WCG2 locos chugging out of service

Under the Phase I of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP),conversion of traction on the suburban section is under progress. Phasing out of the last DC traction locomotives started three years ago after the CR converted the section from Kalyan to Igatpuri into AC traction. Interestingly,it is the Mumbai division of both the CR and Western Railway (WR) that still run on DC traction while the rest of the country has AC traction.

“Trains in Mumbai’s suburban sections were the first to run on electricity. After Independence,when the Railways undertook electrification,it preferred an advanced AC traction but this created a DC traction island in Mumbai,” said Vidyadhar Malegaonkar,chief spokesperson of CR. This also led to developing of a separate kind of DC technology locomotives for Mumbai and AC locomotives for the rest of the country.

So,trains leaving Mumbai had to be led by DC locomotives till Pune/Igatpuri where another locomotive would to be attached depending on where the train is going. After the advent of locomotives running on both DC and AC traction,the role of these locomotives was restricted to helping other trains negotiate the ghats. The WCG2 locomotives were used for a similar purpose. “They helped negotiate the steep ghats and pushed the train from behind,” said Santosh Kumar,senior divisional electrical engineer (traction rolling stock).

The phasing out of these locomotives also throws light on how the Railways have changed over the years and the role played by DC locomotives for taking the mail express and passenger trains out of Mumbai. The first train that chugged from Victoria Terminus to Tannah (Thane) in 1853 had a steam engine. The steam engines ruled Railways until the advent of electrification in 1925. The first steam engine WCG1 known as Sir Leslie Wilson (named after then governor of Bombay) was primarily used to negotiate the ghats and take the trains to Pune. Also known as crocodile for resembling one,it was phased out in 1992.

There were other DC locomotives like WCM1 and WCM5 (both mail express trains). “WCM5 were popularly known as Bluebird and was attached to the Deccan Queen. Many had also named it as Lokmanya (after Lokmanya Tilak),” said Malegaonkar. Today,all DC locomotives except the WCG2 have been phased out.

But the remaining 13 WCG2 locomotives are still being used. “They should be in operation for five more years. Interestingly,despite completing their codal life,these locomotives are still in working condition. We are making the best use of them. These locomotives are now used for shunting purpose on the Kurla-Trombay route as the section is of DC traction,” added Kumar. The old locomotives are also being auctioned,generating revenue for the CR.