Indian locomotive class WG

The Indian Railways WG class was a type of broad gauge 2-8-2 goods locomotive introduced in the 1950s. 2,450 of the class were built between 1950 and 1970.

Indian WG
WG class 10491 by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works from 1966/7, with a passenger train at Bareilly Junction, in 1993
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (1908) North British Locomotive Company (115) NBL (subcontracted to Vulcan Foundry) 10 Anglo-Franco-Belge (La Croyère) (18) AFB (subcontracted to Henschel) (64) Gio. Ansaldo & C. (25) Baldwin Locomotive Works (50) Henschel & Sohn (60) Hitachi (100) Krupp (40) Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf (60)[1] Build date 1950–1970[2] Total produced 2,450
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2  • UIC 1′D1′ h2 Gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) Driver dia. 61+1⁄2 in (1,562 mm) Axle load 18 long tons 10 cwt (41,400 lb or 18.8 t) Loco weight 101 long tons 17 cwt (228,100 lb or 103.5 t)[citation needed] Tender weight 71 long tons 16 cwt (160,800 lb or 73 t)[citation needed] Total weight 173 long tons 13 cwt (389,000 lb or 176.4 t)[citation needed] Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 15 ton Water cap. 25000L Firebox: ​  • Grate area 46 sq ft (4.3 m2)[3] Boiler pressure 210 lbf/in2 (1.45 MPa) Heating surface 2,920 sq ft (271 m2)[3] Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 21+7⁄8 in × 28 in (556 mm × 711 mm) Loco brake Vacuum, some later converted to air Train brakes Vacuum, some later converted to air
Performance figures Maximum speed 80 kmph (50 mph) Power output 2600 HP Tractive effort 38,890 lbf (172.99 kN)
Career Operators Indian Railways Numbers 8000–8289[2] 8301–8999[2] 9100–10560[2] Nicknames Deshbandhu, Antim sitara, Ashtabhuji, etc. Locale All over India Delivered 1950 First run 1950 Last run late 1990s Retired late 1990s Withdrawn 1970s-1990s Restored 2019 Disposition Withdrawn from service, 9 preserved, remainder scrapped
Sources:[4][5] except where noted

History and design

The WG design was introduced in 1950; it used identical equipment (boiler, motion, springs, tender bogies, and rear truck) to the 4-6-2 WP class passenger locomotives. The first hundred units (No. 8301 to 8400) were built by North British and subcontractor Vulcan Foundry (ten units). Number 8350 was exhibited at the Festival of Britain in 1951.^[6][7]

Locomotives were also sourced from the Société Franco-Belge in Raismes, France,^[8] Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf in Austria,^[9] and from elsewhere in Europe and from Japan. The rolling stock works of Chittaranjan Locomotive Works in West Bengal initially manufactured locomotives from imported parts; by 1953, 70% of the locomotives were domestically produced, and by 1956 the works was able to entirely satisfy the domestic production need for WG locomotives. Production ceased in 1970; the final unit being named Antim Sitara (Last Star).^[8]

Class table

Table of orders and numbers

Year	Manufacturer	Serial Nos.	Qty Ordered	Qty Built	All-India Nos.	Notes
1950	North British	26415-26514	100	90	8301-8400	10 were subcontracted to Vulcan Foundry
1950	Vulcan (Subcontract)	5996-6005	—	10		8307,8309,8315,8322, 8328-8329,8335-8336, 8342-8343
1950-1954	Chittaranjan	—	100	100	8401-8500
1954-1955	Société Anglo-Franco-Belge	2687-2768	82	18	8501-8582	64 were subcontracted to Henschel & Sohn
1954-1955	Henschel & Sohn (Subcontract)	29217-29280	—	64
1954-1956	Chittaranjan	—	257	257	8583-8839
1954	Henschel & Sohn	28984-29043	60	60	8840-8899
1954	Krupp	3391-3430	40	40	8900-8939
1954	Lokomotivfabrik Floridsdorf	17704-17763	60	60	8940-8999
1955	Baldwin	76039-76088	50	50	9100-9149
1955-1956	Hitachi	12261-12285	25	25	9150-9174
1955	North British	27594-27618	25	25	9175-9199
1956	Gio. Ansaldo & C.	1398-1422	25	25	9200-9224
1954-1955	Hitachi	12173-12247	75	75	9225-9299
1956-1970	Chittaranjan	—	1261	1261	9300-10560
1959-1960	Chittaranjan	—	290	290	8000-8289

Preservation

Nine WG's are preserved in India: WG 9673 is preserved on a pedestal (without its tender) outside Rajendra Nagar Station New Delhi, WG 10253, was plinthed at the Zonal Training School Bhusaval, but 2018 removed from the pedestal and sent to Rewari to be restored in working condition.^[10] WG 9428 is used at the UP Cement Corporation, WG 9391 is preserved and stored in Burdwan, WG 8258 is preserved on a static pedestal on public display in Sahibganj Junction railway station, WG 10527 is stored in a shed in Burdwan, WG 9286 is preserved by Sri Durga Trading Company, WG 8407 "Deshbandhu" became the first WG to be preserved into Indian Railway Heritage, it is stored Pedestal along with WG 10560 "Antim Sitara" at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works.

Working	Class	Number	Location	Built	Zone	Builders	Build No	Name
No	WG	8407	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	1950	CLW	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	-	Deshbandhu
No	WG	9391	Burdwan Loco Shed	1956	ER	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	-
No	WG	8258	Sahibganj Loco Shed	1959	ER	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	-
In Restoration	WG	10253	Rewari Steam Shed	1964	NW	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	-
No	WG	10527	Burdwan Loco Shed	1969	ER	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	-
No	WG	10560	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	1970	CLW	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	-	Antim Sitara
No	WG	9673	Rajendra Nagar Station New Delhi	1957-1959	ECR	Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	-
No	WG	9428	UP Cement Corporation	1957-1959		Chittaranjan Locomotive Works	-
No	WG	9286	Sri Durga Trading Company	1955		Hitachi	12234

See also

• BR Standard Class 9F 92220 Evening Star is also similar in nature and name to WG class no. 10650 Antim Sitara, the former being British Railway's (BR) last steam locomotive
• Indian Railways
• Rail transport in India § History
• Locomotives of India
• Rail transport in India