Electric Loco Shed makes engine from scrap

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, August 17

In an innovative endeavour, the Electric Loco Shed here, under the Ferozepur Division of the Northern Railway, has manufactured a battery-operated engine, which can be used for shunting operations both in areas with and without overhead electrical (OHE) transmission lines.

Built literally from scrap and components of condemned electrical locomotive at a cost of around Rs5 lakh, the battery-operated engine would save approximately Rs4 lakh spent on diesel per month.

Senior railway officials said the loco named ‘Azad’ could achieve a maximum speed of 15 kmph when run on battery and 40 kmph with OHE operations.

“The loco has been equipped with one rectifier block to run on OHE and twin batter set for battery operations. It can carry out shunting operations both in OHE and non-electrified areas for a period ranging between 30 to 60 minutes,’ officials added.

According to officials, for the OHE operations, one main compressor with a capacity of 1,000 litres/cm square was fitted in Azad while it had two baby compressors for battery-operated running. “The new loco has already been put to use for shunting in the yard and shed,” said officials.

Officials claimed that the battery/electric operated loco would decrease shunting time due to dual mode operations and enhance safety since it would not require coupling different locos for wired and unwired sections thereby reducing chances of accidents caused during coupling. Besides, with no burning of diesel and lower consumption of battery it would also be an environment-friendly machine, officials added.