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The Indian locomotive class WDP-3A, colloquially nicknamed the Toaster, is a class of
diesel–electric locomotive A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the power source is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conveyed to the driving whee ...
that was developed in 1998 by
Banaras Locomotive Works The Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), formerly Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), is a production unit of Indian Railways situated in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. DLW was renamed BLW in 2020. History Founded in 1956 as the ''DLW'', it manufactures locom ...
, Varanasi for
Indian Railways Indian Railways is a state-owned enterprise that is organised as a departmental undertaking of the Ministry of Railways (India), Ministry of Railways of the Government of India and operates India's national railway system. , it manages the fou ...
. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Passenger traffic (P) locomotive with 3,100 horsepower (3A). The WDP-3A is a later classification of earlier WDP-2. They entered service in 1998. A total of 44 were built between 1998 and 2001. They are the fastest ALCo based locomotive found in India with a top speed of 160 km/h, on par with the premier electric locomotives. The WDP-3A served IR for over 25 years. A significant number of these locomotives are still in use, both on mainline and departmental duties. As of April 2025, a few of the locomotives still retain "operational status" on the mainline as WDP-3A, with further examples having been scrapped.


History

The first one was delivered in October 1998, named WDP-2. 44 units produced until February 2001 (Indian Railway road number 15501-15544) had dual cab forward design different from other classes of locos built by DLW (
WDM-2 The Indian locomotive class WDM-2 is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1962 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for 5 ft 6 in gauge railway, broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), ...
,
WDM-3A The Indian locomotive class WDM-3A is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1993 by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) ...
,
WDG-3A The Indian locomotive class WDG-3A is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1994 by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW),Varanasi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad-gauge (W), Diesel (D), Goods traffic (G) en ...
and
WDP-1 The Indian locomotive class WDP-1 is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1995 by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Passenger traffic (P) engine, ...
). These new locomotives have control stand similar to many electric locomotives. They are re-geared versions of the
WDM-3A The Indian locomotive class WDM-3A is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1993 by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) ...
. This was IR's attempt to build a high speed locomotive on the ALCO platform. But the EMD locos came with a much better performance with higher horsepower rating and ended the prospect of WDP-3As. These units have air brakes only and the gear ratio is 64:19. These locos (classified as WDP-2s at the time) were introduced initially the Chennai Egmore - Kanyakumari Section, hauling many prestigious trains like the ''
Pallavan Express The 12605 / 12606 Pallavan Superfast Express is an Intercity Express (Indian Railways), Intercity express typed Superfast Express trains in India, superfast service operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. This service conn ...
, Vaigai Express,
Rockfort Express The 12653 / 12654 Rockfort Express is a Superfast Express overnight Express rail connecting Tiruchirappalli with Chennai Egmore via Villupuram in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This train serves as the main connectivity to the sta ...
,
Nellai Express Nellai Express is a Superfast Express trains in India, Superfast train operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways. It runs on all days connecting with via Villupuram Junction (rail), Junction, Tiruchirappalli Junction and M ...
'' and '' Pothigai Express'' to name a few. A problem with the WDP-3A was that it would get uncomfortably hot inside the driving cabin on the radiator side and the locos were nicknamed “toasters” by the locomotive pilots. The WDP-3A was best known for hauling the '' Trivandrum Rajdhani'' and later the ''
Mumbai CSMT - Karmali Tejas Express Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12.5& ...
'' through the
Konkan Railway The Konkan Railway (abbreviated KR) is one of the 19 railway zones in India with its headquarters at CBD Belapur in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The Konkan Railway line from Roha to Thokur is operated and maintained by Konkan Railway co ...
at a top speed of 120 kmph. In 2018, a couple of GOC-based WDP-3A locomotives were rebuilt at DMW Patiala with better bogies for riding comfort. Such rebuilt toasters bear the suffix 'R' to their road numbers. However, due to age issues and cracking of bogie underframes, the WDP-3A locomotives of DLS, GOC, and KYN were withdrawn gradually from hauling passenger trains and were relegated to departmental use. In 2021, GOC announced the withdrawal of all WDP-3A's in their shed and a few WDP-3A's were sent to Ponmalai Workshop for scrapping. 15501 is to be preserved. All WDP-3A locomotives of KYN DLS were condemned in January 2022 and scrapped at DLS.


Locomotive sheds


Former sheds

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Kalyan Kalyan (Pronunciation: əljaːɳ is a city on the banks of Ulhas River in Thane district of Maharashtra state in Konkan division. It is governed by Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation. Kalyan is a subdivision (Taluka) of Thane district ...


Gallery

File:Monsoon Train - Flickr - Dr. Santulan Mahanta.jpg, KYN WDP-3A hauling the Mumbai-Karmali
Tejas Express The Tejas Express is a semi-high speed fully air-conditioned train introduced by Indian Railways. It features modern onboard facilities with doors which are operated automatically. Tejas means "sharpness", "lustre", or "brilliance" in many I ...
. File:WDP3A c 15543 PUSHPAK.jpg, Tughlakabad WDP-3A named "Pushpak"


See also

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Indian locomotive class WDM-3A The Indian locomotive class WDM-3A is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1993 by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M ...
*
Indian locomotive class WDM-2 The Indian locomotive class WDM-2 is a class of diesel–electric locomotive that was developed in 1962 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine ...
*
List of diesel locomotives of India Indian Railways operates India's railway system and comes under the purview of the Ministry of Railways (India), Ministry of Railways of Government of India. , it maintains over of tracks and operates over 13,000 trains daily with a fleet of 1 ...
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Rail transport in India Rail transport in India consists of primarily of passenger train, passenger and Rail freight transport, freight shipments along an integrated rail network. Indian Railways (IR), a statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Railways ...
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Indian Railways Indian Railways is a state-owned enterprise that is organised as a departmental undertaking of the Ministry of Railways (India), Ministry of Railways of the Government of India and operates India's national railway system. , it manages the fou ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:WDP-3A P-3A Banaras Locomotive Works locomotives Co-Co locomotives 5 ft 6 in gauge locomotives Passenger locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1994