The Shakti's front-view (a WDM2 peers from inside the shed):
A group of students peer into the heart of the Shakti as the DLS guys explain the working of the generator.
Friday, April 20, 2007
24032007 KYN DLS: Shakti
The Shakti (a WDG3A) is said to be the longest diesel loco with the Indian Railways. Its actually a redesign by the DLW Varanasi engineers. On the day we were at the DLS, there was only one Shakti - the microprocessor controlled 13307. From what we were told, there are Shaktis that are not microprocessor controlled.
The Shakti's front-view (a WDM2 peers from inside the shed):
A group of students peer into the heart of the Shakti as the DLS guys explain the working of the generator.
The Shakti's front-view (a WDM2 peers from inside the shed):
A group of students peer into the heart of the Shakti as the DLS guys explain the working of the generator.
24032007 KYN DLS: Syllabus for the day
We reached KYN DLS a bit later than planned...it took some time to figure out how to get to the DLS. The approach road is quite confusing. We tried going through Shahad and then turned back and headed towards KYN. After asking for directions, we found a way through a very narrow road and then through a railway crossing to the DLS.
The DLS guys were, of course, expecting us. After showing the permission letter, we were let in. We were taken to a meeting room on the first floor from where we could see the activity in the shed. As we waited in the room for the DME (?) (some kind of official designation, I guess...maybe some Deputy Engineer), a board in the room displayed the "syllabus" for the day. The topics to be studied were on the board.
Take a look (note the last column labelled Future - KYN DLS has plans to home WDP4s and WDG4s - all microcontroller based controls).
The DLS guys were, of course, expecting us. After showing the permission letter, we were let in. We were taken to a meeting room on the first floor from where we could see the activity in the shed. As we waited in the room for the DME (?) (some kind of official designation, I guess...maybe some Deputy Engineer), a board in the room displayed the "syllabus" for the day. The topics to be studied were on the board.
Take a look (note the last column labelled Future - KYN DLS has plans to home WDP4s and WDG4s - all microcontroller based controls).
Saturday, April 14, 2007
24032007 KYN DLS: Bogies and Wheel profiles
A common misnomer, explained the DLS employee, is to think that a "bogie" is the coach that is attached to the loco. For example, we say "I have a seat in the bogie 11th from the loco". As per the DLS employee, a bogie does not only represent a coach. A loco also has a bogie. More precisely, all shells including that of the loco or the coaches are mounted on the bogie. Actually, the bogie includes the wheel arrangements and the frame on which the shell is mounted.
The WDM2 has a 3-point mount, whereas Shakti, the WDG3A has a 4-point mount. The WDM2 has a cast bogie, whereas the Shakti has a welded bogie. The Shakti, which is probably the brainchild of some desginers in DLW Varanasi, tried to overcome "limitations" in WDM2 as well as to improve the design of the AlCo WDM2. However, as one DLS employee put it, there is nothing to beat the WDM2 design. The Shakti poses problems non-existent in the WDM2. He was all praise for the WDM2...he even asked us to learn from the WDM2 design. I guess this comparison is similar to what people used to say about Unix (versus DOS, for example).
A closer look at the wheel reveals a tilted profile and fine treads.
The WDM2 has a 3-point mount, whereas Shakti, the WDG3A has a 4-point mount. The WDM2 has a cast bogie, whereas the Shakti has a welded bogie. The Shakti, which is probably the brainchild of some desginers in DLW Varanasi, tried to overcome "limitations" in WDM2 as well as to improve the design of the AlCo WDM2. However, as one DLS employee put it, there is nothing to beat the WDM2 design. The Shakti poses problems non-existent in the WDM2. He was all praise for the WDM2...he even asked us to learn from the WDM2 design. I guess this comparison is similar to what people used to say about Unix (versus DOS, for example).
A closer look at the wheel reveals a tilted profile and fine treads.
24032007 KYN DLS: Cranking the loco
"Cranking the loco" is not as the name suggests a strenuous physical activity. For a WDM2, it is simply pressing a big red switch for a few seconds. In an attempt to make us learn how the braking system works, one DLS employee cranked up the loco.
Two or three people were at work in the pit underneath the WDM2, while we were in or near the cab. After sounding the warning bell twice or thrice, the DLS employee pressed the big switch and the loco came to life.
Notice the 3-tier workplace including the pit. The platform (topmost) at the cab entry level is the place where workers can work on the top part of the loco. Then, there is the middle part for work near the wheels. Finally, at the very bottom, a pit for working under the loco.
Two or three people were at work in the pit underneath the WDM2, while we were in or near the cab. After sounding the warning bell twice or thrice, the DLS employee pressed the big switch and the loco came to life.
Notice the 3-tier workplace including the pit. The platform (topmost) at the cab entry level is the place where workers can work on the top part of the loco. Then, there is the middle part for work near the wheels. Finally, at the very bottom, a pit for working under the loco.
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