Prakash Tendulkar, February 2005

I had an opportunity to visit Chittaranjan Loco Works or CLW in February 2005. Located in township of her own, this facility is fully self contained and bustling with activity.

Originally started to manufacture steam locos for Indian Railway, it transformed into a modern Electric Locomotive factory in Asia producing locomotives with state of art technology for the first time in Indian subcontinent.

CLW manufactures electric locomotives -- 25 KV AC locomotive with 3-phase AC drive, 25KV AC locomotive with DC drive. it is one of the largest Electric Locomotive manufacturer in the world. In addition, it has also produced some 900 diesel and diesel electric locomotives.

  Shri Sujeet Mishra, Deputy Chief Electrical Engineer at CLW manages the implementation of and enhancement to micro-processor technology deployed in modern electric locomotives.

Gone are the days of wheel type master controller, monitoring current before changing notches; microprocessor handles all these tasks, in addition to control of pneumatic braking.

Modifications can be made simply by applying changes to software.

Honestly, I was amazed to see the technological advances IR has made not simply by acquiring the know how but also modifying it to suit IR requirements.

The biggest hurdle IR faces now is lack of adequate technical skills to maintain these state of art locos.

  Manufacturing line at CLW. You can see WAG-7, WAG-9, WAP-5 and WAP-7 locomotives in different sections of assembly line.

  All models, except WAP-4, use pre-fabricated bogie.

  This is not a bogie of locomotive in manufacturing phase. This is merely a stand to move locomotive from one section to another.

  WAG-9 is undergoing testing of electrical components. The grounding rod ensures safety of workers. WAP-7 is a sibling of WAG-9 with different gear ratio and modified software and micro-processor. 

The biggest improvement offered by WAG-9 and WAP-7 is in location of operator's seat. The passage towards equipment room is located near center, allowing operator's sear to be near the doors providing better seating and leg room. 

  Detachable ladder used to climb roof top during assembly and testing. For those who may have been familiar with 1928 make WCP2 locomotives in Mumbai, similar ladder was integrated in the body shell.

  This is a display for operator. It shows results during POST (Power On Self Test), faults when they occur and other details during various phase of operation.

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