The WP Locomotive - Work-horse of Yesteryear

In the 21st century, when we see steam locomotives on heritage runs, in museums or on plinths, we forget that for more than half the period since the start of train travel it was the steam locomotive that was the prime mover.

Particularly in India, steam gave way to diesel and the electrics only in the 1960s and 1970s, over a hundred years since the first train ran in India from Bori Bunder to Thane, way back in 1853.

The WP was designed for the high ash content coal that was abundant in India. It proved its worth, and a total of 755 were built.

Initially, orders were placed to various manufacturers, but in 1963, orders for WPs were placed on the Indian Railway's own unit, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works.

Chittaranjan manufactured 259 of these locomotives till 1966. In 1967, the manufacture of WP locos was discontinued owing to the advent of electrics and diesels.

The Chittaranjan-built WPs were designated WP/1 and were five tonnes heavier than the earlier ones.

Right through the 1960s and 1970s, the WP was the main locomotive of the Indian Railways and ran 80% of the key passenger trains on the broad gauge.

The WP was commemorated by the Posts and Telegraph Department with the issue of a stamp depicting the locomotive.

This was a one-Rupee stamp released through a first-day cover that showed three other locomotives, on May 15, 1976.

Of the remaining locomotives, one was GIP No. 1, the first locomotive to work the first train in the country and the second, F-1, the first locomotive built fully in India. The third is the class WDM 2 diesel-electric locomotive.