WDS4/6 diesel shunting locomotives:

• Year entered service: 1968/1975
• Units built (maker): 570+/260+ (CLW/DLW)
• Wheel arrangement: C/Co-Co
• Power: 700 hp / 1400 hp
• Weight: 60 / 120 tonnes
• Max Speed: 65 kmph  / 71 kmph (Mainline)

The WDS4 and its various variants have been the mainstay of IR’s shunting fleet for many many years. CLW has produced over 600 of these units, some of which have been delivered to various non-railway organizations as well. One such unit, a WDS4D (#19651) based at Shakurbasti, ambles along the sidings at New Delhi station.

An Agra based WDS4D (#19635) shunts a passenger rake which has completed its journey. Note the beautiful livery of the loco which is distinctive of Agra based units. Note the extra halogen fog lamp fitted rally car style on the locos nose. It can be very useful in the foggy winters of the north, when visibility can drop below 10 metres.

Back at New Delhi station, the yard pilot of this Shakur Basti based WDS4 stands on the running board of the loco as it trundles past a Ludhiana WDM2 standing light on one of the platforms. Note the parcel shed in the background with mountains upon mountains of packages waiting to be delivered.

For hauling heavier loads, DLW introduced the WDS6 class shunter which featured the 1400 hp YDM4 powerpack on a WDM2 chassis with a low flat nosed full width cab. Heavily deployed both by IR and other industrial units, one such unit belonging to Itarsi shed does duty in the sidings outside Nagpur.

Many old WDM2 locos have now been relegated by IR for shunting duties. Most of these locos belong to the 18XXX series built in the 1960s. One such loco (#18263) based at Itarsi shed has now been designated as WDM2S (for shunting). The reason for its relegation has been stencilled on the loco itself. It reads “ Due to loco under frame being welded, it is unfit for mail duties. Fit for shunting only.” The loco is fitted with dual brake capability.

South Central Railway operates many 24 coach trains and its WDS4 locos are underpowered for such duties, therefore it too uses many old WDM2s for shunting duties around its yards. Most of these locos are based at Maula Ali shed, though they still retain their original livery like this ex-Kazipet WDM2 (#018225). The ‘0’ in the road number denotes that the loco is now meant for relegated duties.

Another Itarsi WDM2S (#18175) is seen shunting in the yard at Nagpur in Maharashtra. The 2600 hp powerpack of a WDM2 is adequate even for the heaviest shunting jobs, therefore IR has found a stopgap solution for its ageing shunters as both the WDS4 and WDS6 are now out of production.

The notice under the driver’s cab clearly states that the loco is not fit for any passenger duty, but for shunting only. This WDM2 unit (#16221) , orginally based at Guntakal, hs now been transferred to Maula Ali from where it serves shunting duties in the Hyderabad - Secundrabad area.

15 locomotives belonging to the class WDM7 were built by DLW Varanasi for branch line operations. All these locos were in the charge of Southern Railways and after changing hands with almost all of the diesel sheds in the region, most of these locos are now based at Tondiarpet shed which supplies shunters to the Chennai region. One such example #11006 is seen here shunting a tanker rake at Tambaram station.