Indian locomotive class YCG-1

Indian locomotive class YCG-1
A YCG-1 preserved at NRM, New Delhi
Type and origin Power type Electric Designer English Electric Builder English Electric Hawthorn Leslie Build date 1930 Total produced 4
Specifications Configuration: ​  • AAR B-B  • UIC Bo′Bo′  • Commonwealth Bo-Bo Gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) Length 32 ft (9.8 m) Width 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) Loco weight 43 t (42 long tons; 47 short tons) Electric system/s 1.5 kV DC Overhead Current pickup(s) Pantograph Traction motors Two nose-suspended 160 hp (120 kW), one per bogie MU working Not possible
Performance figures Maximum speed 65 km/h (40 mph) Power output 640 hp (480 kW)
Career Operators South Indian Railway Indian Railways Class YCG-1 Numbers 21900-21903 Locale Chennai Delivered 1930 Withdrawn 1965 Preserved 1 Current owner National Rail Museum Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped
References: [1][2]

The YCG-1 was a class of electric locomotives built in the 1930s for use on the metre-gauge electrified lines in the Chennai area. The name stands for (Y)metre gauge, (C)DC electric, (G)goods. With the conversion of the lines to 25 kv AC, all were withdrawn. One is preserved at National Rail Museum in New Delhi.^[3]

Four Bo-Bo locomotives were supplied by English Electric in 1930 for goods traffic on the South Indian Railway's Madras to Tambaram suburban line recently electrified at 1.5 kV DC overhead,^[2] and were later withdrawn when the succeeding Southern Railway switched to AC traction. One is now preserved at the NRM (#21900).^[4]

The YCG-1 had a provision for coupling to 'ET' class^{[citation needed]} 4-wheeled battery tenders supplying 440 volts, to allow usage on unelectrified sidings, loop lines, etc. These tenders, of which two were built, had a capacity of 158 kWh (570 MJ), and weighed 21 LT (21 t).^[2]

The locomotives had a roughly rectangular, box-like body with a cab at either end, with a short platform extending from each cab. The cabs each had a door opening on to the platform, and a window (on the right) at the ends. The two bogies had interconnecting linkages to allow easier negotiation of sharp curves.^{[citation needed]} Two 'diamond' style pantographs for current collection.

• Chennai Suburban Railway
• Indian locomotive class WCG-1
• Indian locomotive class YAM-1

• Haut, F.J.G (January 2000). The Pictorial History of Electric Locomotives. Oak Tree Publications. ISBN 9780498076442 – via Internet Archive.