0851532586. 
  • Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1. 
  • Marshall, Lawrence G (2009). Indian Broad Gauge Steam Remembered. East Harling, Norfolk: Taverner Publications. ISBN 9781901470154. 
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