Banaras Locomotive Works
The Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) (formerly Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW)) in Varanasi, India, is a production unit of Indian Railways. DLW stopped manufacturing diesel locomotives in March 2019 and was renamed to BLW in Oct 2020.[2]
| Type | Indian Railways production unit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric locomotive |
| Predecessor | Diesel Locomotive Works |
| Founded | August 1961 |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | India & South East Asian Countries |
Key people | YashPal Singh (General Manager)[1] |
| Owner | Indian Railways |
| Website | blw |
History
Founded in 1961 as the DLW, it rolled out its first locomotive three years later, on 3 January 1964. It manufactures locomotives which are variants based on the original ALCO designs dating to 1960s and the GM EMD designs of the 1990s. In July 2006, DLW outsourced manufacture of some locomotives to Parel Workshop, Central Railway, Mumbai.[3] In 2016, it bagged "Best Production Unit Shield 2015-16" The first phase of expansion project of BLW was initiated in 2016. In 2017, it bagged the "Best Production Unit Shield 2016-17" for 2nd consecutive year. In 2018, it bagged the "Best Production Unit Shield 2017-18" of Indian Railways for 3rd consecutive year. In same year, it successfully converted two old ALCO diesel loco WDG3A into an electric loco WAGC3, a first in the world. DLW stopped manufacturing diesel locomotives in March 2019 and was renamed to BLW in Oct 2020.[2] It was the largest diesel-electric locomotive manufacturer in India. In 2020, it developed the country's first bi-mode locomotive, the WDAP-5. BLW today produces mostly electric locomotives WAP-7 & WAG-9.[4]
Market
Besides the Indian Railways, BLW regularly exports locomotives to other countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, Angola, and Vietnam and also to a few users within India, such as ports, large power and steel plants and private railways.[4][5]
Products
Key:
- Loco currently in production
The designation of the locomotives follows the nomenclature in Indian Railways. Prototypes and individual vehicles are not listed.
Diesel locomotives
| Name | Wheel arr | Quantity built | Built year(s) | Power | Current status | Preserved units | Comments | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WDM-2 | Co'Co' | 2700 | 1962–1998 | Alco 251B
12-cylinder 2600 HP |
Technological Transfer
Alco DL560C |
 | ||
| WDM-3A | Co'Co' | 158 new
700 rebuilt |
1994–1998 | Alco 251C
16-Cylinder 3100 HP |
WDM-2
with upgraded engine |
 | ||
| WDM-3D | Co'Co' | 344 | 2003 | Alco 251C
16-Cylinder 3300 HP |
WDM-3A
with Microprocessor engine control EMD parts and bloster-less bogies |
 | ||
| WDM-7 | Co'Co' | 15 | 1987–1989 | Alco 251B
12-Cylinder 2600 HP |
lowered power version of WDM-2 |  | ||
| WDP-1 | Bo'Bo' | 69 | 1995–1999 | Alco 251C
12-Cylinder 2300 HP |
WDM-2-Variant for passenger traffic | _locomotive_with_Rewari_Passenger.jpg.webp) | ||
| WDP-3A | Co'Co' | 69 | 1998–2002 | Alco 251C
16-Cylinder 3100 HP |
variant developed from WDM-3A for passenger trains with two final driver's cabs and max speed of 160 km / hr |  | ||
| WDP-4 | Bo1'1Bo' | 102 | 2002–2011 | EMD 710G3B
16-Cylinder 4000 HP |
Technology Transfer
EMD GT46PAC |
 | ||
| WDP-4B | Co'Co' | 90 | 2010–2014 | EMD 710G3B
16-Cylinder 4500 HP |
The WDG4-derived passenger locomotive |  | ||
| WDP-4D | Co'Co' | 234 | 2010–2019 | EMD 710G3B
16-Cylinder 4500 HP |
WDP-4D with dual cabs |  | ||
| WDG-3A | Co'Co' | 1998 | 1995–2010 | Alco 251C
16-Cylinder 3100 HP |
freight variant of WDM-3A |  | ||
| WDG-4 | Co'Co' | 431 | 1999–2012 | EMD 710G3B
16-Cylinder 4000 HP |
Technology Transfer
EMD GT46MAC |
 | ||
| WDG-4D | Co'Co' | 240 | 2013–2019 | EMD 710G3B
16-Cylinder 4500 HP |
WDG-4D |  | ||
| WDS-6 | Co'Co' | 270 | 1975– | Alco 251D
6-Cylinder 1400 HP |
Drivetrain of the YDM-4 meter gauge locomotive as part of the WDM-2 Body |  | ||
| YDM-4 | Co'Co' | 541 | 1961–1993 | Alco 251D
6-Cylinder 1400 HP |
Technology transfer
Alco DL535A |
.JPG.webp) |
See also
- Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Asansol
- Diesel Locomotive Factory, Marhowra
- Electric Locomotive Factory, Madhepura
- Integral Coach Factory, Chennai
- Modern Coach Factory, Raebareli
- Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala
- Rail Wheel Factory, Yelehanka
- Rail Wheel Plant, Bela
- Titagarh Wagons, Titagarh
- List of locomotive builders by countries
References
- "Govt appoints five new general managers in Railways". The New Indian Express.
- "DLW to be now known as Banaras Locomotive Works". The Times of India.
- Verma, Kalpana (19 August 2008). "Engine manufacturing unit at Parel a boon for Rlys". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- "Welcome to BLW Official Website". blw.indianrailways.gov.in.
- "Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman & CEO, Railway Board flags off 40th 6,000 HP Electric Loco from Banaras Loco Works (BLW), Varanasi". pib.gov.in.
- "WAG9 Co-Co".
