The Indian locomotive class WDG-4 (EMD GT46MAC) is a
freight
Cargo consists of bulk goods conveyed by water, air, or land. In economics, freight is cargo that is transported at a freight rate for commercial gain. ''Cargo'' was originally a shipload but now covers all types of freight, including transp ...
-hauling
diesel-electric locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the prime mover (locomotive), prime mover is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conv ...
with AC electric transmission designed by
General Motors Electro-Motive Diesel in 1997–1998 for
Indian Railways
Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tot ...
, where they are classed as WDG-4. Thirteen were built by EMD as order #958647, and a further eight were exported in kit form and assembled in India. The class entered service in 1999.
Further construction has been under license in India by the
Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW); more than 60 additional locomotives have been built . They are numbered from #12001 upward. A similar type, the
EMD GT46PAC
The EMD GT46PAC or WDP4 is a passenger-hauling diesel-electric locomotive with AC electric transmission designed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and built by both GM-EMD and under license by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) of Varanasi, ...
, has also been produced for passenger service in India.
, EMD and DLW have begun building GT46ACe's using
IGBT
An insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is a three-terminal power semiconductor device primarily used as an electronic switch, which, as it was developed, came to combine high efficiency and fast switching. It consists of four alternating lay ...
technology to replace the older
gate turn-off thyristor
A gate turn-off thyristor (GTO) is a special type of thyristor, which is a high-power (.e.g. 1200V AC) semiconductor device. It was invented by General Electric. GTOs, as opposed to normal thyristors, are fully controllable switches which can be ...
technology and along with increase of 500 HP, ie, , using the Newly tweaked EMD 16N-710G3B-EC, like the Passenger
WDP-4B
The EMD GT46PAC or WDP4 is a passenger-hauling diesel-electric locomotive with AC electric transmission designed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and built by both GM-EMD and under license by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) of Varanasi, ...
have been produced. Newer versions with widened ''Piggy-face'' cab profile for enhanced visibility, just like the later variants of WDP-4's and WDP-4B's were also produced.
, DLW began building the Dual Cab version, ie, EMD JT46ACe, called WDG-4D, based on the Passenger variant
WDP-4D
The EMD GT46PAC or WDP4 is a passenger-hauling diesel-electric locomotive with AC electric transmission designed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and built by both GM-EMD and under license by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) of Varanasi, ...
locos, same for Both-side Visibility. Here again, many features like IGBT and 4500 HP have been carried on from the single cab GT46ACe's. Over 1,500 such locomotives, including both WDG-4's and WDG-4D's are currently in operation.
In Popular Culture
In the 2017
Tamil language
Tamil (; ' , ) is a Dravidian language natively spoken by the Tamil people of South Asia. Tamil is an official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the sovereign nations of Sri Lanka and Singapore, and the Indian territory of Pudu ...
Action film ''
Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru
''Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru'' () or simply ''Theeran'' is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by H. Vinoth and produced by S. R. Prakashbabu and S. R. Prabhu under the banner Dream Warrior Pictures. Based on th ...
'', a WDG-4 locomotive numbered 12492, from
Bhagat Ki Kothi
Bhagat Ki Kothi is a place in Rajasthan, near Jodhpur. Bhagat Ki Kothi is famous for the Thar Express. This station connects India and Karachi, Pakistan.
It is also famous for the Taj Hotel and the Lahariya Sweet Home.
Bhagat Ki Kothi is home to ...
(BGKT) DLS was featured in an action scene, where
Karthi
Karthik Sivakumar (born 25 May 1977), better known by his stage name Karthi, is an Indian actor who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He has won three Filmfare Awards South, an Edison Award, a SIIMA Award and a Tamil Nadu State Film Award. ...
, who plays the title role, boards a train to fight criminals.
Locomotive sheds
See also
*
Indian locomotive class WDP-4
The EMD GT46PAC or WDP4 is a passenger-hauling diesel-electric locomotive with AC electric transmission designed by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and built by both GM-EMD and under license by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) of Varanasi, ...
*
List of diesel locomotives of India
This article lists the Diesel locomotive, diesel locomotives that have operated or are operating on Indian Railways.
Classification
Locomotives were classified by track gauge, motive power, function and power (or model number) in a four- or f ...
*
Indian Railways
Indian Railways (IR) is a statutory body under the ownership of Ministry of Railways, Government of India that operates India's national railway system. It manages the fourth largest national railway system in the world by size, with a tot ...
*
Rail transport in India
Rail transport in India is an important mode of conveyance for people and goods in India. Indian Railways (IR) is the primary operator of rail operations throughout the country. IR is a state-owned organisation of the Ministry of Railways, whic ...
References
External links
Detailed Specifications for the WDG4
{{EMD misc
G-4
Co-Co locomotives
G46TMAC
5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives
Railway locomotives introduced in 1999