The Indian locomotive class WDG-4 (EMD GT46MAC) is a
freight-hauling
diesel-electric locomotive with AC electric transmission designed by
General Motors Electro-Motive Diesel
A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OE ...
in 1997–1998 for
Indian Railways, where they are classed as WDG-4. Thirteen were built by EMD as order #958647, and a further eight were exported in kit form and assembled in India. The class entered service in 1999.
Further construction has been under license in India by the
Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW); more than 60 additional locomotives have been built . They are numbered from #12001 upward. A similar type, the
EMD GT46PAC, has also been produced for passenger service in India.
, EMD and DLW have begun building GT46ACe's using
IGBT
An insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is a three-terminal power semiconductor device primarily used as an electronic switch, which, as it was developed, came to combine high efficiency and fast switching. It consists of four alternating lay ...
technology to replace the older
gate turn-off thyristor technology and along with increase of 500 HP, ie, , using the Newly tweaked EMD 16N-710G3B-EC, like the Passenger
WDP-4B have been produced. Newer versions with widened ''Piggy-face'' cab profile for enhanced visibility, just like the later variants of WDP-4's and WDP-4B's were also produced.
, DLW began building the Dual Cab version, ie, EMD JT46ACe, called WDG-4D, based on the Passenger variant
WDP-4D locos, same for Both-side Visibility. Here again, many features like IGBT and 4500 HP have been carried on from the single cab GT46ACe's. Over 1,500 such locomotives, including both WDG-4's and WDG-4D's are currently in operation.
In Popular Culture
In the 2017
Tamil language Action film ''
Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru'', a WDG-4 locomotive numbered 12492, from
Bhagat Ki Kothi (BGKT) DLS was featured in an action scene, where
Karthi, who plays the title role, boards a train to fight criminals.
Locomotive sheds
See also
*
Indian locomotive class WDP-4
*
List of diesel locomotives of India
*
Indian Railways
*
Rail transport in India
References
External links
Detailed Specifications for the WDG4
{{EMD misc
G-4
Co-Co locomotives
G46TMAC
5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives
Railway locomotives introduced in 1999