Indian locomotive class WP
Encyclopedia
Indian locomotive class WP is a class of 4-6-2
"Pacific" steam locomotives used in India
. The class was introduced after World War II for passenger duties, marking the change from 'X' to 'W' for broad gauge locomotives. It was capable of doing up to 110 km/h (68 mph) and was easily recognized by the cone-shaped bulging nose with (usually) a silver star device painted on it. WPs were designed specifically for low-calorie, high-ash Indian coal, by Railway Board designers in India.
, USA in 1947, and these were classed WP/P. (P for Prototype). A main production batch of 300 locomotives followed in 1949, with production split between Baldwin (100), Montreal Locomotive Works
(120), and Canadian Locomotive Company
(80). The locomotives in this group were numbered 7216–7515, but the running numbers were issued in blocks as the locomotives were issued to the pre-nationalisaion companies, and so bore no relation to the manufacturers' serial numbers, or even the manufacturer.
A further 180 locomotives were built between 1955 and 1959, with production split between Canadian Locomotive Company (120), Fabryka Lokomotyw
, of Chrzanów
, Poland (30), and Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf
of Vienna
, Austria (30). Between 1963 and 1966, 259 more were built, but these were ordered from Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), and were manufactured in India, and classified WP/I. The WP/Is were 5 tonnes heavier.
The entire class remained intact into the 1980s; some WPs remained in service until the 1990s. A few reconditioned WPs have been exported to countries in the middle East (after regauging?).
The WP was Indian railways' crack locomotive in 1960s and 1970s. Before the widespread introduction of diesel and electric locomotives several prestigious trains, such as the Taj Express, the Grand Trunk Express, Howrah-Madras Mail, Frontier Mail and the AirConditioned Express were once hauled by WP class locomotives.
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
"Pacific" steam locomotives used in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The class was introduced after World War II for passenger duties, marking the change from 'X' to 'W' for broad gauge locomotives. It was capable of doing up to 110 km/h (68 mph) and was easily recognized by the cone-shaped bulging nose with (usually) a silver star device painted on it. WPs were designed specifically for low-calorie, high-ash Indian coal, by Railway Board designers in India.
Production history
755 WPs were built between 1947 and 1967, bearing fleet numbers 7000 to 7754. The first batch of sixteen, numbers 7200–7215, came from the Baldwin Locomotive WorksBaldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
, USA in 1947, and these were classed WP/P. (P for Prototype). A main production batch of 300 locomotives followed in 1949, with production split between Baldwin (100), Montreal Locomotive Works
Montreal Locomotive Works
Montreal Locomotive Works was a Canadian railway locomotive manufacturer which existed under several names from 1883–1985, producing both steam and diesel locomotives. For a number of years it was a subsidiary of the American Locomotive Company...
(120), and Canadian Locomotive Company
Canadian Locomotive Company
The Canadian Locomotive Company, commonly referred to as CLC, was a Canadian manufacturer of railway locomotives located in Kingston, Ontario. Its works were located on Ontario Street and Gore Street on Kingston's waterfront....
(80). The locomotives in this group were numbered 7216–7515, but the running numbers were issued in blocks as the locomotives were issued to the pre-nationalisaion companies, and so bore no relation to the manufacturers' serial numbers, or even the manufacturer.
A further 180 locomotives were built between 1955 and 1959, with production split between Canadian Locomotive Company (120), Fabryka Lokomotyw
Fablok
Fablok is a Polish manufacturer of steam locomotives, based in Chrzanów. Until 1947 the official name was The First Factory of Locomotives in Poland Ltd. , Fablok being a widely used syllabic abbreviation of Fabryka Lokomotyw. It is now named "BUMAR - FABLOK S.A. "...
, of Chrzanów
Chrzanów
Chrzanów is a town in south Poland with 39,704 inhabitants . It is situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship and is the capital of Chrzanów County.- To 1809:...
, Poland (30), and Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf
Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf
Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf was an Austrian locomotive works founded on 6 September 1869 that achieved a pre-eminent place amongst European locomotive builders thanks to the quality and diversity of its designs....
of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria (30). Between 1963 and 1966, 259 more were built, but these were ordered from Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), and were manufactured in India, and classified WP/I. The WP/Is were 5 tonnes heavier.
| Year | Manufacturer | Serial Nos. | Qty | First Nos. | All-India Nos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Baldwin | 73408–73423 | 16 | — | 7200–7215 | Prototypes |
| 1949 | Baldwin | 74294–74393 | 100 | 1–100 | In range 7216–7515 | |
| 1949 | Canadian | 2544–2623 | 80 | C251–C330 | In range 7216–7515 | |
| 1949 | Montreal | 77200–77259 77345–74399 77576–77580 |
120 | M1–M120 | In range 7216–7515 | |
| 1955–56 | Canadian | 2730–2849 | 120 | — | 7516–7635 | |
| 1958–59 | Fablok | 4997–5006 5031–5050 |
30 | 3000–3029 | 7000–7029 | |
| 1957 | Florisdorf | 17827–17856 | 30 | 3030–3059 | 7030–7059 | |
| 1963 | Chittaranjan | — | 36 | — | 7060–7095 | |
| 1963–64 | Chittaranjan | — | 50 | — | 7096–7145 | |
| 1964–65 | Chittaranjan | — | 33 | — | 7146–7178 | |
| 1965 | Chittaranjan | — | 73 | — | 7179–7199 7636–7687 |
|
| 1966 | Chittaranjan | — | 37 | — | 7688–7724 | |
| 1966 | Chittaranjan | — | 30 | — | 7725–7754 | |
The entire class remained intact into the 1980s; some WPs remained in service until the 1990s. A few reconditioned WPs have been exported to countries in the middle East (after regauging?).
The WP was Indian railways' crack locomotive in 1960s and 1970s. Before the widespread introduction of diesel and electric locomotives several prestigious trains, such as the Taj Express, the Grand Trunk Express, Howrah-Madras Mail, Frontier Mail and the AirConditioned Express were once hauled by WP class locomotives.
Technical specifications
- Boiler: 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) diameter
- Heating Surface: 3082 sq ft (286.3 m²)
- Maximum Train Load: 680 tonnes
See also
- Indian RailwaysIndian RailwaysIndian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
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