Vadodara division of WR organise visit to Electric Loco Shed

Organise the visit as part of
WR 69th Foundation Day

As part of Western Railway 69th
Foundation day, Vadodara division organise a visit to its Electric Loco Shed
and the Electric Loco simulator used for training of drivers. During the visit
the officials briefed about the activities and live demo of the simulator.

On its foundation day WR is organising different
activities in its various divisions to look at the many achievements and
milestones it has achieved in all these years in an informative series.
Vadodara division is also organising such programmes and on Monday organise a
visit to its Electric Loco Shed at Navayard.

During the visit the media persons were briefed about the
various activities carried out inside the shed which includes maintainance and
overhauling of electric locos. They also arrange a visit to the electric loco
simulator to give a live demo in real time situation of the loco pilot driving
the train and the challenges they faced while driving the locomotive. The first
prototype of WAG 7 and WAP 4 is
used as regional traning centre for the loco pilots coming from six divisions
and Kota.

Electric Loco Shed, Vadodara was established on 25th
March-1973 as first Electric Loco shed on Western Railway. The shed
with a bare holding of 6 WAM4
class of locos and few skilled staff, gradually attained fame when 53 nos
of WCAM1 locos manufactured indigenously by CLW
for the first time to work on DUAL traction of 25 kV
A.C. between Ahmedabad – Virar and 1500 V DC between Virar – Bombay were
successfully commissioned and maintained by the shed to high standard of
reliability.

In 1996 latest series of WAP locos like
WAP-4 has been introduced in Vadodara Loco shed. In the year 2011 new
technology 3 phase (WAP5) locomotives
have been introduced.

“The shed had 6
locos at inception and presently holding of Vadodara Loco shed is 209
locos of Four different types out of which 137 nos.
new technology 3-Phase locomotives (including 52 WAP7
locomotives provided HOG and these are being used in HOG compliant LHB rake
resulting saving of Diesel oil and pollution free environment)  and  72
Conventional Locomotives. Vadodara Loco shed is holding 194
Passenger Locomotives which is 2nd highest Passenger holding
among Indian Railway Electric Loco sheds. Further 21
locomotives (WAP5-3 & WAP7-18) allotted
to Vadodara loco shed which will be received shortly,” Harikesh Meena
Senior DEE (TRS).

Loco type wise holding in the shed is as under:

Passenger Locos (194
Locos)         WAP5 (3-PHASE)
79, WAP7 (3-PHASE)        70, WAP4 (CONV.)
47 and
Freight Locos (15 Locos) consists of WAG5H          15
which make it a total of 211 locomotives in Vadodara. 10 more
Locos allotted to BRC shed (3-WAP5
& 7- WAP7 HOG)

Since then the shed has achieved numerous mile stones and
today known as one of the best managed shed of Indian Railways. Passenger
locomotives of Shed are utilized for running Mail, Express and Passenger Links.
Most of the prestigious trains like Shatbadi, Rajdhani, Aug. Kranti and Duranto
Exp. on IR are hauled by Vadodara Shed locos. Freight Locomotives are utilized
in all over Indian Railway for freight services.

Different types of Loco schedule maintenance activities
as per railway board and RDSO guidelines are being carried out by Vadodara Loco
shed. The work includes Monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly schedule maintenance
inspections, Term overhauling (TOH) and Intermediate overhauling (IOH) of
Vadodara shed based locomotives.

Unschedule repair works of Vadodara based locomotives as
well other shed locomotives are also being carried out.

All above maintenance activities is done as per RDSO
Special Maintenance Instructions (SMI) and Technical Circulars (TC).
Modification works in locos also being done as per RDSO modifications sheet.