The Indian locomotive classWAG-6B/C is a class of 25kVACelectric locomotives that was developed in the 1988 byHitachi forIndian Railways. The model name stands forbroad gauge (W), AC Current (A), Goods (G) engine, 6th generation (6) Second/Third variant (B/C). They entered service in 1988. A total of 12 WAG-6 (6 B variant and 6 C variant) were built at Hitachi, Japan between 1987 and 1988. they along withWAG-6A were the most powerful locomotives in India until the arrival of theWAG-9 class.
All locomotives of this class have been withdrawn from service,[1] with one unit from each variant earmarked for preservation.[citation needed]
The history of WAG-6A begins in early 1980s with the aim of addressing the shortcomings of the previousWAG-1,WAG-2,WAG-3,WAG-4 andWAG-5 classes[original research?] and removesteam locomotives from IR by a target date of 1990.[2] The WAG-5 were a great successes but these locomotives were based on 1960s technology and fast became underpowered for the expanding Indian railways. So Indian Railways decided to look for a new locomotive.[3] At that time during the 1980s,Thyristor controller was vastly used by locomotive in many European rail networks while3 Phase AC technology was still in its infancy. So theMinistry of Railways floated a tender for a 6000 horsepower locomotive withThyristor control.[citation needed] The following responses were received:
Hitachi submitted their model with 6000 hp with Bo-Bo-Bo bogies andThyristor chopper control
Hitachi also submitted their model with 6000 hp with Co-Co- bogies andThyristor chopper control
ASEA submitted their model with 6000 hp with Bo-Bo-Bo bogies andThyristor chopper control.
Each company submitted their prototypes and Indian Railways designated these prototypes as the WAG-6B class WAG-6C class and WAG-6A class respectively.[4] IR ordered 6 of each class and these were delivered in 1988.[5]
