The Indian locomotive class WDG-6G (GE ES57ACi)[1] is a class of diesel-electric locomotive used by the
Indian Railways for freight duty. The locomotive is a higher power variant of the
WDG-4G locomotive which was also designed by
General Electric. The design platform is based on the
GE Evolution Series and features a
4-stroke16-cylinder fully
turbocharged engine which delivers around 6,000
horsepower (4,500 kW), making it the most powerful diesel locomotive of IR (second-most being the
WDG-5 aka EMD GT50AC).[2] It is the only 6,000 HP
Diesel electric locomotive at 23t/axle weight, making it the lightest locomotive in its category in the world.
Import and manufacture
Two units were produced by
Wabtec's plant in
Pennsylvania, United States, and delivered to India in 2019.[3] Initially, a few will be made in USA. Under the '
Make in India' initiative of
Indian Government, GE will manufacture all remaining units at its factory in
Marhowra,
Bihar. GE has also built maintenance sheds at Roza in
UP and
Gandhidham in
Gujarat.
Field trials
The first two locomotives in the series, 69001 and 69002, were recently sent to
South Central Railways' Maula Ali (MLY) Diesel Locomotive Shed. The locos underwent Confirmatory Oscillograph Car Run (COCR) trials on the
Vikarabad – Parli section of South Central Railway[4] and were approved by
Research Design and Standards Organisation for further field trials on the
Dedicated Freight Corridor by Roza Locomotive Shed.
The Indian locomotive class WDG-6G (GE ES57ACi)[1] is a class of diesel-electric locomotive used by the
Indian Railways for freight duty. The locomotive is a higher power variant of the
WDG-4G locomotive which was also designed by
General Electric. The design platform is based on the
GE Evolution Series and features a
4-stroke16-cylinder fully
turbocharged engine which delivers around 6,000
horsepower (4,500 kW), making it the most powerful diesel locomotive of IR (second-most being the
WDG-5 aka EMD GT50AC).[2] It is the only 6,000 HP
Diesel electric locomotive at 23t/axle weight, making it the lightest locomotive in its category in the world.
Import and manufacture
Two units were produced by
Wabtec's plant in
Pennsylvania, United States, and delivered to India in 2019.[3] Initially, a few will be made in USA. Under the '
Make in India' initiative of
Indian Government, GE will manufacture all remaining units at its factory in
Marhowra,
Bihar. GE has also built maintenance sheds at Roza in
UP and
Gandhidham in
Gujarat.
Field trials
The first two locomotives in the series, 69001 and 69002, were recently sent to
South Central Railways' Maula Ali (MLY) Diesel Locomotive Shed. The locos underwent Confirmatory Oscillograph Car Run (COCR) trials on the
Vikarabad – Parli section of South Central Railway[4] and were approved by
Research Design and Standards Organisation for further field trials on the
Dedicated Freight Corridor by Roza Locomotive Shed.
