VARANASI (Metro Rail News): On November 28, 2023, at the New Loco Test Shop of Banaras Locomotive Works, General Manager Shri Basudev Panda dedicated the 10,000 locomotive WAP7 to the nation, decorated with flowers, after formal worship.
Record Established
Congratulations to the BLW officers and employees on this historic achievement; the General Manager said that this record results from our officers’ and employees’ hard work and efficiency.
Journey so far
Bananas Locomotive Works, earlier known as Diesel Locomotive Works, started its journey by producing the first locomotive based on ALCO loco technology and has set a record not only in the production of locomotives but also in the horsepower of locomotives. With growth, new technologies have also been developed. BLW started manufacturing electric locos from the year 2017. Currently, BLW is manufacturing WAP7 for passenger service and WAG9 for freight locomotives for railways and producing locomotives for non-railway customers and exports.
Till now, BLW has manufactured 1687 electric locomotives, 7498 diesel locomotives, 172 exported locomotives in 11 countries, 634 locomotives for non-railway customers, 01 dual (diesel+electric) mode locomotive, 08 diesel to electric converted locomotives.
Foundation Laying
Notably, the foundation stone of BLW was laid by the first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, on 23 April 1956. BLW came into existence in August 1961. On January 03, 1964, the first broad gauge WDM2 was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri and in November 1968, the first-meter gauge locomotive YDM4 was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Shri Murarji Desai. BLW has created history by manufacturing 10,000 railway engines since its inception.
The 10,000th Loco
The commissioned 10,000 AC-AC 6000 HP passenger locomotive WAP7- 37638 is being sent to the Lallaguda Electric Loco Shed of South Central Railway. It is equipped with critical features like
- RT18-real-time information system
- Air-conditioned driver cab for summers,
- Provision of hot air for drivers during winter,
- HOG- head-on generation for train lighting
- Regenerative brake system,
- Speed of 140 km per hour.
Inauguration Ceremony
In the inauguration ceremony, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer Shri S.K.Srivastava, Principal Chief Material Manager Shri Rajneesh Gupta, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer Shri Shishir Dutt, Principal Financial Advisor Shri Neeraj Verma, Principal Chief Engineer Shri Vinod Bampal, Principal Chief Medical Officer Dr Devesb Kumar, Principal Chief Personnel Officer Shri Ranvijay, Chief Vigilance Officer Shri P.K.Chaudhary, Senior Deputy General Manager Shri Vijay, Chief Electrical Engineer-Loco Shri Arun Kumar Sharma along with a large number of department heads, officers, employees and staff council members Shri Amit Kumar, Shri Manish Kumar Singh were present.
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