The Tale of WDM-3D Locomotive | American Locomotive Company

The Tale of WDM-3D Locomotive | American Locomotive Company.
The Indian locomotive class WDM-3D is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in 2003 by Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Varanasi for Indian Railways. The model name stands for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D), Mixed traffic (M) engine with 3300 horsepower (3D). The engine is classified WDM-3D though it outputs only 3300 hp and not 3400 hp as the name should suggest. They entered service in 2003.

The WDM-3D is one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways serving both passenger and freight trains.

WDM-3D was developed in by Banaras Locomotive Works and Research Design and Standards Organisation in 2003. It was the result of DLW integrating the best features of EMD GT46MAC and EMD GT46PAC with the ALCO platform.

It is the higher-powered version of the Indian locomotive class WDM-3A. The bogies are Improved Fabricated (welded) Alco High-Adhesion Co-Co bogies with stem type vertical and lateral dampers in place of 'eye' type which helps reduce wheel slip and maintenance.

The loco features left hand drive, WDG-3A style High Adhesion bogies, air cylinder under foot-board, WDP-4 style fuel tanks, engine doors like WDP-4, marker lights outside cabin doors, electronic horn, High capacity buffers. Components and auxiliaries have been improved with the aim of making the duty schedule longer between maintenance visits to the shed.