[BoneCollector]

I was surprised so see no thread about the most powerful electric loco of Indian Railways.

The WAG-12 ('W'ide/broad Gauge 'A'C Electric 'G'oods/freight, Class '12') is a three phase, twin-section electric freight locomotive consisting of two identical sections, each of which rests on twin-axled bogies. The locomotive is being jointly developed by Alstom and Indian Railways, and is the first Indian Railways locomotive that has a power output greater than 10,000 horsepower.

The project was initially thought during 2005-2006 but details started emerging around 2013. The locomotive requirements were for the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor for hauling high speed loaded goods trains. The project had many bidders and was awarded to Alstom in 2015 and a factory was set up in Madhepura, Bihar. The requirement is of 800 electric locomotives.

Details here - WAG12

Now a disturbing news has come that the only one operational locomotive is not working as per the requirement of railways and an official has gone ahead and said that it's a failure. Locomotive

The JV has not been able to supply any locomotive of the stipulated 35 in current financial year as the original one is failing multiple trials.

“Alstom announced the completion of its first all-electric locomotive from its state-of-theart locomotive facility at Madhepura in the state of Bihar, on schedule,” it had said in a statement. The locomotive that had been manufactured at the Alstom plant and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “gathering dust,” said one of the officials. The company is still in the process of making changes to the specifications of the locomotive, said one of the officials cited above. The Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), part of the railway ministry, conducted two trials of the WAG12 locomotive, according to an official status report—the first on July 23-25 last year and the second on April 10-12 this year.
“In both trials, the loco could not pass the laid down criteria,” the report said. “Further modifications in bogie and suspension of loco are also parallely (sic) being done.” One official cast doubt on the Alstom’s expertise. “This is a new design they are working on,” the person said. “I am not sure they (Alstom) have the capability in bogie design.”

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[tharian]

From what I heard, the loco failed the oscillation tests and probably why RDSO did not approve of the bogie and suspension design.

The Alstom office here in Bangalore is in the same building as my office. i see their engineers frequently in the elevators discussing issues, by the time I can figure out something, they would have gotten off. But it does sound like they are having a tough time.
On the other hand, the WDG4G seems to have done well.

[Sutripta]

In serious jeopardy. But hearing two versions - one production related, the other design related.
A) they could not deliver a single one so far.
B) they delivered one which failed tests and they have not been able to solve the problems.

Regards
Sutripta

[BoneCollector]

Apparently the bogie's designs have been changed and new locomotives have been under trial by Alstom as per this information shared by Press Information Bureau.

PressRelease

This locomotive was ready for despatch on 13.11.2019. Loco number is 60020 which means that more locos have been produced.

Excerpts from the article.

M/s Alstom has delivered prototype locomotive in March 2018. Based on the test results, Alstom has redesigned the complete locomotive including bogies. The new design of locomotive has been inspected by RDSO at Madhepura factory and cleared for dispatch from factory. After test and trials M/s Alstom will accelerate the delivery schedule and supply 10 locomotives in FY 2019-20 and 90 locomotives in FY 2020-21 and 100 locomotives per year beyond March 2021 as per their recovery plan. This is the first time such High Horse Power locomotive is being tested on Broad Gauge network in the World by any Railways.

[SPARKled]

I don't see these as show stoppers and Alstom has shown a willingness to work out the problems and the above article tell you that we will see this loco soon on the IR network. The earlier WAG9 loco too had its share of problems but they were all ironed out and now the WAG9 and WAP7 derived from it, is the mainstay of the 3 phase IR electric fleet.

[chiro3110]

I believe to manufature WAG12 Alstom and Indian Railways set up a JV manufacturing unit at Madhepura, Bihar. I was not able to find any news of the project being scrapped. One Loco Pilot friend also did mention that some of his peers were trained to run this behemoth. As with all the hurdles probably a while to get it up and running but at this stage of investment of time and money WAG12 should be on tracks.

On the other hand, the WAG11 which is indigenously made is also 12,000 HP locomotive with two units coupled together. Development on this locomotive also seems scant.



On a lighter note, my loco pilot friend says, that somehow a single Alco WDM2 has more brute traction when even compared to 2 WAG9 . We still can't figure this puzzle out.

[DrPriyankT]

Indeed, the new WAG-12's are coming out now of ELF Madhepura as the WAG-12B's. These monsters have been given a safety certificate for operations on IR by the RDSO for a speed of 100 Kph. That's more than enough for our freight operations. These engines are primarily meant to haul heavy mineral trains along the eastern dedicated freight corridor when it becomes fully operational somewhere around 2022-23.

Coming to the WAG-11, approximately 27 WDG-4's of Hubli and KJM shed which were up for mid term rehabilitation were sent to DLW Varanasi for conversion. Already they have converted 4 WDG-4's into two WAG-11 units. Similarly, WDG-3A's being converted to WAG-10's. Infact one WAG-10 is operational under SER at the BNDM shed. Also a prototype dual traction engine (WDAP-5) is under testing and development at DLW for powering passenger trains which have to undergo electric to diesel loco change and vice-versa so time wasted during engine change is avoided. For further information of the locomotives being sent for diesel to electric conversion, you can see this link. http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/rai...s_May_2020.pdf

IR needs more electric locos fast due to the rapid pace of electrification on its tracks. Infact immediately after lockdown ends, CRS will insepct the newly completely electrified Prayagraj-Itarsi section, enabling complete electric traction of trains along that route, creating a big need for electric locos. Infact just a few days bag, the coal corridor of Katni-Singrauli was electrified and cleared for electric traction. Hence the electric conversion of diesel locos is a cost effective concept, if it is successful. It will save lot of foreign exchange in terms of diesel saved.

I guess your your LP friend was perceiving the brute traction of the WDM-2 to be greater than the WAG-9, as the deemer has old school DC-DC notch based traction control, due to which power gets delivered in jerks, unlike the graded IGBT microprocessor based traction output of a WAG-9 which is gentler.

For further details of WAG-10/11/12 development, check out irfca.org. It for railways info in India, like how TBHP is for cars.

[ampere]

Read through the power output spec! 12000 HP!
And Eight axles.

Can also see quite many modern amenities have also been introduced.

[tharian]

Originally Posted by DrPriyankT

Coming to the WAG-11, approximately 27 WDG-4's of Hubli and KJM shed which were up for mid term rehabilitation were sent to DLW Varanasi for conversion. Already they have converted 4 WDG-4's into two WAG-11 units. Similarly, WDG-3A's being converted to WAG-10's. Infact one WAG-10 is

12001, the first EMD loco of IR, was up for this conversion as well which the railfans felt was insensitive of IR. There was a petition sent to the higher ups of the zonal headquarters and thankfully they decided to plinth the loco instead, as a heritage loco.

Image taken from IRFCA

[DrPriyankT]

Originally Posted by tharian

12001, the first EMD loco of IR, was up for this conversion as well which the railfans felt was insensitive of IR. There was a petition sent to the higher ups of the zonal headquarters and thankfully they decided to plinth the loco instead, as a heritage loco.

Image taken from IRFCA

I did a bit of digging and found this letter, which officially preserves 12001 as a plinthed locomotive once it lives its useful life.

https://ibb.co/0YyvKDB

[RM Motorsports]

After many technical difficulties the powerful WAG 12B, 12000HP loco manufactured by Alstom under MakeInIndia project rolled out today from Madhepura plant,Bihar.

The train departed from Deen Dayal Upadhay Jn. with WAG/12B-60027 in long haul formation.

[sandeepmohan]

There appears to be a change in design to the bogie or trucks, as some call it.

Here is some footage of the new loco on the line;

You can hear the distinct inverter noise from the locomotive.

https://www.facebook.com/PiyushGoyal...3866868418028/

Hauling a freight consist;
https://twitter.com/dfccil_india/sta...184625669?s=20

[vharihar]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

You can hear the distinct inverter noise from the locomotive.

Hauling a freight consist;
https://twitter.com/dfccil_india/sta...184625669?s=20

What is that constant creaking/knocking kind of sound in the first video? Rails aren't able to hold the weight of the heavier loco?

Though no such sounds comes in a (relatively) high speed run of the same WAG12B loco hauling 118 wagons in the second video.

[sandeepmohan]

Originally Posted by vharihar

What is that constant creaking/knocking kind of sound in the first video?

That sounds like the noise coming from the wheel flange rubbing against the inside of the rail. You can hear this when a train negotiates a sharp curve (Not very sharp in this case), while going slowly. Its probably not as loud as it sounds in the video, where the microphone seems to be picking up the noise and making it sound excessive.