WAP4 class AC passenger locomotive:

• Year entered service: 1994
• Units built (maker): 260+ (CLW)
• Wheel arrangement: Co-Co
• Power: 5350hp (5000 cont.)
• Weight: 113 tonnes
• Max Speed: 140kmph

The very first WAP4 (#22201) heads the overnight Charminar Express to Chennai. This loco was  initially based at Jhansi  but was transferred to Lallaguda in South Central Railway and now does duty on trains originating in this region.

IR has slowly upgraded its WAP4s and added some new features over the years. Cosmetic changes include, recessed twin beam headlamps, smoothened leading surfaces, 6 windows over side louvers instead of 11, and a lighter body shell. Here, an  LGD based unit (#22355) shows off these changes as it charges through Maula Ali station with the prestigious Andhra Pradesh Express.

The WAP4 is homed in sheds across the country and travel without break for thousands of Kms. Here a WAP4 (#22338) belonging to SER’s Santragachi shed (SRC) gets a brief rest at one of the sidings at Nagpur station. SRC is famous for its variety of liveries which present a refreshing change from the standard WAP4 liveries found elsewhere. The tracks and platforms to the right of the image belong to the NG network that originates out of Nagpur.

WAP4 #22264 from Lallaguda shed of SCR crosses the Pennar river with the Pinakini Express to Vijayawada. The bridge on the left was built by the British in the late 1880s and has a speed restriction of 50kmph on it. While the one on the right was built by Indian engineers in the 1960s and already trains have been reduced to a 20kmph crawl on it. Need one say more ????

Lallaguda shed’s star WAP4 #22313 is seen here waiting at Nagpur station with the Hyderabad bound AP Express. The loco was LGD’s entry in the annual beauty contest for locos and features modfied driving desk & a toilet. It also used to have a single piece windscreen now reinforced by a central pillar along with an air conditioner.

The Jaipur Madras Express hauled by a Vadodara WAP4E negotiates a curve near the Kovur thermal power station just north of Nellore. This train normally is one of the most punctual trains on this sector but due a derailment near Kazipet, it is running almost 4 hours late..

Tthe 2953 August Kranti Rajdhani Express hauled by another BRC WAP4E (#22364) is seen near Faridabad. Note the mismatched Shatabdi livery power car right behind the loco, which is an irritating but regular feature on the WR and NR run Rajdhani expresses.

The Rajdhani Express from Chennai covers the last few metres of its journey as it comes to a halt at Hazrat Nizamuddin station in New Delhi. Doing duty on this day is a Kanpur based WAP4 (#22230). Compare the cream bands on the generator car (coach #1) and the rest of the coaches. This greyish-cream color is a relatively new phenomenon that has started appearing on NR run  Rajdhanis.

WAP4E (#22564) from Vadodara waits at Hazrat Nizamuddin station with the Jan Shatabdi Express to Kota. Compare the windshield of this loco with the ones featured above. CLW has started shipping WAP4 locos with WAP5 style windscreens. In addition, many new WAP4s, including this one have also been fitted with roof mounted dynamic brake resistor grids on an experimental basis.

In yet another experiment CLW has mounted the headlamps on top of the windscreens on some of later build WAP4s. One such example #22580 belonging  to Erode shed of SR. In addition it also has a reinforced pantograph adapted from the WAP5/WAG9 machines. The loco here is hauling the Navjeevan Express to Ahmedabad. According to senior driver, the shifted headlamp assembly provides much better illumination than the waist level ones.