Story of ALCo Locomotives-India | WDM2 | WDM1 | WDP3A | WDM3D | WDP1 | WDM3A | WDG3A | WAGC3 | YDM4

The ALCo Dynasty in India
ALCo (American Locomotive Company) locomotives have ruled Indian tracks since 1958. Indian Railways began diesel traction on mainline broad-gauge tracks with the ALCo DL500 “World Locomotive” which was classed as the WDM1 [W (wide) D (diesel) M (mixed traffic). The quintessential moment for ALCo in India came in 1962 with the introduction of the ALCo DL560C a.k.a the WDM2 diesel electric locomotive in India. In the 1960s General Motors EMD SD-24, classed as WDM4 was acquired by the Indian Railways. Although technologically superior to the WDM2, EMD’s refusal to transfer technology pushed Indian Railways into the waiting arms of ALCo and the WDM2 began its reign in India. The simplicity of design and ease of maintenance of the WDM2 encouraged the Indian Railways to acquire the ALCo DL535 for metre gauge operations. The DL535 classed as the YDM4 acquired the same ubiquitous presence on metre gauge tracks of India as the WDM2 had on the broad-gauge tracks of India. Project Unigauge and the declining metre gauge footprint in India has restricted the YDM4 to isolated islands and most units have been withdrawn from service. Several India built YDM4s have been exported to Malaysia.

By the 1980s, as Trains became longer, Indian Railways felt the need for more powerful locomotives and thus began the tweaking of the ALCo 251C 2400 horsepower engine that powered the WDM2.
In this video I tell the story of the ALCo dynasty in India beginning from the WDM1 to the WDM3D. I also explain working of dynamic braking in diesel-electric locomotives.

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[alcopower]

As a railfan in the US I must say this video is outstanding. Lots of valuable history and information. Very well done 👍

[someshwarroy]

ALCO diesel locomotives were an integral part of Indian Railways, will be remembered forever, because of it' s service and efficiency, thanks for another informative video

[lampardy]

Alcos are long distance travel nostalgia, it still gives the best vibes when we hear it's chugging while we travel on overnight trains as they accelerate, thanks for the video 🙏🏻

[harshvardhansingh]

the sound of alcos are still my favourite, it reminds me of my childhood days when metre gauge trains were used and ydm2 was the loco. 3 years back say a ydm2 being put over the freight train which was removed from its service at kasganj railway station in ner division.

[ajaysinghblr]

Vaighai Express!
It was my locomotives which used to haul it when I was in GOC shed!!! Have footplated many times at 100kmph way back in 1994-95.
You've given it pride of place in this outstanding video.
Thanks.

[kasiraman.j]

My father is the first loco pilot of vaigai express and pallavan . His name V.Jayaramakrishnan Ex DDI of southern railway madurai division. Proud of him
Thanks regards 🙏🙏😍😍
His trial run was at 120kmph for meter gauge ALCO at that time....slept only for 3 hrs per day for nearly one month continuously. Myself consider him as unsung hero IMHO 🙏🙏🙏😍😍
As additional information he took trial runs gor Tamilnadu express also

[luthercharles]

Excellent video and wonderfully narated. One generation will miss the steam locomotives and our generation will miss the Alco Diesels.

[mkvvrajasekhararao]

My father has worked on all these alco diesel engines and we used to travel in our childhood because he used to repair and maintain all the locomotives

[gopal_kolathu]

The ALCos are a majestic icon of the Diesel engine era. The IR story till recently had been one of underperformance, thanks to lackadaisical executive leadership. These gentle giants did their best with substandard tracks, rolling stock and signaling systems. It seems somehow an affront to see them doing duty as shunting engines. But I guess a fate common to everything that ages 😊

[joshihemant]

What a video!! Congratulations, for your effort!! You gave me Good Gyaan!! As a 54 yrs old, I come from a generation, where I have seen all the three locos of Indian Railway. As a child, I used to commute between N.Delhi, to Pune. Upto 1975-76, There was no direct train between two cities!!
A 'poona bogey' used to start from Pune, sorry, Poona, piggyback in Maharashtra express, upto Manmad, where, that bogey' used to get attached to Punjab Mail, coming from Mumbai ( sorry Bombay)!! All the locos were Steam engine's!!!
In 1979, first Marathi rail mantri, ( Madhu Dandavate, whose brainchild was Konkan Railway) started Jhelum express( Primarily to move troops from Pune cantt. To Jammu Cantt.)!!
It came with your Alco diesel locos!!! I still remember, Pune - Delhi distance of @1600 k.m. would be hauled in 23 hours flat!!
( In 2021, same train takes @ 30 hours!!) Now, electrification 'upto' Pune is complete!! Beyond Pune, to go to Sangali or Solapur, you need an ALCO!!! PATHETIC SITUATION!!!
I UNDERSTAND, HUBALI JUNCTION IS STILL NOT ELECTRIFIED!!!
For development in Indian Railways, you need your areas 'Rail mantri'!!; THEN ONLY, DEVELOPMENT WILL COME ( Bihar had the Highest, & Most Corrupt Rail Mantri's)
So, Karnataka should send A Rail Mantri for full electrification of HUBALI JUNCTION!!!
What do you think!!!!

[ganeshiyer]

Great info. Grew up loving Railways mainly due to ALCOs..witnessed Vaigai at full force standing at Palavanthangal station in erstwhile Madras. How the whole Mathura station shook when twin ALCOs hauled Mumbai Rajdhani in late 80s and how i enjoyed the trip onboard Tamil Nadu in 80 when it was hauled by twin ALCO all the way from New Delhi to Madras with dep at 7 am and arrival next day at 12 noon..I am missing them already

[drshabbirsayeed]

A well researched and comprehensively presented account of Alcos in India. Facts and figures do draw a very impressive picture of Alco loco history in Indian railways. Good work, indeed!!!

[honedrazorblade]

Very well done. This is the first vlog of yours' which I have viewed. I am extremely fond of the ALCO, which I have seen from very many years, now that it is being phased out is sad, but progress must go on as technology is changing every day.

[rockyfernz]

Thanks a ton, this video shared immense knowledge about Indian railway locomotives...

[kasiraman.j]

Your videos are very informative. That 2d graphics are very nice. Myself grown seeing YDM s
They were the beautiful loco of all time IMHO due to its proportions in size with humans ❤❤❤❤

[claudiomendes]

In Portugal we have the Alco Rsc3, they started service in 1948 for the fast trains to and from our two main cities of Lisbon and Porto. Yesterday I saw a pictures of one of them still operating with the maintenance operator SOMAFEL, the Alco 1525, and it looked beautiful, therefor 1502, 1507, 1511, 1512, 1525 are still running and 1501 witch is on the national railway museum at Entrocamento and it still works. So it has been 73 years since they started working and they´re still going...these locomotives will work for "eternity".

[EMDWDG]

Easily the best train story video yet!!

Also three things.

1. There were quite a few facts I didn't know, eg. I never knew that ALCo locomotives had dynamic braking or turbochargers.

2. There were quite a few other minor ALCo classes which were not successful eg. WDM3F.

3. The WDM2 diagrams are helping me to design my carboard WDM2 model (I'm designing it in Ms Paint) :)

Overall, really good job on this!
Quality Over Quantity!

[kamrupexpress]

Beautiful video. It will warm the heart of any ALCO lover

[shivaprasad]

ALCO Diesels have stood the test of time 👌🏼❤️👍🏼 best wishes IR ❤️🙏🏽👌🏼the sounds they give are loved by one and all 😀👌🏼👍🏼

[catwarrior]

Great history sir! My favourite Alco classes are WDM2 and WDM3A🔥✌