Indian Railway Photography & Stories

[KAL-EL]

One of these days I'm going to take a train to Punjab

 

[Donatello]

Any surviving ALCO world series in India?

I used to love those when i was a kid, plying on the Quetta route, here in Pakistan.

@anant_s @gslv mk3 are you guys working in IR or in locomotive industry?

Btw, I liked the engine in the above post, very cute and airy! And I have downloaded the video below and just running it when doing nothing.

It's a shunting engine.....you can say the donkey of railway yards.

 

[anant_s]

Any surviving ALCO world series in India?

Sir as of now the oldest surviving ALCOs in India are DL 560C model WDM 2 and this class is on verge of retirement. As for ALCO world series WDM 1 (retired back in early 90s were the only known variants). Earliest loco of this class is preserved at National Rail Museum New Delhi.

I used to love those when i was a kid, plying on the Quetta route, here in Pakistan.

Well some pics to refresh memories for you. All pics have been taken from railpics.net and depict trains plying on Quetta route. & lovely ALCOs off course!!

more stuff here

 

[Donatello]

Yup, they had a unique look, later they mostly pulled freight.

The railways through the desolate hills of Balochistan is mind boggling. I used to always wonder how the heck did British engineer all that without modern tech?

 

[anant_s]

I used to always wonder how the heck did British engineer all that without modern tech?

Well they had something that more than compensates for modern technology, Vision.

 

[anant_s]

 

[Bilal9]

Sir as of now the oldest surviving ALCOs in India are DL 560C model WDM 2 and this class is on verge of retirement. As for ALCO world series WDM 1 (retired back in early 90s were the only known variants). Earliest loco of this class is preserved at National Rail Museum New Delhi.
View attachment 194671


Well some pics to refresh memories for you. All pics have been taken from railpics.net and depict trains plying on Quetta route. & lovely ALCOs off course!!
View attachment 194677 View attachment 194678 View attachment 194679 View attachment 194680
more stuff here

Those world series ALCO's for Pakistan and India are direct re-gauged versions of the ALCO FA-1 or FA-2 (US domestic prototype) with six wheel trucks from the larger ALCO, namely PA-1. 'P' means passenger and 'F' means freight usage. PA-1 had longer noses and had larger engines. World series ALCO's were given unusual six wheel (3 axle) trucks in the subcontinent because tracks were not maintained well everywhere and a lower axle-load rating per wheel was necessary.

ALCO FA-1

ALCO PA-1

 

[anant_s]

Those world series ALCO's for Pakistan and India are direct re-gauged versions of the ALCO FA-1 or FA-2 (US domestic prototype) with six wheel trucks from the larger ALCO, namely PA-1. 'P' means passenger and 'F' means freight usage. PA-1 had longer noses and had larger engines. World series ALCO's were given unusual six wheel (3 axle) trucks in the subcontinent because tracks were not maintained well everywhere and a lower axle-load rating per wheel was necessary.

ALCO FA-1

ALCO PA-1

True, those Co-Co trucks were designed for lower axle loading on tracks and hence were/are quite successful in Indian Sub-continent. Throughout mainland Europe even the freight locos are designed on Bo-Bo (4 powered axle) arrangement, something that went extinct in India after WAG 4 locos.
It would also be interest to note that when GM transferred WDG 4 and WDP 4 (GT46) technology to India, the locos had unusual Bo1-1Bo (Motor-motor-Idle-Idle-Motor-Motor) arrangement to reduce load on each axle. Later DLW India modified the loco to more conventional Co-Co arrangement.
Just wanted to ask about those photos you've pasted, are those from KATO rail model collection?

 

[Bilal9]

True, those Co-Co trucks were designed for lower axle loading on tracks and hence were/are quite successful in Indian Sub-continent. Throughout mainland Europe even the freight locos are designed on Bo-Bo (4 powered axle) arrangement, something that went extinct in India after WAG 4 locos.
It would also be interest to note that when GM transferred WDG 4 and WDP 4 (GT46) technology to India, the locos had unusual Bo1-1Bo (Motor-motor-Idle-Idle-Motor-Motor) arrangement to reduce load on each axle. Later DLW India modified the loco to more conventional Co-Co arrangement.
Just wanted to ask about those photos you've pasted, are those from KATO rail model collection?

The FA1 is a Bachmann HO model. The PA1 is a Kato (I think N). But these days even Bachmann (their spectrum line) comes with superior quality running gear like Katos. Here's an exhaustive loco-list review for N scale locos.

N-Scale Locomotive Encyclopedia (North American Prototypes)

 

[anant_s]

The FA1 is a Bachmann HO model. The PA1 is a Kato (I think N). But these days even Bachmann (their spectrum line) comes with superior quality running gear like Katos. Here's an exhaustive loco-list review for N scale locos.

N-Scale Locomotive Encyclopedia (North American Prototypes)

Thanks mate!
KATO is on my wish list for some time now and i hope to purchase one of the beginners model this year.

 

[anant_s]

 

[anant_s]

 

[anant_s]

WAP 7 class loco hauling Mumbai bound Rajdhani Express

WAG 9 class rests at station yard, after night duty

WAG 5 class loco loiters in yard for shunting work.

WAP 4 class loco rests with its afternoon load.

WAP 5 class loco ready to take its express train towards Mumbai Central station from mahalaxmi yard

@AndrewJin @Ankit Kumar 001 @Abingdonboy

 

[AndrewJin]

WAP 7 class loco hauling Mumbai bound Rajdhani Express
View attachment 264019
WAG 9 class rests at station yard, after night duty
View attachment 264020
WAG 5 class loco loiters in yard for shunting work.
View attachment 264021
WAP 4 class loco rests with its afternoon load.
View attachment 264022
WAP 5 class loco ready to take its express train towards Mumbai Central station from mahalaxmi yard
View attachment 264024

@AndrewJin @Ankit Kumar 001 @Abingdonboy

I like the last red one most.
Is Rajdhani Express the highest class of overnight trains?

 

[anant_s]

Is Rajdhani Express the highest class of overnight trains?

Fare wise yes but now a days these are at par with Duronto class trains.
Fare includes meal charges Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, snacks and tea. & its quite a sumptuous affair i can guarantee after having travelled on 3 different Rajdhani expresses.
Evening Tea

Lunch/Dinner
Soup course

Main Course

Continental

Vegetarian

Non Vegetarian
Breakfast

on First AC accommodation, you can eat as much as you want (obviously the staff believes in pampering passengers on board and do not consider Gluttony as Sin)

Do share some pics of Chinese hospitality on board trains with sleeper accommodation on your HSR/HST thread.
@AndrewJin