WCAM is the dual-power AC/DC series locomotive used by Indian Railways

Indian Railways

Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....

. These locomotives can run under both DC traction and AC traction. All the WCAM locos were made by BHEL. They have 750V DC traction motors, using resistance banks in DC mode and a variable ratio auto-transformer with rectifier units in AC mode, for power control.

The WCAM class locomotives are in service only in the Mumbai region. The dual-voltage WCAM series locomotives haul intercity trains out of Mumbai DC suburban region which is still on a 1500V DC overhead system, as opposed to other parts of India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 which have 25000 V AC overhead.

Borivali/Virar is the change-over point for the traction, being DC inwards near Mumbai and AC on the outer side.
The WCAM class of locos on Western Railways operates till Vadodara

Vadodara

Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...

 on the mainline beyond which it is an AC line. Trains to Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...

 from Mumbai are usually hauled by WCAM locos all the way. Generally the WCAM locos are restricted to Valsad / Surat. On the Central Railway line they are in service on Mumbai - Igatpuri

Igatpuri

Igatpuri is a city and a Hill Station municipal council in Nashik District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Western Ghats. The station lies in Nashik District between Mumbai and Nashik Road on the Central Railway. Igatpuri is known for its Buddhist Pagoda for Meditation...

 line. Sometimes they travel to Manmad

Manmad

Manmad is one of the cities in Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra state in India. It is the third largest city in Nasik district, with a population of approximately 125,000...

Recently, Western Railway has begun converting the Mumbai region's 1500v DC traction to 25000v AC traction. This will result in the elimination of the need to change engine's at Vadodara & WAP engines will start entering the Mumbai region.

Types

There are four types of Locomotives under WCAM class:
Mixed type locomotives

• WCAM 1
• WCAM 2
• WCAM 3

Goods locomotives

• WCAG 1

Specifications

Comparative Specifications of different type of WCAM

Class	WCAM–1	WCAM–2/2P	WCAM–3	WCAG–1
Year	1975-79	1995-96	1997+	1999–2000
Maker	CLW	BHEL	BHEL	BHEL
Traction Motors	Alstom/CLW TAO 659 A1 (575 kW, 750V). Axle-hung, nose-suspended	TAO 659 (575 kW, 750V). Axle-hung, nose-suspended, force-ventilated	Hitachi HS15250A. Axle-hung, nose-suspended, force-ventilated	Hitachi HS15250A. Axle-hung, nose-suspended, force-ventilated.
Transformer	HEL BOT 34600. 3460kVA	BHEL 5400 kVA	BHEL 5400 kVA. 32 taps	BHEL 5400 kVA. 32 taps
Power(hp)	3850 AC (1 hr)2930 DC / 3640 AC cont.)	3780? DC / 4720 AC cont.4950 starting	4600 (4700?) DC / 5000 AC	4600 DC / 5000 AC cont.
Rectifiers	Silicon rectifiers, 48 cells (321 UFR200) per bridge, 1000A/1270V	Two silicon rectifier units D1800N44 (Siemens), 16 cells per bridge. 1000V / 3600A	Two silicon rectifier units D1800N44 (Siemens), 16 cells per bridge. 1000V / 3600A.	Two silicon rectifier units D1800N44 (Siemens), 16 cells per bridge. 1000V / 3600A.
Speed	80-100 DC / 120 AC	105 DC / 120 AC	105	100
Weight(tonnes)	113	113	113	128
Quantity	53	20	53	12+
Serial nos	21800-852	21861-880	21881-900 /21931-963	21971+

See also

• Indian locomotives
  Indian locomotives
  Locomotives in India consist of electric and diesel locomotives. Steam locomotives are no longer used, except in heritage trains. Locomotives are also called locos or engines....
  
  
• Western Railways