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Electric Locomotive YCG E 1/21900

Builder: Hawthorn Leslie & Co, UK. Electricals by English Electric,Leeds, UK Class: YCG/1 Year Built: 1930 Service: SIR (South Indian Railway), later SR (Southern Railway) Wheel Arrangement: Bo-Bo Unique Features: Dual braking (vacuum and air), entrance from balconies at each end, could also work for short spells in unelectrified yard lines, on attachment of trailer housing battery accummulators Numbering: 21900 Named: ---- Voltage: 1,500 V dc Rail Gauge: mg (3' 3 3/8")

The Madras Beach-Tambaram section was the first mg line to be electrified in 1930. The YCG/1s were the first electrics to arrive (apart from the mg e.m.us), making them the first mg electrics on Indian soil. Alas, their spent their entire working life on the 25 km stretch between Madras Beach and Tambaram. The main line was steam worked till 1968, after which it was electrified upto Villupuram on 25,000 V ac, in keeping with IR policy. Being dc engines, the YCG/1s used to run on the suburban lines, and never had the previlege of working main line trains. They were used for switching operations and shunting freights between Madras Beach and Tambaram. They also used to haul one suburban train between the stations daily, with silver-coloured YT class cars.One outstanding featue of the YCG/1s was their capability to work on unelectrified yard lines on attachment of a trailer car housing battery accummulators. After the main line was electrified in 1968, age, but a spanking new breed or YAM/1 ac electrics meant that the YCG/1s were not re-ordered. One more unit is preserved outside the e.m.u. car shed at Tambaram, in Madras.

Electric Locomotive WAM -1

VITALSTATISTICS: Builder: Kraus-Maffei, Germany, to a French design Class: WAM/1 Year Built: 1959 Service: ER (Eastern Railway), NR (Northern Railway) Wheel Arrangement: Bo-Bo Numbering: 20202 Named: JAGJIVAN RAM Voltage: 25,000 V ac Rail Gauge: bg (5' 6")

One of the newer additions to the NRM's treasure trove (May 1998) is the first a.c. electric engine to be used in India, WAM/1 20202. The engine was dedicated to the service of the nation at Asansol on the ER on 1/1/1959 by the then railway minister Jagjivan Ram. The occasion also marked the inauguration of the first 25,000 V ac section in the country. This 2,840 hp engine weighs 74 tonnes, and could run at a max. speed of 100 kmph. She clocked a total of 38,75,000 km till the end of her service life on early 22/10/97, and was retired from service from the Kanpur Electric Loco shed. During her working life, she hauled prestigious trains like the Howrah-Delhi Kalka Mail and the Deluxe Express. Mercury-arc rectifiers (also known as 'ignitron') had been fitted originally, but these were later replaced by silicon diode rectifiers. The engine name 'JAGJIVAN RAM', was applied to the engine soon after the inauguration of the first ac section in 1959, and she bore the name throughout the tenure of her service.

Electric Locomotive WAG 1

VITALSTATISTICS: Builder: Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, India Class: WAG/1 Year Built: 1963 Service: NR (Northern Railway) GIPR Wheel Arrangement: Bo-Bo Features: 3400 hp freight locomotive, max. speed 80 kmph Numbering: Not yet known Named: BIDHAN Rail Gauge: bg (5' 6")

Another recent addition to the NRM is the first Indian built ac freight electric locomotive of class WAG/1. The engine is named 'Bidhan'. Further details and picture will be posted as soAnother recent addition to the NRM is the first Indian built ac freight electric locomotive of class WAG/1. The engine is named 'Bidhan'. Further details and picture will be posted as soon as they are available.on as they are available.