WDG3A/4 class diesel freight locomotive:

• Year entered service: 1995/1999
• Units built (maker): 500+/ 35+ (DLW/EMD)
• Wheel arrangement: Co-Co
• Power: 3100hp/4000hp
• Weight: 123/126 tonnes
• Max Speed: 100 kmph/100 kmph

India’s first dedicated diesel freight loco came into being in the shape of the WDG2 (now called WDG3A). These locos featured the uprooted 3100 hp powerpack, along with an enhanced bogie design and a host of other features. One such example (#14922) belonging to SCR’s Gooty shed  is seen just outside Hyderabad bringing in a rake of cement laden BCN/A wagons.

WDG3As have been homed at almost all diesel sheds across IR’s network. Meant primarily for freight haulage, many a WDG3A does find application in other duties, such as this  Ludhiana based unit in an unusual livery hauling a military special train through Shivaji Bridge station in New Delhi.

WDG3As are a vast step ahead of the WDM2s in ergonomics and driver comfort, Most drivers swear that this it is one of the most comfortable machines to drive. Well, they certainly can’t complain about this Erode based unit seen at Kankanadi station near Mangalore which features an air-conditioned cab. Note the word ‘Shakti’ (power) painted in Devnagari, which is the generic class name for these locos.

Built with road numbers starting from #14500, DLW has  delivered over 500 of these locos. With the 15XXX series belonging to the WDP1/WDP3 classes, newer WDG3A locos are now being delivered with road numbers in the 13XXX series. Here, a spanking new unit (#13005) belonging to NR’s Ludhiana shed is seen at Shakurbasti station in Delhi as an office going lady crosses the tracks to catch her ride to work.

DLW delivered a WDG3A (#14951) to Gooty shed which featured advanced microprocessor controlled governors. The was classed as the Garuda and is based at Gooty. Here, it is spotted at Daund station resting easy after finishing another long hard day at work.

A Vishakhapatnam based WDG3A (#14650) struggles with a heavy load of BCN/A wagons as it enters the Bhubaneshwar yard from the north end. VSKP locos with their distinctive livery and the lighthouse logo are rarely seen beyond SER and ECoR limits.

A freshly painted WDG3A unit belonging to Kalyan diesel shed in CR shunts in the Panvel yard near Mumbai. The loco brought headed a container rake attached to a dead WCAM1 unit from the port lines of JNPT/Nhava Sheva and detached itself at Panvel. The WCAM1 unit then energized itself and took proceeded to the WR network via the Diva - Vasai link.

Normally WDG3A locos retain their factory standard orange coat of paint. However some sheds like Erode have painted their locos in the shed’s own colors like this unit waiting with a rake of empty BOXN wagons at Yelehanka station near Bangalore.

The hegemony of the WDG3A as IR’s premium heavy haul diesel loco ended with the entry of the monstrous WDG4 (EMD GT46MAC) built by GM. Exceeding 21m between the buffers this 4000 hp giants can single handedly haul a 4500T freight, a job that required 2 or more WDM2/WDG3A locos. All units are currently based at the purpose built shed at Hubli in Karnataka. One such unit is seen here standing outside the diesel shed at Gooty.

Featuring advanced AC/AC transmission, microprocessor based controls, fault diagnostics and a host of other high-tech gizmos, these beasts are sound as unique as they look. Their 2 stroke V16 powerpack produces an eerie hum that can be heard long before anything. The quiet little station of Dharur in Andhra Pradesh is shaken rudely as a light WDG4 thunders through the station in excess of 90 kmph.

The first set of these locos were built in 2 batches by GM’s EMD (Electromotive Division) in London, Ontario, Canada and shipped to India. But in a transfer of technology of agreement, DLW has started building these locos in-house in large numbers. The DLW built machines are distinctive in their silver blue clothes like this unit (#12035) which is waiting for the Karnataka Express to Bangalore to be let through.