Welcome to National Railway Museum

Electric Locomotive ( Sir Leslie Wilson )

Electric Locomotive Sir Lislie Wilson
Builder: Swiss Locomotive Works. Electrical equipment by Metropolitan Vickers, UK Class: Initially EF/1, later WCG/1 Year Built: 1928 Service: GIPR (Great Indian Peninsula Railway), later CR (Central Railway) Wheel Arrangement: C-C Numbering: Initially EF/1 4502, later WCG/1 20027 Named: SIR LESLIE WILSON Voltage: 1,500 V dc Rail Gauge: bg (5' 6")

Sister engines to the EA/1s, the EF/1s were used for heavy freight and banking operations on the steep hill line between Bombay and Poona. The EF/1s had an articulated frame, suitable for rounding the sharp bends on the ardous hill route. The engines are styled around the renowned Swiss 'crocodile' class of engines, so called due to their low slung profile and very long wheelbase, and an alleged resemblance to that animal while rounding bends. It is indeed a tribute to Swiss technology that the crocodile EF/1s were still at work till as recently as 1992, shunting at Bombay VT and Lonavla, when they were at least 64 years old! Despite re-numbering after being re-classed WCG/1, most still bore the old EF/1 number, usually merely chalked in. The engines were greatly admired by their drivers and crew., and retired from active service (main line workings) in 1974 . The pantograph was manipulated by a pole inside the driver's cab, just behind the driver. Several of the EF/1s had steam-locomotive type of whistles, later replaced by an electric horn. The EF/1s were among the first batch of electrics delivered to the IR in 1930. This particular engine was christened 'SIR LESLIE WILSON' after the then Governor of Bombay. The name 'SIR LESLIE WILSON' borne by this locomotive was originally the name of another locomotive # 20025 (EF/1 4500), which was also a WCG/1, and which was in fact the first engine of this class.