Indian locomotive class WP
Locomotive class WP by Fablok in 1959
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| Type and origin | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder |
Baldwin Locomotive Works (116) Canadian Locomotive Company (200) Montreal Locomotive Works (120) Fabryka Lokomotyw, (30) Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf (30) Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (259) |
| Build date | 1947–1967 |
| Total produced | 755 |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Configuration: |
|
| • Whyte | 4-6-2 |
| • UIC | 2′C1′ h2 |
| Gauge | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) |
| Leading dia. | 3 ft 7 in (1.092 m) |
| Driver dia. | 5 ft 7 in (1.702 m) |
| Trailing dia. | 3 ft 7 in (1.092 m) |
| Length | 77 ft 5 3⁄8 in (23.61 m) over buffers |
| Axle load | 18.5 long tons (18.8 t; 20.7 short tons) |
| Loco weight | 101.5 long tons (103.1 t; 113.7 short tons) |
| Tender weight | 72.0 long tons (73.2 t; 80.6 short tons) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 15 long tons (15 t; 17 short tons) |
| Water cap | 5,500 imp gal (25,000 l; 6,600 US gal) |
| Firebox: • Firegrate area |
46 sq ft (4.3 m2) |
| Boiler pressure | 210 psi (1.45 MPa) |
| Heating surface | 2,920 sq ft (271 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Cylinder size | 20 1⁄4 in × 28 in (514 mm × 711 mm) |
| Valve gear | Walschaerts |
| Valve type | 12 in (305 mm) piston valves |
| Valve travel | 7 1⁄2 in (191 mm) |
| Performance figures | |
|---|---|
| Power output | 2,680 hp (1,998 kW) drawbar (est.) at 74 mph (119 km/h) |
| Tractive effort | 30,600 lbf (136.12 kN) |
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Numbers | 7000–7754 |
| Disposition | nine preserved, remainder scrapped |
The Indian locomotive class WP was a class of 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotives used in India. It was introduced after World War II for passenger duties, marking the change from 'X' to 'W' as the classification code for broad gauge locomotives.
The class was designed specifically for low-calorie, high-ash Indian coal, by Railway Board designers in India.
WP class locomotives were capable of doing up to 110 km/h (68 mph) and were easily recognized by their cone-shaped bulging nose, usually with a silver star device painted on it.
A total of 755 WPs were built between 1947 and 1967, bearing fleet numbers 7000 to 7754. The first batch of sixteen, numbers 7200–7215, came from the Baldwin Locomotive Works, USA in 1947, and these were classed WP/P. (P for Prototype).
A main production batch of 300 locomotives followed in 1949, with production split between Baldwin (100), Montreal Locomotive Works (120), and Canadian Locomotive Company (80). The locomotives in this group were numbered 7216–7515, but the running numbers were issued in blocks as the locomotives were issued to the pre-nationalisation companies, and so bore no relation to the manufacturers' serial numbers, or even the manufacturer.
A further 180 locomotives were built between 1955 and 1959, with production split between Canadian Locomotive Company (120), Fabryka Lokomotyw, of Chrzanów, Poland (30), and Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf of Vienna, Austria (30).
Between 1963 and 1966, 259 more were built, but these were ordered from Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), and were manufactured in India, and classified WP/I. The WP/Is were 5 tonnes heavier.
The WP was Indian railways' crack locomotive in the 1960s and 1970s. Before the widespread introduction of diesel and electric locomotives several prestigious trains, such as the Taj Express, the Grand Trunk Express, Howrah-Madras Mail, Frontier Mail and the AirConditioned Express were once hauled by WP class locomotives.
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Wikipedia