Indian locomotive class WCAM-1

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Indian locomotive class WCAM-1" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

WCAM-1[1]
Pune-based 11095 with the Ahimsa Express.
Type and origin Power type Electric Designer RDSO Builder Chittaranjan Locomotive Works Build date 1973-1979[2] Total produced 53
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR C-C  • UIC Co'Co'  • Commonwealth Co-Co Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) Bogies ALCo High-Adhesion Tri-mount cast Wheel diameter New: 1,092 mm (3 ft 7 in) Half-worn: 1,055 mm (3 ft 5+1⁄2 in) Full-worn: 1,016 mm (3 ft 4 in) Wheelbase 14,432 mm (47 ft 4+1⁄4 in) Length: ​  • Over couplers 20.950 m (68 ft 8+3⁄4 in)  • Over headstocks 19.680 m (64 ft 6+3⁄4 in) Width 3.055 m (10 ft 1⁄4 in) Height 4.121 m (13 ft 6+1⁄4 in) Axle load 18.8 tonnes (18.5 long tons; 20.7 short tons) Loco weight 112.8 tonnes (111.0 long tons; 124.3 short tons) Electric system/s 25 kV 50 Hz AC 1.5 kV DC Current pickup(s) Pantograph (a separate one for AC and DC) Traction motors Alstom TAO-659A1 MU working Not possible Loco brake Air/Parking Train brakes Vacuum/Air[3] Safety systems Slip Control, Main Overload relay, Motor Overload Relay, Over Voltage relay, Earth fault relay, Low Pressure Governor and Brake Cylinder Cutoff Valve
Performance figures Maximum speed Starting: 100 km/h (62 mph) (DC)/120 km/h (75 mph) (AC) Continuous: 60 km/h (37 mph) (AC)/35 km/h (22 mph) (DC) Power output: ​  • 1 hour 3,850 hp (2,871 kW) (AC)  • Continuous 2,350 hp (1,752 kW) (DC) 3,640 hp (2,714 kW) (AC) Tractive effort: ​  • Starting 33,840 kgf (331.9 kN; 74,600 lbf) (AC) 23,200 kgf (228 kN; 51,000 lbf) (DC)  • Continuous 22,800 kgf (224 kN; 50,000 lbf) (DC) 16,000 kgf (160 kN; 35,000 lbf) (AC) Factor of adh. Dry: 0.3 (AC) 0.25 (DC)
Career Operators Indian Railways Numbers 21800-21852 Nicknames Vallabh (No.21800) Locale Western Railway, Central Railway First run 1973 Last run 2015 Disposition All scrapped

The Indian locomotive class WCAM-1 was a class of dual-voltage (25 kV AC and 1.5 kV DC) electric locomotives that was developed in 1973 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), DC Current (C), AC Current (A), Mixed traffic (M) locomotive, 1st generation (1). They entered service in March 1973. A total of 53 WCAM-1 were built at CLW between 1973 and 1979, which made them the most numerous class of mainline dual-power AC-DC electric locomotive.

The WCAM-1 was one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways, having served both passenger and freight trains for over 40 years between 1973 and 2015. This class was a bi-current version of the WAM-4 class. However, with the advent of new 3-phase locomotives like WAP-5 and WAP-7, the aging fleet of WCAM-1 locomotives were relegated to hauling smaller passenger trains and have been fully withdrawn from mainline duties. All units have been scrapped with no locomotives preserved.