Mumbai 1500 V DC traction | AC-DC Traction system of Mumbai | Bombay Electric Trains | CR | WR

The first train with electric traction in India ran in 1925 between Boribundar to Kurla on the Central Railway. The erstwhile Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) initiated operations using electric traction with the EF-1/WCG-1 and the EA1/WCP-1 locomotives under 1500 V DC system. By 1930s electric traction had reached upto Pune and the Deccan Queen commenced services in 1930 with a WCP-1 locomotive. On the western railway electrification of the line from Colaba to Borivali was completed by 1928 and the section between Borivali and Virar was complete by 1936.
The central railway because of the steep gradients opted to use electric traction from as early as the 1930s. Traction was provided by DC electric locomotives dominated by the WCM series class. The western railways on the other hand continued mainline operations with steam and subsequently diesel traction until the advent of the WCAM-1 class AC-DC locomotives in 1979.
The WCAM class AC-DC locomotives provided traction power until 2014 when the entire Bombay territory eventually shifted to AC traction. The WCAM-2 and WCAM 3 class locomotives still run on both CR and WR but with the advent of modern 3-phase AC locomotives like the WAP-7 there days are numbered.
While India had adapted 25 KV AC traction by the mid-1950s as standard, the Bombay Territory took over six decades to bid good bye to the obsolete DC systems. This was to avoid disruptions of the suburban EMU traffic that are Bombay’s lifeline.

[@catwarrior716]

Big fan of the locomotive series WCAM3 thanks for the video 😉

[@TheTrainStory]

Thank you

[@mariebcfhs9491]

I love the WCAM series, very boxy yet beautiful locomotives!

[@TheTrainStory]

Yes a very unique look...

[@lampardy888]

WCAM3 locos have a special fan base and are a legend in our hearts, wish they are preserved as they are toe to toe with WAP4 for sure

[@TheTrainStory]

Yes… they use the same Hitachi HS15250A traction motors as the WAP4… they still have some years of service left… so maybe too early to talk about preservation… but in the long term, I m sure some units may be preserved

[@gupta__g]

felt nostalgic seeing the local trains with crowd in them. havent seen a local/passenger train since march 2020.

[@TheTrainStory]

Yes 2020 was an extraordinary year

[@bhaskardas4516]

Thank you Sir for the Video . Being a HVAC Engineer by profession i am also connected to Indian Railways for supply & installation of AC systems . This electrical system used by the Indian Railways should be mandatory to all the Indian students of Electrical Trade & Engineering .

[@TheTrainStory]

Thank you Sir

[@ManiVijay]

Lovely video and narration!!!

[@TheTrainStory]

Thank you Mani Sir... also for permission to use from your rich collection...

[@dhritisamanta4382]

WCG 2 is my favourite locomotive

[@railfanjay]

wcam series is always most favourite 💟🔥 BTw amazing & awesome video sir 😍😄

[@ariprasadmukundan9890]

Mani Vijay sir you always rock

[@TheTrainStory]

Yes he does...:)

[@thestepcounter7161]

Your Channel Deserves 10 million subscription

[@TheTrainStory]

Thanks friend

[@shivaprasad6311]

The glorious heritage of our IR... ❤️👌🏼👌🏼it's unparalleled anywhere. We love IR ❤️🙏🏽

[@TheTrainStory]

😊

[@austindsouza9672]

The BHEL WCAM3 locos are awesome but will soon be stalled with the operations of the state of art WAP7 locos.

[@TheTrainStory]

WCAM3 will continue operations as a AC locomotive until end of its service life...

[@jagathindianrailwayslover]

Banker DC Electric locos & AC Electric Locomotives 👌❤

[@arnavshinde1474]

Big fan of locomotives

[@kundansave5987]

Good info, nice graphics, sober background music. Thanks

[@TheTrainStory]

Thank you

[@btarunr1]

The saga of 1500 VDC traction had become a monument to Indian Railways' inefficiency. Especially the comical workarounds such as spending money on developing dual-mode AC/DC locomotives. Want another example of CR's inefficiency? Just check out the Sholapur division. The main line there is single diesel to this date, complete with obsolete scissor crossings. They're lagging two decades behind SCR in doubling+electrification of a line that's considered "golden quadrilateral" (as it connects Chennai to Mumbai).

[@TheTrainStory]

Yes... the Chennai Mumbai line is most neglected in the golden quadrilateral...

[@devraj105]

CR and WR both suburban systems were already established with DC tractions. AC/DC locos are not comical workarounds but existed since 1975 on WR with WCAM1s. Its not an overnight job to change traction with all your DC rolling stocks with shelf life left in it.

[@kris05178]

@@TheTrainStory sir doubled and electrified MAS-Mumbai..

[@Robinnilayam321]

I have seen all 78 to 2010 ..kudos to you

[@kgiplmdrf9488]

Very nice video.

[@TheTrainStory]

Thanks...

[@saamirsyed4261]

The video is superb but you mentioned the incorrect name in the beginning "Bori Bunder" ...Bori Bunder station was demolished way back in 1878 and a brand new station called as the Bombay Victoria Terminus Station was built. And the first EMU train ran from Victoria Terminus to Kurla. Please dont mix Boree Bunder into Victoria Terminus both are different but the location is almost the same

[@TheTrainStory]

Thanks for the clarification

[@v.anandkrishna7277]

nice story

[@sanyogdeshpande9097]

Wcam2 Locos spent most of their life on WR hauling some prestigious trains including Mumbai Rajdhani and AK Rajdhani. They were the next gen locos to Wcam1 family. Bid Adieu to all Wcam class. 🙏😞

[@aaryanvikat8494]

😢😢😢😢😢😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😔

[@chinmaysirdeshmukh3965]

One simple correction require sir, when loco moves then it pull the train so backside pentograph connected not front one.

[@sandeepsangra]

Great memories sir...... 🙏🙏

[@TheTrainStory]

Yes indeed... those DC locomotives will never be seen on our tracks again...

[@hrid22]

Please make a vdeo on history of Railway zones in india

[@arundcz]

Why dc system preferred over ac system on Mumbai Suburban train Not mentioned.

[@TheTrainStory]

Electric traction was introduced in Bombay/Mumbai in 1925. At the time DC traction was state of the art.

[@roberthuron9160]

That use of DC,was being paralleled in Britain,as the first lines of the,then LNER,were being electrified! Also in Victoria(,Australia),there was an installation going on at the same time! In the US,there were two lines electrified,the DL&W,[ New Jersey],and the IC,[Illinois],and those were commuter lines,again 1500/3000 volts DC,as in India! There were others,but the aforementioned were well publicized, an the one in New Jersey,had Thomas Edison,running the first train! Hope the information is useful,and adds to your data base! Thank you,for the information,and it fills in my knowledge and experience! Thank you for your diligence and time!! 😇!

[@asgelwkyi]

We need videos on electrification of Eastern Railways ... It is very interesting , that due to the shortage in motor coaches of EMU , they ran EMU with a WAM2 as the motor coach .

[@TheTrainStory]

You have given a very interesting detail, thanks

[@asgelwkyi]

@@TheTrainStory welcome dear make a video ... there is not proper video on youtube on this topic . We really need one . There are lots of articles in IRFCA.org on this topic ...

[@sudhanshututi]

Very informative channel. Glad I came across it. Your thumbnail game is too lit🔥

[@TheTrainStory]

Thank you 😊

[@UtsukShah9]

It's hard to say whether DC is obsolete completely, but ofcourse AC has advantages. It is interesting to note that many brand new metros outside India still opt for a DC system.

[@TheTrainStory]

New metro systems rarely select DC traction. However existing systems already built on DC TRACTION will replace older rolling stock with newer DC rolling stock. E.g the London Underground.

[@UtsukShah9]

@@TheTrainStory interesting. thanks for your reply! I must be mistaken in that case

[@UtsukShah9]

​@@TheTrainStory no need to reply but I understood that relatively newer systems, especially if they are light rail are DC. Even the kochi metro is 750V DC. All heavy duty metros expected to serve millions a day might opt for AC as their preferred choice(mumbai, chennai,delhi etc), still DC power supply has it's clear advantages too, and the choice comes down to individual circumstances. I don't think DC is obsolete yet

[@TheTrainStory]

@@UtsukShah9 you are right in as far as light rail/tram systems using DC at 750 V.

[@vinish3610]

Still in Madras the old DC EMU's are retrofitted with AC motors... You can feel the old nostalgia in madras which you experienced in bombay.

[@TheTrainStory]

Thanks for this info friend

[@mdibrahimkazi4443]

Good info. Keep it up bro!!!

[@TheTrainStory]

Thank you friend...

[@ravikumarp1979]

Awesome sir try Make Secundrabad Rajdhani Express history and chennai rajdhani love from SOUTH INDIA

[@TheTrainStory]

Thank you for your appreciation

[@yashtulaskar2423]

Please make video emu,memu,demu trains

[@technicalprocessgaming421]

Bhai tum train animation kese late ho🤔🤔

[@pranavtransistor]

Great music

[@Vaazhgabaratham]

Very nice video 👍

[@mrfail657]

I like the video

[@karanwaghmare4835]

Please make the videos on train biographies like punjab mail, grand trunk express etc..

[@kesavanp1700]

Pls share the information about WAP 4 to 7 along with its advantages and how these faster locomotives evolved in india.

[@saranyak15]

Amazing information 😍😍😍. Also can you make a video on why AC was preferred than DC?

[@TheTrainStory]

Thank you Rahav

[@kushalsutar]

Great video sir. I appreciate the effort. Specially in graphics. With due respect, could you change name Bombay to Mumbai (after Nov 1995) in your forthcoming videos. Thank you....

[@TheTrainStory]

I used Bombay here (and for Rajdhani video) because of Nostalgia (since I was referring to pre 1995 period) ... I am sorry if I inadvertently upset you.... in my video on LHB Deccan Queen I use Mumbai. I will keep this in mind in the future. I have very fond childhood memories of Mumbai

[@kushalsutar]

@@TheTrainStory no need to say sorry sir. It was my request. You just continue your great work... Thank you again sir...

[@yoyorajsoni]

Please make video on GHAZIPUR CITY RAILWAY STATION

[@irfrupamdey2634]

Awesome awesome awesome superb and fantastic ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ mind blowing ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I support the dc traction and also the ac traction but the old is gold so we cannot forget the wcm 1 wcam1 and the dc suburban local ❤️

[@TheTrainStory]

Thank you 😊

[@jagathindianrailwayslover]

Banker Electric locomotives Wcam3 & Wcam2P 👌👌🔥

[@souvikde2441]

Video on WDG6G AND WAG 12

[@TheTrainStory]

At the moment I don’t have any footage of both loco classes. Maybe after COVID

[@souvikde2441]

@@TheTrainStory you can get from KZbin.

[@TheTrainStory]

@@souvikde2441 Copyright :)

[@PunekarRailfan.19]

My favourite locomotive is wcam 3 and 2

[@TheTrainStory]

😊

[@anilnair2911]

Great Video. Awesome. Loved it👍👍👍 Sir if it's possible can you please do a video on the history of KALYAN LOCO SHED? India's first Loco shed

[@TheTrainStory]

Maybe after the COVID situation is passed over

[@anilnair2911]

@@TheTrainStory Sure Sir. No rush. Thank you for acknowledging. Much appreciated.

[@ananthanarayanan4258]

Why did you showed the video of Vande Bharat train when the whole program was on Rajdhani

[@TheTrainStory]

I think I mentioned that Rajdhani’s will eventually shift to a train set. The VB is the only top end train set in India

[@gkrishnan4829]

You did not touch upon the real functionality of WCAM series, which helped the trains (first) from Bombay central to Virar on 1500V DC traction power supply and then after Virar, passing through a no power zone between two traction poles, switch to 25KV AC

[@Bhartiya_Trainspotter]

I can understand about ' Change is the Necessity in Universal Policy but they also stop operating WCAM 2P in WR after 2016. I Miss Alot.😢

[@PunekarRailfan.19]

I think that Wcam 3& 2P should be converted in 3 phase locomotive wap 7 is not looking nice for decan queen as wcam 3 is dc ac engine it should be in ac only so it can be go out of maharshtra and can be used for an express train in

[@TheTrainStory]

To my knowledge these have been converted to full AC locomotives. But apparently they do not venture out of Bombay territory because they are all homed at Kalyan and perhaps Valsad (???)

[@kingofgames8670]

Can u make videos in hindi As your making videos on indian railways

[@TheTrainStory]

I tried making videos in Hindi, but they were not successful in terms of viewership

[@kingofgames8670]

Ok But can u make video on wcam series locomotive history In hindi please

[@deepakumarpalraj5069]

WCAM3 and WCAM2 class locomotive run on electricity with magnetic force...,.....

[@eastdeltarailfansclub9322]

Cr, wr should replace wcam s shell into pure AC loco don't want to withdrawn from track we are eagerly waiting to receive link with ltt to kik end to end eloco traction by converted wcam as AC traction

[@TheTrainStory]

WCAM locomotives are now used as AC only locomotives...

[@eastdeltarailfansclub9322]

@@TheTrainStory is there any possibility to haul upto SR zone

[@TheTrainStory]

WCAM locos will not move out of the Mumbai region because there are no sheds other than Kalyan where they can be serviced. I m not sure if Valsad still services WCAM locos. So going to SR zone is not possible

[@eastdeltarailfansclub9322]

@@TheTrainStory thanks for your reply and info

[@ikalorano]

👏

[@cheliyanganesan8622]

Wcm5

[@arunsprakash2006]

Wcg 2