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Locomotives of India
Indian Railways operates India's railway system and comes under the purview of the Ministry of Railways of Government of India. As of 2025[update], it maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 15,000 passenger and 10,000 freight trains daily with a fleet of more than 17,000 locomotives. The railways primarily operates a fleet of electric and diesel locomotives along with a few compressed natural gas (CNG) locomotives. Steam locomotives are operated on mountain railways and on heritage trains. As of October 2025, Indian Railways had 13,035 electric and 4,165 diesel locomotives.
The history of the Indian Railway began in 1832 with the proposal to construct the first railway line in India at Madras. In 1837, the first train ran on Red Hill railway line between Red Hills and Chintadripet in Madras and was hauled by a rotary steam engine imported from England. In 1852, a steam locomotive imported from England was tried at Byculla. In 1853, the first passenger train ran between Bombay and Thane which had 14-carriages hauled by three steam locomotives: the Sahib, Sindh and Sultan. In 1877, an Ajmer built F-1/734 Steam Locomotive became the first indigenously built locomotive in India. In 1925, the first electric train ran between Bombay and Kurla, hauled by a Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) electric locomotive on 1500 V DC traction. The first diesel locomotive used in India was fabricated by North British Locomotive Company in 1954.
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, commissioned in 1950, was the first locomotive manufacturing unit in India. Banaras Locomotive Works, commissioned in 1961, is the second locomotive manufacturing unit operated by Indian Railways. In the 1960s, Integral Coach Factory-Chennai (ICF) started developing self-propelled electric multiple units for short-haul and local routes. BHEL and Patiala Locomotive Works, established in 1981, also manufacture locomotives in India. In 2015, the first compressed natural gas (CNG) powered trains were rolled out by ICF. In 2018, a semi-high speed self-propelled train-set capable of reaching speeds of over 160 km/h (99 mph) was rolled out from ICF. As of 2025[update], Indian Railways maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 15,000 passenger and 10,000 freight trains daily with a fleet of over 17,000 locomotives. As of October 2025, Indian Railways had 13,035 electric and 4,165 diesel locomotives amongst others.
Locomotives are classified by track gauge, motive power, function, power rating and model in a four- or five-letter code. The locomotives may be Longer Hood Front (LHF), where the driver cabin is behind the hood of the engine or Short Hood Front (SHF), where the cabin is located towards the front.
In 1925, the first electric train ran between Bombay and Kurla, hauled by a imported SLM locomotive on a DC traction. In 1927, the first electric locomotive hauled passenger train was pulled by an imported WCP-1. In 1957, Indian Railways adopted 25 kV 50 Hz AC traction with the first runs beginning in December 1959 with the WAM-1 locomotives.
In 1925, the Electric Multiple Units (EMU) introduced in Bombay were 1.5KV DC units imported were from Cammell Laird and Uerdingenwagonfabrik. In the 1960s, EMUs were developed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. Indian Railways uses multiple DC units in operation in several suburban sections which are classified from WCU-1 through WCU-15. BHEL developed AC-DC dual use EMUs which can run on 25kV AC and 1.5kV DC traction lines. In the late 1990s, MEMUs were developed which ran on 25KV AC power. AC Electric multiple units are designated WAU-1 to WAU-4. In 2019, ICF rolled out three-phase AC units to replace conventional DC units.
In 1954, the first diesel locomotive was used in India, which was manufactured by North British Locomotive Company. In 1958, WDM-1, the first locomotive used for mainline traffic was imported from ALCO. In 1964, the first broad-gauge WDM-2 diesel locomotive was rolled out by Banaras Locomotive Works.
In 2009, a YDM-4 locomotive was converted to a broad gauge shunter by Golden Rock Railway Workshop, codenamed WCDS-6, with C for "Converted" and delivered to RITES.
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Locomotives of India
Indian Railways operates India's railway system and comes under the purview of the Ministry of Railways of Government of India. As of 2025[update], it maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 15,000 passenger and 10,000 freight trains daily with a fleet of more than 17,000 locomotives. The railways primarily operates a fleet of electric and diesel locomotives along with a few compressed natural gas (CNG) locomotives. Steam locomotives are operated on mountain railways and on heritage trains. As of October 2025, Indian Railways had 13,035 electric and 4,165 diesel locomotives.
The history of the Indian Railway began in 1832 with the proposal to construct the first railway line in India at Madras. In 1837, the first train ran on Red Hill railway line between Red Hills and Chintadripet in Madras and was hauled by a rotary steam engine imported from England. In 1852, a steam locomotive imported from England was tried at Byculla. In 1853, the first passenger train ran between Bombay and Thane which had 14-carriages hauled by three steam locomotives: the Sahib, Sindh and Sultan. In 1877, an Ajmer built F-1/734 Steam Locomotive became the first indigenously built locomotive in India. In 1925, the first electric train ran between Bombay and Kurla, hauled by a Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works (SLM) 2,400 hp (1,800 kW) electric locomotive on 1500 V DC traction. The first diesel locomotive used in India was fabricated by North British Locomotive Company in 1954.
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, commissioned in 1950, was the first locomotive manufacturing unit in India. Banaras Locomotive Works, commissioned in 1961, is the second locomotive manufacturing unit operated by Indian Railways. In the 1960s, Integral Coach Factory-Chennai (ICF) started developing self-propelled electric multiple units for short-haul and local routes. BHEL and Patiala Locomotive Works, established in 1981, also manufacture locomotives in India. In 2015, the first compressed natural gas (CNG) powered trains were rolled out by ICF. In 2018, a semi-high speed self-propelled train-set capable of reaching speeds of over 160 km/h (99 mph) was rolled out from ICF. As of 2025[update], Indian Railways maintains over 108,706 km (67,547 mi) of tracks and operates over 15,000 passenger and 10,000 freight trains daily with a fleet of over 17,000 locomotives. As of October 2025, Indian Railways had 13,035 electric and 4,165 diesel locomotives amongst others.
Locomotives are classified by track gauge, motive power, function, power rating and model in a four- or five-letter code. The locomotives may be Longer Hood Front (LHF), where the driver cabin is behind the hood of the engine or Short Hood Front (SHF), where the cabin is located towards the front.
In 1925, the first electric train ran between Bombay and Kurla, hauled by a imported SLM locomotive on a DC traction. In 1927, the first electric locomotive hauled passenger train was pulled by an imported WCP-1. In 1957, Indian Railways adopted 25 kV 50 Hz AC traction with the first runs beginning in December 1959 with the WAM-1 locomotives.
In 1925, the Electric Multiple Units (EMU) introduced in Bombay were 1.5KV DC units imported were from Cammell Laird and Uerdingenwagonfabrik. In the 1960s, EMUs were developed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. Indian Railways uses multiple DC units in operation in several suburban sections which are classified from WCU-1 through WCU-15. BHEL developed AC-DC dual use EMUs which can run on 25kV AC and 1.5kV DC traction lines. In the late 1990s, MEMUs were developed which ran on 25KV AC power. AC Electric multiple units are designated WAU-1 to WAU-4. In 2019, ICF rolled out three-phase AC units to replace conventional DC units.
In 1954, the first diesel locomotive was used in India, which was manufactured by North British Locomotive Company. In 1958, WDM-1, the first locomotive used for mainline traffic was imported from ALCO. In 1964, the first broad-gauge WDM-2 diesel locomotive was rolled out by Banaras Locomotive Works.
In 2009, a YDM-4 locomotive was converted to a broad gauge shunter by Golden Rock Railway Workshop, codenamed WCDS-6, with C for "Converted" and delivered to RITES.