BRIEF HISTORY OF ELS/VSKP:

The train operation on K.K.Line was started in 1966-67. Electrification was done between KRDL-JDB in 1980, JDB-KRPU in 1981, KRPU-ARK in 1982 and KTV-ARK in 1982.

Electric Loco Shed / Visakhapatnam were commissioned in Dec'82 with a holding of 30 Electric locomotives as a captive Loco shed for Kottavalasa-Kirandulline.There was steady increase in the loco holding due to increase in traffic demand over the years thereafter for transporting the iron ore from Baliadilla mines to Visakhapatnam port.

During 1988, a fleet of 18 locomotives of 6000 HP having a number of special improved features with state-of-the-art technology were imported from Sweden (6locomotives/ABB make) and from Japan (12 locomotives/Hitachi make) to add to the fleet of indigenous locomotives.

With Electrification of mainline between VSKP-BBS-KGP, shed has started homing coaching locomotives since 2005.The Loco holding has reached to 355. (Excluding 02 WAG9HC locos are under commissioning, 01 WAG9 locos allotted by railway board). With this the total loco holding becomes 358 (Which is the highest loco holding shed in IR).

Cadre strength

(a)Gazetted: 3(Sr.DEE, DEE, and AMM)

(b)Non Gazetted:

Present, overall man power of ELS VSKP is 649 excluding 15 wheel shop staff and 34 out station staff, against sanctioned strength of 766. 

Infrastructure at a glance

        Note:  02 WAG9HC locos are under commissioning & 01 WAG9HC three phase loco is allotted to shed. With this, the total holding of shed will become 358.

        Out of 360 locos, shed is maintaining 43 consist and 53 multiple units to meeting the load demand in KK line. And also shed is maintaining 42 HOG locos and 26 push-pull readiness locos to meet the demand of passenger trains in main line.

        In recent times, new technology equipments items likes ‘Crew voice and video recording system (CVVRS), Real time information system (RTIS), Remote Monitoring System (RMS), End of Train Telemetry  system (EOTT), Wheel Flange Lubricator (WFL)  were introduced in ELS VSKP locomotives for easy maintenance and failure analysis.

        “Distributed Power Wireless Control System (DPWCS)” was installed in 51 locomotives, to higher attractive efforts with lower coupling forces and Capable of simultaneously operating multiple trains in a radius of 3 KM’s efficiently and without loss/interference in communication.

         In view of crew friendly, shed is maintaining cab AC’s in 134 locomotives so far, and planning to implement in remaining locos.

BRIEF OF ELECTRIC LOCO SHED / VISAKHAPATNAM

a)   Background:-

The richest iron ore reserve of Bailadilla mines was discovered in early thirtees.  After independence, the need for tapping this natural resource was badly felt.  Ultimately, the rail link between the mines and Visakhapatnam port was commissioned in mid sixties.

The train operation on K.K.Line was started in 1966-67. The major traffic in the section is transportation of iron ore form the Bailadilla mines to Visakhapatnam for export as well as internal requirement. Transport of iron ore was accomplished by Diesel traction till 1980.  The loaded train was 3200T.

Electrification was done between KRDL-JDB in 1980, JDB-KRPU in 1981, KRPU-ARK in 1982 and KTV-ARK in 1982. This is a single line broad gauge section having 509.9 electrified  RKM and 669.77 TKM which is fed by 18 traction substations from APSEB, OSEB and MPEB.

Visakhapatnam-Kirandul section starts from Ore Exchange Complex  (OEC) at Visakhapatnam and terminated at Kirandul on the other end.  The Kottavalasa-Kirandul line which is popularly known as K.K. line takes up from Kottavalasa which is 26 KMs from Visakhapatnam in the East Cost main line and spreads over a distance of 446 KMs upto Kirnadul passing through the Anantagiri Ghat sections and the Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh.

The K.K. section is said to be the toughest and   the most arduous section in the whole Indian Railways which is a challenge to the Engineers of Indian Railways for running trains with 25 KV AC traction.  This section has got gradients of 1 in 60 for continuous stretch of 70 KM where the locomotives are tested up to the hilt both in traction as well as braking.  The highest point in the broad gauge is situated at an altitude of 997.6 Mts.  at Similiguada station.

(b) Construction of ELS/VSKP:-

Construction of Electric Loco Shed, Visakhapatnam was simultaneously taken up along with the electrification works and the shed was finally commissioned in December 1982. The initial loco holding was 30 WAG5 locomotives. There was steady increase in the loco holding due to increased traffic demand over the years. 

(c) Introduction of various class of Locomotives:-

During 1988, a fleet of 18 locomotives of 6000 HP having a number of special improved features with state-of-the-art technology were imported from Sweden (6 locomotives/ABB make) and from Japan(12 locomotives/Hitachi make) to add to the fleet of indigenous make WAG-5  locomotives.

With Electrification of mainline between VSKP-BBS-KGP, shed has started homing coaching locomotives since 2005 by receiving WAM4 locos from other sheds.

During 2007, 33 new WAG7 locos were received from CLW and later were transferred to ELS/Angul with induction of 3-phase locos.

Due to condemnation of WAM4 locos being overaged, 21 nos new WAP4 locos were received from CLW in 2014 to cater the mail express coaching service.

The homing 3-phase locos has started since 2014 with WAG9H locos and 2016 with WAP7 locos. Presently maximum 5400T is worked by 3 nos. of WAG-5 loco working in consist or with two WAG9 Multi/Consist locos. To avoid banking power on KK line, the first WAG9H consist on Indian Railway was introduced by ELS/VSKP in 2019.

 (d) Phase wise ELS/VSKP augmentation:- With increase in loco holding, the ELS/VSKP has also been augmented to cater the maintenance of higher loco holding.

v    Phase-I:- From 75locos to 93 locos (for 18HHP locos) in 1997.

v    Phase-II:- From 93 locos to 120 locos in 2000.

v    Phase-III:- From 120 locos to 150 locos in 2009.

v    Phase-IV:- From 150 locos to 175 locos in 2017.

v    Phase-V:- From 175 locos to 200 locos in 2018.

v    Phase-VI:-Shed augmentation for homing 225 locos was sanctioned by Railway Board for 15.91 Crores and presently, works are under progress.

(e) Wheel shop Activities:- With increase in loco holding, the need for “in house wheel repair and rediscing” was arisen. Subsequently, “Wheel shop” was commissioned in the ELS/VSKP itself in the year 2013-14. ELS/VSKP is the only ELS on IR, which is maintaining both “Electric Locos maintenance and wheel shop activities”.

(f) Present Loco Holding:- Presently, ELS/VSKP is homing following class of locos and their working status is given below. Due to reduction in coaching services in the COVID-19 lock down period, the existing 14 WAG5 coaching locos have been formed in “Multi units” and 2nos WAP4 locos have been modified and formed “Multi Unit” to improve freight loading.

Loco Type

Holding

Present working status

WAG5 (Goods):

68

22 consists, 1 Multi unit

WAG5(Coaching):

16

7 Multi units, 2 Single units

WAP4:

21

1 Multi unit, 19 Single units

WAG6:

9

3 Multi units, 3 Single units

WAP7:

33

33 Single units

WAG9H:

167

21 Consists, 46 Multi units, 12 Single units

Total:

314

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