The Indian locomotive class WAM-1 is a class of 25 kV AC

electric locomotive An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage such as a battery or a supercapacitor. Locomotives with on-board fuelled prime movers, such as diesel engines or gas ...

s that was developed in late 1950s by the ''Groupement 50Hz'' ( a consortium of European locomotive manufacturers) 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 ...

. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Mixed traffic (M) engine, 1st generation (1). They entered service in 1960 thus making them India's first AC electric

locomotive A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the Power (physics), motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, Motor coach (rail), motor ...

. A total of 100 WAM-1 were built by the European consortium between 1959 and 1961, which made them the most numerous class of mainline electric locomotive until the WAG-1. The WAM-1 served both passenger and freight trains for over 40 years. This class though was initially not a great success provided the basic design for the

WAM-4 The Indian locomotive class WAM-4 is a class of 25 kV AC electric locomotives that was developed in 1970 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), alternating current (A), mixed traffic ( ...

which a number of other locomotives is based on. However, with the advent of new 3-phase locomotives like WAP-5 and WAP-7, the aging fleet of WAM-1 locomotives were relegated to hauling freight and doing shunting duties. Now the WAM-1 locomotives have been fully withdrawn from service and all except one have been scrapped. The single surviving unit named 'Jagjivan Ram' has been preserved at NRM New Delhi.

Locomotive shed

* All the locomotives of this class has been withdrawn from service.

References

External links

[IRFCA] Indian Railways FAQ: Locomotives—Specific classes : AC Electric
{{Broad gauge locomotives of India 25 kV AC locomotives B-B locomotives Electric locomotives of India Railway locomotives introduced in 1959 5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives

Locomotive shed

See also

References

External links