IRFCA Mailing List Archive


Messages 1641 - 1660

From: Kandaswami, Auroprem* <Kandaswami#m#_Auroprem*@msgate.email

Subject: Re: New Karnataka Railway line

Date: 11 Nov 1996 11:14:00 -0500



(DECCAN HERALD : 12 November, 1996)

BANGALORE, Nov 11

Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday announced that the Railway Ministry would soon undertake a survey on the new Bangalore-Sathyamangala railway track in Karnataka.

Addressing a public meeting at Iggalur village in Channapatna taluk, Mr Paswan, responding to a plea made by Mr H D Kumaraswamy, MP from the Kanakapura constituency, said the survey would cover the linkage from Bangalore via Kanakapura, Satanur, Malavalli, Bannur and Chamarajanagar.

Barring Chamarajnagar, which has a rail link from Mysore, other areas come under the Kanakapura Lok Sabha constituency.

Mr Paswan said that all the projects taken up by the Railways in Karnataka would be completed on schedule.

Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda laid the foundation for the over bridge at Channapatna to be built at a cost of Rs.13.10 crore (which includes the Railway`s share of Rs.6.58 crore and the State government`s share of Rs.6.52 crore.)

Earlier at Ramanagaram, Mr Gowda laid the foundation for an over bridge at a cost of Rs.13.78 crore, (which includes the Railway`s share of Rs.6.93 crore and the State government`s share of Rs.6.85 crore.)

From: db2adm <db2adm@VNET.email

Subject: EMU suppliers

Date: 12 Nov 1996 08:01:00 -0500


Jishnu,

> Does it say in the book who were the manufacturers of these? Was it
>Metro-Cammel or English-Electric or someone else?

The coaches were built by M/s Camell Laird & Co. for GIP. The electric
traction equipments were supplied by English Electric Co. Ltd.

For BBCI, the coaches were supplied by M/s Merz & Mcllellen and traction
equipment by M/s Thomson Houston Co. (FYI only, the master controllers
in driving cabs had a logo, BTH, [British Thmson Houston], on them.

In 1950, coaches built by M/s Metropolitan Cammell Carriage & Wagon
Co. Ltd. at their Midland Works, Birmingham arrived. The traction
equipments were supplied by English Electric.

As far as I remember, there were a few units supplied by Hitachi
as well as Breda. One unit from each type was run on WR for a while.
Subsequently, they were transferred to CR leaving only six trains
(12 EMUs) by Metro on WR.

In 1960, the first Indigenous EMUs manufactured at Jessop & Co.
arrived at WR. Originally built for ER, these units were converted
from 3000V DC to 1500 V DC at the factory. Traction motors came
from English Electric.

My two cents again. These traction motors were the best I've ever
seen in EMUs. They were able to achieve speeds upto 115 Kms/hr,
during peak hours hauling overcrowded train. Later, motors made
by BHEL had aluminum Inductive shunt installed in them to reach
similar performance. WR had one train with this feature active
but I never saw it running faster than 105 Kms/hr, even during
non-peak hours.Both WR and CR deactivated this feature soon
to reduce failures. BTW, speed limit those days was 75 kms/hr
between Marine Lines and Borivali and 100 kms between Borivali
and Virar. Marine Lines to Churchgate track had various
different limits, less than 60 Kms.

Prakash

From: Kandaswami, Auroprem* <Kandaswami#m#_Auroprem*@msgate.email

Subject: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 13 Nov 1996 05:02:00 -0500


New Delhi, Nov 12 (UNI) Indian Railways have introduced for the first time AC 3-Phase 6000 horse power (HP) electric locomotives for hauling the Prayag Raj and Gomti express trains in Northern Railway.

An official release said here today that the locomotives imported from Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) was capable of hauling a passenger train with a minimum speed of 100 km per hour with 26 coaches and the freight train with a maximum speed of 160 km per hour. The decision to introduce the locos was taken after these were successfully tried on some sections of the railways, the release said.

A total of eleven locomotives for hauling passenger trains and another 22 for freight trains would be provided by ABB. These included three spares under the agreement with the Swiss company. Such locos would be manufactured indigenously at the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) in 1997-98.

From: Dheeraj Sanghi <dheeraj@iitk.email

Subject: Re: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 14 Nov 1996 10:46:00 -0500


> New Delhi, Nov 12 (UNI) Indian Railways have introduced for the first
> time AC 3-Phase 6000 horse power (HP) electric locomotives for hauling
> the Prayag Raj and Gomti express trains in Northern Railway.
>
> An official release said here today that the locomotives imported
> from Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) was capable of hauling a passenger
> train with a minimum speed of 100 km per hour with 26 coaches and the
> freight train with a maximum speed of 160 km per hour. The decision
> to introduce the locos was taken after these were successfully
> tried on some sections of the railways, the release said.
>
> A total of eleven locomotives for hauling passenger trains
> and another 22 for freight trains would be provided by ABB.
> These included three spares under the agreement with the
> Swiss company. Such locos would be manufactured indigenously
> at the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) in 1997-98.
>
> ***


I travlled by PrayagRaj last week, and I saw the spanking new
WAP-5 engine for just a few seconds as it passed by me. It was
beautiful. They have introduced 5 engines for passenger traffic.
Two of them haul PrayagRaj in each direction. Two of them are
used for North-East between NDLS and Mughalsarai. And one engine
is for Gomti between NDLS and Kanpur. There were some trials for
last few months. Now they are being tried on these superfast
trains. (This is still a trial, and that explains their low
utilization of 9 hours per day for Prayagraj express.) They
will soon be moved to Rajdhani express trains between NDLS and
Mughalsarai, and NDLS and Vadodara. Prayagraj will get another
WAP-5 later, and it might become a 26-coach train at that time.

WAP-4 engines are also being produced by CLW. They are same as
WAP-3 with higher horse-power. They will be used for Shatabdis
and other superfast trains. It is becoming difficult to spot
any decent train being hauled by WAM-4 any more, which was
the norm just a few years ago.

I am not sure if it was reported on IRFCA, but the Rajdhani
between Vadodara and BCT is no longer hauled by dual-diesel.
They have an enhanced version of WACM (WACM-2 ??) which has
a max speed of 110 or 120.

-dheeraj

--------------
Dheeraj Sanghi +91 (512) 25-7077 (Off)
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering +91 (512) 25-8627 (Res)
Indian Institute of Technology +91 (512) 25-0260 (Fax)
Kanpur - 208 016 (UP), INDIA. dheeraj@iitk.email

From: Jishnu Mukerji <jis@fpk.email

Subject: Re: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 13 Nov 1996 14:12:00 -0500


Excerpts from personal.IRFCA: 13-Nov-96 Re: IR introduces ABB Locos
Dheeraj Sanghi@iitk.email (2422)

> I travlled by PrayagRaj last week, and I saw the spanking new
> WAP-5 engine for just a few seconds as it passed by me. It was
beautiful.

So, is the WAP5 a Bo-Bo or Co-Co? I am wondering what base design it is
derived from - the Rc-4? Also, does anyone know if the 3-phase AC motors
are synchronous or asynchronous? I am assuming that they have all the
advanced wheel-slip management software as well as ABS of some sort. Is
there any plan to equip high speed train rakes with electrical actuators
for brakes in all carriages, as is the common practice say on Amtrak and
the European railways? Seems like almost a necessity for safely
operating 26 car trains at high speeds. How about disk brakes?

Jishnu.

From: T.H.Sanyal. <THS1@PSUVM.EMAIL

Subject: Re: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 13 Nov 1996 16:15:00 -0500


>So, is the WAP5 a Bo-Bo or Co-Co? I am wondering what base design it is
>derived from - the Rc-4? Also, does anyone know if the 3-phase AC motors
>are synchronous or asynchronous? I am assuming that they have all the

Is the 3-phase current derived on-board the loco from 1-phase supply?
I can't quite visualize how both 1-phase and 3-phase locos can be
supplied from the same overhead equipment.

ths.

From: R. Anand <anand@watson.email

Subject: Re: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 13 Nov 1996 15:24:00 -0500


In message <ImWWj30DGLZQ19ga1k@fpk.email write:
>Excerpts from personal.IRFCA: 13-Nov-96 Re: IR introduces ABB Locos
>Dheeraj Sanghi@iitk.email (2422)
>
>> I travlled by PrayagRaj last week, and I saw the spanking new
>> WAP-5 engine for just a few seconds as it passed by me. It was
>beautiful.
>
>So, is the WAP5 a Bo-Bo or Co-Co? I am wondering what base design it is
>derived from - the Rc-4? Also, does anyone know if the 3-phase AC motors
>are synchronous or asynchronous? I am assuming that they have all the

Actually, I read that it is Bo-Bo-Bo. Three bogies in all. This is a
common wheel arrangement in Japan although these were built in
Australia.

Anand

From: Jishnu Mukerji <jis@fpk.email

Subject: Re: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 13 Nov 1996 15:29:00 -0500


Excerpts from personal.IRFCA: 13-Nov-96 Re: IR introduces ABB Locos
"T.H.Sanyal."@PSUVM.EMAIL. (405)

> Is the 3-phase current derived on-board the loco from 1-phase supply?
> I can't quite visualize how both 1-phase and 3-phase locos can be
> supplied from the same overhead equipment.

Yes, indeed. The single phase AC is stepped down, rectified and then fed
into solid state circuitry that generates three phase variable frequency
AC with optimal wave-form for driving the three phase AC motors. Pretty
nifty stuff.

Jishnu.

From: S Pai <pai@apollo.email

Subject: Re: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 13 Nov 1996 15:56:00 -0500


> Yes, indeed. The single phase AC is stepped down, rectified and then fed
> into solid state circuitry that generates three phase variable frequency
> AC with optimal wave-form for driving the three phase AC motors. Pretty
> nifty stuff.

Are these frequency-controlled induction motors, then? What happens at low
speeds? Is there a mechanical/hydromechanical torque converter arrangement,
or do the motors continue to work well at extremely low rpm's? How does it
start up from standstill -- can it generate high torque at a near-zero rpm?
Or do they cut out to some other drive arrangement below a certain speed?

-Satish

From: Jishnu Mukerji <jis@fpk.email

Subject: Re: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 13 Nov 1996 16:08:00 -0500


Excerpts from personal.IRFCA: 13-Nov-96 Re: IR introduces ABB Locos
S Pai@apollo.email (631)

> Are these frequency-controlled induction motors, then? What happens at low
> speeds? Is there a mechanical/hydromechanical torque converter arrangement,
> or do the motors continue to work well at extremely low rpm's? How does it
> start up from standstill -- can it generate high torque at a near-zero rpm?
> Or do they cut out to some other drive arrangement below a certain speed?

It is time to ask Electrical Engineers who know the details of these
things. My knowledge of this stuff is pretty peripheral, from reading
various railroad rags. Additionally I don't know what type of AC motors
these locos have. So unfortunately I don't feel knowledgable enough to
answer yoru question. But if someone else can take it on I would love to
learn about the intricacies of AC motors both synchronous and
aynchronous.

Jishnu.

From: R. Anand <anand@watson.email

Subject: Re: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 13 Nov 1996 16:19:00 -0500


In message <YmWYPRMDGLZQ19ggBo@fpk.email write:
>
>It is time to ask Electrical Engineers who know the details of these
>things. My knowledge of this stuff is pretty peripheral, from reading
>various railroad rags. Additionally I don't know what type of AC motors
>these locos have. So unfortunately I don't feel knowledgable enough to
>answer yoru question. But if someone else can take it on I would love to
>learn about the intricacies of AC motors both synchronous and
>aynchronous.
>
>Jishnu.

I'm not an expert but it does not stop me from stepping in ;-) In this
case, there is no hydraulic coupling used. Only the standard bogie
mounted direct drive motors. The *frequency* of the synthesized
3 phase AC current is varied to control the speed of the motor.
Apparently it is possible to get the good starting characteristics
of DC motors by this method.

Anand

From: Dheeraj Sanghi <dheeraj@iitk.email

Subject: Re: DC EMUs on WR

Date: 15 Nov 1996 05:32:00 -0500


> 25kV AC requires greater clearance than 1.5kV DC. If I remember
> correctly 25kV AC requires an 11" air gap to prevent arcing.

The numbers I am told here are 200 mm (8") for 25kV AC and
40mm for 3kV DC.

> Of course there are places where such clearance cannot be provided. In
> those cases contact wire embedded in continuous insulating material is
> used. The thickness of insulating material required is determined by the
> characteristics of the material and is typically much less than 11".
>
> Jishnu.

-dheeraj

--------------
Dheeraj Sanghi +91 (512) 25-7077 (Off)
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering +91 (512) 25-8627 (Res)
Indian Institute of Technology +91 (512) 25-0260 (Fax)
Kanpur - 208 016 (UP), INDIA. dheeraj@iitk.email

From: db2adm <db2adm@VNET.email

Subject: Railway News

Date: 14 Nov 1996 04:58:00 -0500


The Indian Express
Thursday, November 14 1996

Konkan Railway service from November 16

November 13: Konkan Railway's (KR) regular train services from
Mumbai to Ratnagiri station will commence on November 16, 1996,
when an express train will be flagged off at Kurla Terminus.
Corresponding service from Ratnagiri station will also be launched
on the same day.

KR's number 0111 Down train will depart from Kurla Terminus at
11.10 pm and will reach Ratnagiri at 5.45 am the next morning. The
distance of 346 kilometres between Mumbai and Ratnagiri will be
covered in six and a half hours. There are five stations between
Chiplun and Ratnagiri: Kamathe, Savarda, Aravali Road,
Sangmeshwar, and Ukshi Bhoke.

Booking for the newly introduced extended trains by KR can be made
at all computerised reservation centres in Mumbai, Kalyan and
Thane. Reservation for the up-trains can be made at Ratnagiri,
Chiplun, and Khed. Unreserved tickets can be purchased from
intermediate stations two hours in advance. Advance reservation
for train No 0111/0112 will commence on November 15.
====================================

From: Ulrike Schepp <schepp@dark.email

Subject: Re: IR introduces ABB Locos

Date: 14 Nov 1996 22:07:00 -0500


>Are these frequency-controlled induction motors, then? What happens at low
>speeds? Is there a mechanical/hydromechanical torque converter arrangement,
>or do the motors continue to work well at extremely low rpm's? How does it
>start up from standstill -- can it generate high torque at a near-zero rpm?
>Or do they cut out to some other drive arrangement below a certain speed?

Hello,

i think, these motors would be some kind of 3-phase servo-controlled motors
just like in modern milling- and turning-machines or in large
offset-printing equipment, just a little bit bigger. These motors are wired
like ordinary 3-phase motors, but they have a rotor-position-control which
tells the power-supply, where the rotor actually stands -or runs. So it is
possible, to control the rotating field from 0 rpm to 3600 rpm with constant
torque from 0 (yes ZERO!) rpm to 3000 rpm and then with constant "output
power" (because of losses and magnetic remanences) up to 3600 rpm. So you
can use it exactly like a DC-motor without the problems of collectors and
other parts with limited livetime. On such a 3-phase servo there is no
current going over rotating parts or contacts and so it is possible to use
such motors without the need of service every half year.
The only parts to change are the bearings which holds the rotor in place.

Hope you are not sleeping at all... ;-)))

bye
Ulrike
--
Names: Ulrike Schepp
E-Mail: schepp@dark.email
Snail: Am Berg 1 / D-35647 Waldsolms
Phone: +49 60 85 97 02 00

From: db2adm <db2adm@VNET.email

Subject: Railway News

Date: 16 Nov 1996 06:50:00 -0500


The Indian Express
Saturday, November 16 1996

Derailments in Bihar keep Paswan on tenterhook

NEW DELHI, November 15: Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has his
`luck' to thank and not Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav
for the fact that no life was lost in three major derailments that
took place between Buxur-Danapur stretch in the state.

The 50-km rail track, falling in Yadav's constituency, saw three
major derailments, one after the other, during the past three
months. The Railway Protection Force personnel found fish plates
missing in all these cases leading to derailment of coaches.

Fortunately, there were no casualties although each time several
coaches derailed. Paswan would prefer to thank his stars. After
the third derailment on Wednesday, he dashed off a letter to the
Prime Minister's office requesting it to take up the issue with
the state government so that no such incident took place on this
particular stretch and elsewhere too.

Obviously, Paswan would not like to see any trend in these
derailments. But he would not like to remain a silent spectator
either because he may not be lucky all the time. He chose to make
a disclosure himself about this coincidence at a press conference
today at his residence. He told The Indian Express later that the
Railway Board had taken up the issue with the Chief Secretary of
the Bihar government. But he had decided to inform the Prime
Minister so that he could impress upon the political leadership to
be more vigilant.
==========================
The Indian Express
Saturday, November 16 1996

Youth Congress's rail roko in Mira Road today

MUMBAI, November 15: As a protest against the deteriorating
conditions at the Mira Road station, the Youth Congress has called
for a Rail Roko Andolan on November 16. The Vice President of
Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, S Muzaffar Hussain, stated
that though various demands were placed before the railways since
1992-93, by the Mira Road commuters, nothing has been done so far.
=============================

From: India News Network Digest <able@ricochet.email

Subject: Calcutta Trams

Date: 17 Nov 1996 09:38:00 -0500


Nov 15 1996

"The Goverment has forced CTC to stop tram service on Maidan and the
Howrah Bridge."
"The goverment will stop trams on Mahatma Gandi Road and Chitpore."

This seems like a move in the wrong direction for Calcutta with the
cost of petroleum imports becoming a critical issue. Most other cities
with existing tram networks are preserving, expanding and providing
isolated right-of-ways where necessary.

What are the plans for Calcutta's tram system ? Also what details are
available for Bangalore's recently announced Light-Rail system?

From: Manish Malhotra <mmalhotra@attmail.email

Subject: Re: Historic Engine=Fairy Queen From National Rail Museum

Date: 18 Nov 1996 16:53:00 -0500


I am not quite sure if this would indeed be the oldest active
locomotive in the world. Durango-Silverton railroad in Colorado
sometimes runs a 1876 locomotive. Similarly there are pockets
of railroads which run old locos. There is one near Vienna, Austria,
which I believe is in use since 1875. Well, all I am trying to
say is that there could possibly be one older than this one but
still going strong. I guess some fact-digging is needed here.

Manish

____________________ Begin Original Message ___________________________
Date: Mon Nov 18 15:36:04 -0800 1996
From: internet!ricochet.net!able (Steven Brown)
Subject: Historic Engine=Fairy Queen From National Rail Museum
To: internet!cs.umd.edu!irfca
Content-Type: Text
Content-Length: 285

The "Complete" story : The 1855 British-built "fairy Queen" would run
New Delhi-Alwar (94 miles)from February 97. The train would be only one
60 seat carriage and a pantry car. The overnight trip would cost $500.

This would surely be the oldest active locomotive in the world.

From: db2adm <db2adm@VNET.email

Subject: India Rolls Out Historic Engine for Tourists

Date: 18 Nov 1996 07:57:00 -0500


NEW DELHI: India's Railway Ministry has pulled out of mothballs a steam
engine, used by British troops to crush a national rebellion 140 years
ago, to pull tourists.

Source: India Journal, USA Nov. 16,1996

From: S Pai <pai@apollo.email

Subject: Re: India Rolls Out Historic Engine for Tourists

Date: 18 Nov 1996 12:29:00 -0500


On 1996-11-18, at 09:57 (PST) Prakash Tendulkar wrote:

> NEW DELHI: India's Railway Ministry has pulled out of mothballs a steam
> engine, used by British troops to crush a national rebellion 140 years
> ago, to pull tourists.
>
> Source: India Journal, USA Nov. 16,1996

Hi,

This sounds interesting, and I wish I could hear more details, like what type
of loco it is, size/power, who made it, when it was restored, etc.
Unfortunately I don't have access to the journal mentioned, so I wonder if
anyone who knows more about this could post some details.

Thanks,

-Satish

From: db2adm <db2adm@vnet.email

Subject: India rolls out historic engine for Tourists

Date: 18 Nov 1996 10:20:00 -0500


>> NEW DELHI: India's Railway Ministry has pulled out of mothballs a steam
>> engine, used by British troops to crush a national rebellion 140 years
>> ago, to pull tourists.
>>
>> Source: India Journal, USA Nov. 16,1996

>Hi,
>
>This sounds interesting, and I wish I could hear more details, like what type
>of loco it is, size/power, who made it, when it was restored, etc.
>Unfortunately I don't have access to the journal mentioned, so I wonder if
>anyone who knows more about this could post some details.

Satish,

I came across this news item while bowsing <A HREF="http://www.cyberindia.net/">http://www.cyberindia.net/</A>. I do
not subscribe India Journal published from Los Angeles but I should be able
to grab a copy from Indian store, if it is not sold out, this evening.

Prakash