Indian Railways has manufactured the first multi-genset locomotive, achieving yet another milestone in introduction of fuel efficient technologies for diesel engines. The trial of first multi-genset locomotive is undergoing as a pilot project at Itarsi of Bhopal Division in West Central Railway.
“Multi-genset locomotives employ a novel concept that involves use of two or more small engines as compared to a single large engine in conventional locomotives. Multiple small engines work only when there is power demand. For higher power demand all the 3 engines work and the lower power demand may be met by a single engine. These locos promise to reduce the fuel consumption by about 20 per cent for delivering the same power,” a Railway official said.
As a result, they claimed, the resultant emissions will be far less and these locos will have a smaller carbon footprint. “With this initiative, multi-genset locomotives to usher in new era of emissions compliant locomotives on Indian Railways,” official said. The prototype multi-genset locomotives will be of the medium horse power range with 3 gensets of 800 Horsed Power (HP) each amounting to a gross HP of 2400. At present, there are over 500 multi-genset locomotives in the USA in the medium HP range and M/s Bombardier has an order or manufacturing 200 multi-genset locomotives for the German state Railways.