Vadodara division received the most powerful WAG-12 locomotive of Indian Railways

First 12000 HP made in India Locomotive, manufactured by Madhepura Electric Loco Factory, was put into operation recently from Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Jn. It is the most powerful locomotive produced indigenously under Make in India initiative.

One such high power WAG-12 Locomotive No. 60028 was received in Vadodara Division for two days for imparting training to crew and supervisors of the Division. On arrival at Vadodara Railway Station on 3rd Aug. 2020 morning, the Locomotive was taken to Trip Inspection Shed at Vadodara Yard and training started from 8 AM.

In the two days training session on 3rd & 4th Aug. 2020, total 26 supervisors and 199 crew members, consists of Loco Pilots & Asst. Loco Pilots have been given training on this new type of Locomotive. During the training, all norms in connection with containment of COVID-19, such as social distancing, compulsory face mask, use of sanitizer, were strictly followed.

These locomotives are state of the art IGBT based 3 phase drive and 12000 HP electric locomotives. A major departure from existing designs of locomotives is that high voltage apparatus like the vacuum circuit breaker is now inside the body of the locomotive in a special cubicle.

The roof of the locomotive is almost empty except for the pantograph. With a power output of 12,000 HP, they are twice as powerful as its immediate predecessor, WAG-9, and is one of the most powerful freight locomotives in the world.

The locomotive is being developed for deployment on the Dedicated Freight Corridors, where it will be used to haul freight trains weighing more than 6,000 tonnes (5,900 long tons; 6,600 short tons) at speeds of 100 km/h (62 mph) to 120 km/h (75 mph), essentially doubling the average speed of freight trains in the sector. These will help to decongest the saturated tracks by improving average speed and loading capacity of freight trains.