The Golden Rock Railway Workshop here has bagged a fresh order to convert an “in-service” Broad Gauge (BG) diesel locomotive into cape gauge for export to Mozambique.
The Rail India Technical and Economic Services Limited (RITES), a Government of India Enterprise, has entrusted the workshop with the task of modifying a BG loco into cape gauge following a deal it clinched with the Mozambique Railways.
A 2,600 Horse Power diesel engine would be acquired for this purpose and necessary modifications carried out in the loco to suit the requirements of the Mozambique Railway System.
The engine’s horsepower would be upgraded to 3,100 by changing major components inside the loco including pistons, fuel pumps and cylinders. The locomotive’s under frame would be retained, but the bogie would be new to suit the cape gauge system of the African nation.
The striking feature of the modification work this time will be that the loco pilot’s cabin would be air-conditioned and equipped with hot plates to enable loco pilots prepare beverages while piloting the engine. The loco would be fitted with micro processor control system with tri-plate panel brake system for easier handling and maintenance, a senior workshop official here told The Hindu.
The workshop had recently converted an “in-service” BG loco into cape gauge for Mozambique. Over 20 locos had been exported to Mozambique from the workshop over the past three years.
The official said that the workshop has bagged a separate order from the RITES to export two “in-service” Metre Gauge (MG) locos to Benin, another African nation, after carrying out modifications. Improvements would be made to the loco cabin and changes in the braking system. The loco would be given a fresh coat of polyurethane painting, said the official adding that the modified locos would be dispatched before March.
The modification work would be carried out at a cost of over Rs.3 crore. The official said the workshop had exported 120 locomotives to various Third World countries through RITES over the years thereby generating over Rs.100 crore to the Indian railways.
