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.