WDG5 is derived
from SD80MAC by EMD. Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi, India is licensed to
manufacture WDG4 (SD70MAC) and WDG5 (SD80MAC).
Due to lower axle load
in India (21-tons), development of WDG5 had stalled. Now the axle load has
increased to 22.5 tons (and soon going to be 25-tons or higher), first WDG5 was
built in collaboration with EMD. The 20-710 power plant comes from EMD with
modifications delivering 5,500 HP with 5,250 HP at wheels.
I liked easy layout of
buttons on Engineer's desk. In India, Long Hood Front (LHF) and SHF driving is
common as they do not have turn tables (anymore) and no wyes, either. So there
are two sets of desk top controls.
This loco was the first
one to provide toilet but since there are no tank discharge facilities, it is
limited to urinal only. I was disappointed. During my younger days, I did not
need a toilet for peeing while hauling freight train. It was nature's call and
nature helped me. With no one by track side, I could not be charged for indecent
public exposure.
I am grateful to friends
at Rail Bhavan and DLW for this successful trip.
Bogies, frame, cab and
safety infrastructure for cab has been designed by RDSO, Lucknow, India.
Bheem was mythological wrestler with enormous strength. Hence the name.
Pre-fabricated bogie.
Air dryer (not hair dryer)
MR-1 (Main Reservoir 1), fuel tank underneath and on left, reservoir for air motor to start power plant
along with electric motor.
MR-2 and battery box
EMD A2921-6 Traction Motor instead of Siemens
1TB2830 in original SD80MAC. EMD TMs are
more reliable, have 6-years warranty compared to 2-years that Siemens offers in
India on TMs.
Doppler Radar
8 volts batteries. Total 64 volts (72 volts when engine is running)
Emergency fuel cut off valve. It became famous in movie, Unstoppable
when State Troopers opened fire at it to stop run away train.
Builder's plate
DLW Guest House
Desktop controls. I really liked their layout that is significantly different
than SD80MAC.
Air conditioning / Heater outlets. Air-conditioner unit is imported since
domestic units failed in WDG4 (SD70MAC)
Driver's Back-up
Valve - DBV
Loco layout
Salient features:
-
There
is no flange lubricator on WDG5.
-
EMD
have supplied engine assembly, alternator, TMs and the control system (E
locker).
-
Hybrid bogies are made in
India under RDSO & DLW supervision.
-
Under-frame
is designed and made by DLW with RDSO inputs.
-
There
are no Siemens IGBTs on this loco.
-
Dynamic
brake grids are right behind the cab and not at the other end as in SD80MAC
or SD80ACe.
SD80MAC
Part 1 of 5
SD80MAC Part
2 of 5
SD80MAC Part
3 of 5
SD80MAC Part
4 of 5
SD80MAC Part
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