WAG 12( The beast of Indian railways)

With the continuous efforts of Indian railways towards new technologies and innovation for its locomotives, tracks, signals etc; one observes that the freight trains are very slow and being the large number of carriages or wagons to haul, one need such locomotive which at same time develop a huge amount of torque and maintain a constant speed. The Indian railways has initiated to bring a new locomotive great name of hauler named WAG12.

INTRODUCTION

The WAG12 is a three phase power operated, twin section locomotive manufactured jointly by INDIAN RAILWAYS and ALSTOM, FRANCE. It is the powerful locomotive in INDIA with the power of 12000HP thus leaving behind the WAG9 who is considered successor of it. It can haul the freights upto 600 tonnes at speed of 100-120 km/hr thus increasing the speed of freight trains from 50 to 100 km/hr. The total project of 800 locomotives were signed by Indian railways with ALSTOM on NOVEMBER, 2015 in which 5 locomotives will be imported from France and remaining were manufactured in MEDHAPURA, BIHAR. The total cost was estimated to be 800 crores rupees which seems to be a big investment of Indian railways.

The unique features of this locomotive is that it can raise its pantograph twice the height of actual locomotives so that it can easily serve the double-stack container freight locomotive on the electric routes.


DEVELOPMENT

The first designed locomotive was manufactured in factory of Alstom, France on year 2016 which is based on the model of Alstom Prima T8. The origin of locomotive take place on year 2006 when Indian Railways finalize the project to build high hauling locomotives. Later, on June, 2008, the Ministry of Railways invites bidding for manufacturing of the locomotives. Many of companies from all over the world took participation in which  Alstom, France won the bidding project. Lastly on November 2015, the ministry grant the permission for manufacturing of the locomotives. The first locomotive was then imported on year 2018 in port of Gujarat from where it is sent to Medhapura factory for furthur tests.

The project was created to build an 8-axled locomotive with high hauling capacity serving freight trains on Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor. The units increased from 660 to 800. The design of the locomotive minimizes energy consumption and cost of maintenance increasing performance statistics. The locomotive is capable to work on all temperature conditions and even on humid and dry conditions. The cabin provides much space and comfort to the drivers at long journeys facilitated with air-conditioners, heaters, toilets, refrigeration.

The project for 800 locomotives was estimated till year 2018 in which the first five locomotives will service the corridors on year 2018-2019. To make the project a 'MAKE IN INDIA' initiative, the Ministry had decided to manufacture its brakes and wheels in India itself. The other units will be imported from France where it will be assembled at factory of Medhapura, Bihar. 

One important thing to understand that the locomotive uses pair of locomotives. The locomotive generates 12000HP power which uses 8 axles and more traction motors are required which cannot fit in small sized body of locomotive. Thus the Locomotive combines two locomotive for high hauling capacity and more traction allotment.

SPECIFICATIONS

UNITED: twin-sectioned
POWER: 12000HP
MOTORS: 8-axled traction motors which provide low maintanance and high power.
AXLE LOAD: 742KN
BRAKES: Regenerative braking system which stores energy from brakes.
PANTOGRAPH: 25KV supply with 50Hz
SERVICE: Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor

FIRST INAUGURATION

READY TO HAUL

WATCH THE VIDEO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QefatUl2w8M


NOTE: The post and the following posts contains the information from Wikipedia and other information collected by me itself