Tiruchirappalli Jn - Thiruvananthapuram Central Intercity Express passing through the beautiful outskirts of Nagercoil towards Nagercoil Town station, next halt, powered by ERODE WAP-4. One of the fastest train in this route with less stops and my preferred train when I travel to Madurai side.
Long consist of Thiruvananthapuram Central bound Intercity Exp
Kacheguda - Narkher Intercity Express with GUNTAKAL WDM-3D pair
Lone VISHAKAPATANAM WDG-4D covered in dust and faded colors crossing Majhigouri Rayagada railway bridge. Probably returning to its shed at VISHAKAPATANAM.
Lone VISHAKAPATANAM WDG-4D crossing Majhigouri bridge
My first trainspotting in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state began with this HUBBALLI WDG-4 pair. When I reached Limbgaon station, this freight train was waiting in the mainline waiting for another freight train in which a crew was arriving. So I got ample time to find a good location under a tree so that I can escape from around 42 deg Celsius heat. As I waited, the other freight train arrived and the crew transfer happened and the BCNA freight left Limbgaon, which was my first shot in Limbgaon area.
BCNA freight leaving Limbgaon after crew transfer
The long hunt for WDG-4G (GE ES43ACmi) finished at Wanegaon. Before that I have seen this locomotive in pictures only. Went to many coal freight routes expecting to spot this locomotive but WDG-4G didn't come. Fortune favored me at Wanegaon. It was a memorable trainspotting session in 42 deg Celsius heat. Designed at GE Transportation, Bengaluru, built at GE Transportation, Erie, Pennsylvania and now being produced at Diesel Locomotive Factory, Marhowrah. The Diesel Locomotive Factory, Marhowrah is a joint venture of GE Transportation, part of American company Wabtec, with Indian Railways for the production of 1000 high-power freight locomotives over a period of 10 years designed to run on Indian railway tracks. As of May 2024, 479 WDG-4G are in active duty.
My first spotting of WDG-4G (GE ES43ACmi) with coal freight
It was a nostalgic feel when I saw the blue carriages. North Frontier Railways still maintain the blue livery for some coaches. I have always felt that blue is better than utkrish livery.
Old livery carriages & Lallaguda WAG-9 for Danapur Express
Blue sky, greenery and red WAP-4 gave a collection of contrasting colors on a cool early tropical winter morning. This picture was one the first train shot I had with my new camera Canon R6 Mark II.
Punalur - Kanyakumari Express with 25XXX series WAP-4
WAP-4, the red beast of Indian Railways, is one of the successful electric traction locomotive in passenger train sector. Total of 778 WAP-4s were built by CLW till 2015. Out of which 773 WAP-4 are still in active duty. WAP-4 was mainly built for hauling 24-26 coaches at a speed of 110 Km/h even though the max speed of WAP-4 is 140 km/h . WAP-4 is derived from WAP-1 which had Alstom TAO 659 traction motor which was under performing with heavy load. So WAP-4 was designed to solve the issues of WAP-1 and WAP-4 came with Hitachi HS15250 traction motor. The first WAP-4 unit, #22201 rolled out from CLW on April 25, 1994. The last unit, #25051 was manufactured on November 1, 2015 . With production of energy efficient 3-phase locomotive increasing, WAP-4 production was stopped in 2015 but still remains as one of the trusted mainline electric locomotive.
Beautiful scene...
