Indian locomotive class WP

The Indian locomotive class WP was a class of 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotives used in India. It was introduced after World War II for passenger duties, marking the change from 'X' to 'W' as the classification code for broad gauge locomotives. The class was designed specifically for low-calorie, high-ash Indian coal, by Railway Board designers in India.

Indian WP
WP/P class no. 7200 at the National Rail Museum, New Delhi, in 1993
WP/P class 7200 by Baldwin from 1947, at the National Rail Museum, New Delhi, in 1993
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works (116)
Canadian Locomotive Company (200)
Montreal Locomotive Works (120)
Fabryka Lokomotyw, (30)
Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf (30)
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (259)
Build date1947–1967
Total produced755
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-6-2
 • UIC2′C1′ h2
Gauge5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm)
Leading dia.3 ft 7 in (1.092 m)
Driver dia.5 ft 7 in (1.702 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 7 in (1.092 m)
Length77 ft 5+3⁄8 in (23.61 m) over buffers
Axle load18.5 long tons (18.8 t; 20.7 short tons)
Loco weight101.5 long tons (103.1 t; 113.7 short tons)
Tender weight72.0 long tons (73.2 t; 80.6 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity15 long tons (15 t; 17 short tons)
Water cap.5,500 imp gal (25,000 L; 6,600 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		46 sq ft (4.3 m2)
Boiler pressure210 psi (1.45 MPa)
Heating surface2,920 sq ft (271 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size20+1⁄4 in × 28 in (514 mm × 711 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve type12 in (305 mm) piston valves
Valve travel7+1⁄2 in (191 mm)
Performance figures
Power output2,680 hp (1,998 kW) drawbar (est.) at 74 mph (119 km/h)
Tractive effort30,600 lbf (136.12 kN)
Career
Numbers7000–7754
DispositionNine preserved, remainder scrapped

WP class locomotives were capable of going up to 110 km/h (68 mph) and were easily recognized by their cone-shaped bulging nose, usually with a silver star device painted on it.

WP7200. Steam Engine on display in New Delhi
WP 7161 is renamed Akbar was deployed as steam Express between Delhi and Alwar

History
Locomotive class WP by Fablok in 1959
Locomotive class WP by Fablok in 1959

A total of 755 WPs were built between 1947 and 1967, bearing fleet numbers 7000 to 7754. The first batch of sixteen, numbers 7200–7215, came from the Baldwin Locomotive Works, USA in 1947, and these were classed WP/P. (P for Prototype).

A main production batch of 300 locomotives followed in 1949, with production split between Baldwin (100), Montreal Locomotive Works (120), and Canadian Locomotive Company (80). The locomotives in this group were numbered 7216–7515, but the running numbers were issued in blocks as the locomotives were issued to the pre-nationalisation companies, and so bore no relation to the manufacturers' serial numbers, or even the manufacturer.[1]

A further 180 locomotives were built between 1955 and 1959, with production split between Canadian Locomotive Company (120), Fabryka Lokomotyw, of Chrzanów, Poland (30), and Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf of Vienna, Austria (30).

Between 1963 and 1966, 259 more were built, but these were ordered from Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), and were manufactured in India, and classified WP/I.[1] The WP/Is were 5 tonnes heavier.

The WP was Indian Railways fastest locomotive in the 1960s and 1970s. Before the widespread introduction of diesel and electric locomotives, several prestigious trains, such as the Taj Express, the Grand Trunk Express, Howrah-Madras Mail, Frontier Mail and the AirConditioned Express were once hauled by WP class locomotives.

The entire WP class remained in service into the 1980s. Several WPs weren't withdrawn until the 1990s.

Technical specifications
  • Boiler: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) diameter
  • Heating surface: 3,082 sq ft (286.3 m2)
  • Maximum train load: 680 tonnes

Class table
Table of orders and numbers
YearManufacturerSerial Nos.QtyFirst Nos.All-India Nos.Notes
1947Baldwin73408–7342316—7200–7215Prototypes
1949Baldwin74294–743931001–100In range 7216–7515
1949Canadian2544–262380C251–C330In range 7216–7515
1949Montreal77200–77259
77345–74399
77576–77580		120M1–M120In range 7216–7515
1955–56Canadian2730–2849120—7516–7635
1958–59Fablok4997–5006
5031–5050		303000–30297000–7029
1957Floridsdorf17827–17856303030–30597030–7059
1963Chittaranjan—36—7060–7095
1963–64Chittaranjan—50—7096–7145
1964–65Chittaranjan—33—7146–7178
1965Chittaranjan—73—7179–7199
7636–7687
1966Chittaranjan—37—7688–7724
1966Chittaranjan—30—7725–7754

Preservation

Nine WP class locomotives have been preserved. Among them, one constructed by Baldwin (7200) in 1947 and another by Fablok in 1959 are a part of the collection of the National Rail Museum, New Delhi.[2]

WP7200 received a full heavy overhaul at Amritsar works in April 2015 and is now kept at Rewari shed near New Delhi for excursion service. Apart from 7200, the remaining eight engines include (7278) constructed by Montreal Locomotive Works and preserved at Charbagh Loco Works, (7581) built by Canadian Locomotive Company is preserved at Sonepur DRM, (7656) built by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works is preserved at Jhansi Institute Railway, (7000) built by Fabryka Lokomotyw or in Charznow Poland is preserved in Bhusaval shed.

(7411) is preserved in Burdwan and awaiting transfer to the Chennai Museum. The engine is missing its builder's plates, thus its builder is not known, however, records indicating its 1949 allocation to the then still existing Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR)[3] suggest it is a product of one of the North American builders. (7015) built by Fabryka Lokomotyw or Charznow Poland is another Polish preserved WP engine and has been restored to full mainline running order and runs mainline heritage excursion special trains, being preserved at Rewari shed, (7161) is another locomotive built by Chittaranjan which has been fully restored to full working order on mainline excursions, being preserved at Siliguri. One additional engine is believed to be in existence; however, its details and whereabouts are not known.

WorkingClassNumberLocationBuiltZoneBuildersBuild NoName
YesWP/P7200Rewari Steam Shed1947NWBaldwin Locomotive Works73408Shahanshah/Azad
NoWP7278Charbagh Loco Works1949NRMontreal Locomotive Works
NoWP7411Burdwan Loco Shed1949ERBaldwin/Canadian/Montreal
NoWP7581DRM Office, Sonepur1955ECRCanadian Locomotive Company
NoWP7000Rewari Steam Shed1958CRFabryka Lokomotyw4997Shaktiman
YesWP7015Rewari Steam Shed1958NWFabryka Lokomotyw5036
YesWP/I7161Rewari Steam Shed1965NWChittaranjan Locomotive WorksAkbar
NoWP/I7656Senior Institute, Jhansi1968NCRChittaranjan Locomotive Works
NoWP7????19???Possbly Floridsdorf?

See also

References

Notes
  1. Hughes 1996, p. 16.
  2. "Pressing ahead with the outdoor exhibits". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
  3. Hughes, Hugh (1979). Steam locomotives in India. Part 3, Broad gauge. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. p. 27. ISBN 0950346942.

Bibliography
  • Hughes, Hugh (1976). Steam in India. Truro, Cornwall: D. Bradford Barton Ltd. ISBN 0851532586.
  • Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1. OCLC 35135033.
  • Marshall, Lawrence G (2009). Indian Broad Gauge Steam Remembered. East Harling, Norfolk: Taverner Publications. ISBN 9781901470154.
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