In the year 1957, Indian Railways imported its first mainline diesel locomotive from the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in New York and classified it as WDM1. The WDM1 17000 was the first locomotive of the class after which about one hundred of these locomotives were imported in India for operation in the Eastern and South Eastern Railway. Around late 1990s, after nearly 40 years of service, all the WDM1s were withdrawn and scrapped.
WDM1 17000National Rail Museum
The class name WDM stood for (W) Broad Gauge, (D) Diesel, (M) Mixed traffic of passenger or goods locomotive.
The diesel age brought with it a much higher power and speed for the entire railway industry, reducing the time of travel significantly.
This WDM1 was a single cab locomotive which was capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 104kmph and had 1950/1800 horse-power with
total weight of 111.2 tons.
These locomotives were engaged in mainly ore/coal freight duty and for regular passenger duty.
WDM1 17000National Rail Museum
WDM1 17000 has Co-Co wheel sets, i.e, two wheel assemblies under the unit and each truck has axles individually driven by traction motors.
Two years before the first broad gauge diesel locomotive arrived, the first meter-gauge diesel engine was brought to India in August 1955 and subsequently added to Western Railway's stock. One of these first meter gauge diesel engines was the locomotive number YDM1R 6002. It was imported from North British Locomotive Co. Glasgow, U.K, at the cost of INR 4,85,209 for hauling mail/express trains around Gandhidham in Gujarat. This locomotive also hauled the first train from Gandhidham to Palanpur and worked for Kandla port.
YDM 1R - 6002National Rail Museum
Weighing 42 tons, this 700 Horse power diesel-electric locomotive was capable of attaining a maximum speed of 88 kmph.
After being in service for more than 40 years, it ended its career as shunting engine at Wankaner, Gujarat in 2001.
YDM 1R - 6002's maker number and builder's plateNational Rail Museum
In August 2003, YDM1R 6002 was brought to National Rail Museum, New Delhi from Wankaner after renovation at Ajmer Loco Workshop.
