Historic Milestone: Banaras Locomotive Works Unveils 10,000th Locomotive Dedicated to the Nation

In a momentous event today, on November 28, 2023, at the New Loco Test Shop of Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), General Manager Basudev Panda proudly dedicated the 10000th locomotive, WAP7, to the nation. The ceremony, adorned with flowers and formal worship, marked a significant achievement in the annals of BLW’s rich history.

Expressing his congratulations to BLW officers and employees, General Manager Basudev Panda attributed this milestone to the unwavering dedication and efficiency of the workforce. The 10,000th locomotive represents not only a numerical accomplishment but also a testament to BLW’s commitment to excellence in locomotive production.

Banaras Locomotive Works, formerly known as Diesel Locomotive Works, commenced its journey by introducing the first locomotive based on ALCO loco technology. Over the years, it has not only set records in locomotive production but also in locomotive horsepower. Evolving with the times, BLW ventured into electric locomotive manufacturing in 2017, currently producing WAP7 for passenger service and WAG9 for freight locomotives, catering to both national and international markets.

BLW’s production statistics stand impressive, with 1687 electric locomotives, 7498 diesel locomotives, and 172 exported locomotives spanning 11 countries. Additionally, it has contributed 634 locomotives for non-railway customers, crafted a unique dual-mode locomotive, and converted eight diesel locomotives to electric.

Laid by the first President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, on April 23, 1956, BLW officially came into existence in August 1961. Notable inaugurations include the first broad gauge WDM2 by former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on January 03, 1964, and the first meter gauge locomotive YDM4 by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai in November 1968.

The 10,000th locomotive, AC-AC 6000 HP passenger locomotive WAP7-37638, equipped with cutting-edge features such as RTIS (real-time information system), air-conditioned driver cab for summers, provision of hot air for drivers during winters, HOG (head on generation) for train lighting, regenerative brake system, and a top speed of 140 km per hour, will be stationed at Lallaguda Electric Loco Shed of South Central Railway.

The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of key figures, including Principal Chief Electrical Engineer S.K.Srivastava, Principal Chief Material Manager Rajneesh Gupta, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer Shishir Dutt, Principal Financial Advisor Neeraj Verma, Principal Chief Engineer Vinod Bampal, Principal Chief Medical Officer Dr. Devesh Kumar, Principal Chief Personnel Officer Ranvijay, Chief Vigilance Officer P.K.Chaudhary, Senior Deputy General Manager Vijay, Chief Electrical Engineer-Loco Arun Kumar Sharma, and various department heads, officers, employees, and staff council members such as Amit Kumar and Manish Kumar Singh.