1.5 KV DC Freight Locomotives - now, mainly for banker duties
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WCG Class Locomotives 1.5 KV DC Freight Locomotives - now, mainly for banker duties |
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The close-up of a WCG/2 locomotive highlights the body-design, very similar to the WAM/4 class - particularly, the walkways by the side between front and rear cabs, and the circular glass windows. However, these locomotives had no transformer/rectifier load, and were all homed at Kalyan. This one's handling the Igatpuri segment of 7339 Sewagram Express to Nagpur, as she pulls out of Dadar in late '97. Note the collapsed old-style diamond pantographs at the front. |
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One important reason for employing bankers to push trains up steep routes is to ensure that coach couplings don't succumb to the tension and create runaway train segments. A WCG/2 pair waits with the 6339 Mumbai Nagercoil Express in the foothills of the Sahyadri range beyond Karjat. The banker drivers communicate with the main locomotive crew using horn codes, that is the preferred mode of wireless communication :) |
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To evolve with the times, the WCG/2 breed underwent a surgical operation to equip themselves with air brakes. This is a close-up of WCG/2 #20108, designated as a banker to push trains up the Bhore Ghat. Note the similarity with WAM/4 - French genes markedly visible through the family tree. They are extremely social, and hate solitude. |
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Four WCG2 locomotives from Kalyan shed stand coupled at Kasara station in early Jan 2001. WCG2s were saved from the fate that met the WCM class because of their banking responsibilities. They are imperative to push trains up the steep gradients in the sections between Karjat-Lonavla and Kasara-Igatpuri on CR. On rare occasions, they can be spotted hauling express trains. |
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This EF/1 class DC locomotive #20027 at NRM, New Delhi was amongst the first lot of 41 electric locomotives to enter India. She was christened "Sir Leslie Wilson" in the honor of the then Governor of Bombay. She was specially designed for goods operations and had a high tractive effort. The class nomenclature was later changed to WCG/1. This loco had four traction motors of 650 HP each. To confuse matters, WCG1 #20025 was also named after Leslie Wilson, and another one at Kalyan Loco Shed also carried the same name. |
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A noisy WCG2 locomotive snakes her way out of the Dadar Terminus lines into platform #3 of Matunga station in Mumbai, with the 7339 Dadar Nagpur Sewagram Express, as WCM5 #20093 awaits her cue on the left. WCG2 locomotives were usually alloted for freight and banker duties, but it wasn't uncommon to spot them hauling express trains. |
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