diesel

YDM4 class diesel mixed duty locomotive (MG):

  • Year entered service: 1961
  • Units built (maker): 671 (ALCO/MLW/DLW)
  • Wheel arrangement: Co-Co
  • Power: 1400 hp (1300 cont.)
  • Weight: 72 tonnes
  • Max Speed: 100 kmph

The mainstay of IR’s MG operations for many years has been the YDM4 locomotive. Based on an ALCO design and built by Montreal Locomotive Works and later on by DLW, this 1400 hp workhorse has been deployed in large numbers across the MG network in India. A beautiful blue-yellow example (#6195) from Sabarmati shed is seen in the Delhi Sarai Rohilla yard, which is the MG terminus for Delhi.

Down South near Hyderabad, two YDM4s (#6187 & #6382) belonging to the Maula Ali diesel shed wait for their call of duty at Bolarum station in the outskrits of Hyderabad city. Once part of an extensive MG network which ran all the way upto Ajmer in rajasthan, this section has now been converted to Broad Gauge and Maula Ali no longer homes any YDM4 locomotives.

A YDM4 (#6716) from Sabarmati shed heads towards Delhi with a morning passenger train from Rewar . Note the MU cables tucked just above the buffers. The numerous milk cans hanging fromh the windows bear testimony to the popularity of this train with milkmen.

2 YDM4s from Maula Ali shed of SCR keep a watch over a YP locomotive as it prepares to haul the commemorative train as part of Indian Railway’s 150 year celebrations in April 2002 at Bolarum near Hyderabad. The blue YDM4 had been transferred from Maula Ali’s sister MG shed st Guntakal.

A YDM4 (#6475) belonging to North Eastern Railway’s Izzatnagar Shed is seen in the city of Agra as it proceeds from Agra Fort station towards Idgah. NER still maintains an extensive MG network that stretches across the states of UP and Bihar.

A YDM4 (#6608) belonging to Sabarmati shed lets out clouds of thick smoke as it accelerates with a late running mail train from Bikaner. The Delhi - Rewari section is one of the oldest surviving MG sections in the world and still sees extensive traffic from the states of Rajasthan & Haryana.

YDM4 #6729 is seen cruising with a morning passenger train to Rewari near the Dwarka sub-city level crossing in South West Delhi. The track running parallel is the Delhi - Jaipur BG track which bifurcates at Rewari and touches Jaipur via Alwar while the MG alignment reaches Jaipur via Bandikui.

A ZDM5 locomotive moves in to take charge of an NG train at Nagpur station’s NG terminus. Nagpur is an important railhead on the Satpura Valley NG network, but slowly this line is being closed down to make way for BG. This railway was famous for some of the fastest speeds achieved on NG railways with trains topping 50 kmph !!!!

This ZDM4A locomotive belonging to the Motibagh shed has just brought in the passenger from Chindwara to Nagour.  The loco will reverse & leave immideatly for the return journey. Note the striking contrast between the liveries of the loco and the rake.

The NDM1 locomotive operating on the Neral Matheran Hill Railway near Mumbai is probably the only articulated locomotive class operating on the Indian Railways. These locos were earlier operating on the Kalka Simla Railway but were regauged for duty on this section.

This NDM6 locomotive is bringing a passenger service from the hill station of Matheran nestled somehwere in the hills seen in the background. This diesel hydraulic locomotive has been built by the Suri & Nayar Locomtive works (SAN) ouside Bangalore.