• Classification of Locomotive and Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)

On Indian railways, locomotives and EMU are classified according to the:

(i) Type of services handled - Goods carrier services, Passenger service, and Mixed
traffic services.
(ii) Gauge of the railway - Broad or Meter Gauge.
(iii) Type of supply used - Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC).

Electric rolling stock is designated by three letters:

(i) First letter indicates the gauge; W is used for broad gauge and Y for meter gauge
and Z for narrow gauge.
(ii) Second letter indicates the type of supply. A is used for AC, and C is used for DC
supply.
(iii) Third letter indicates the types of service handle, 'M' is used for mixed traffic of
goods and passenger, 'G' is used for goods carrier services and, 'U' is used for EMU.
(iv) Fourth is a number which indicates the individual designs in the class.

Indian railways having been following type of rolling stocks:

(i) AC locos: WAM,, WAM, WAM,, WAG,, WAG, WAG,, WAG, and YAM.
(ii) AC EMU stock: WAU, WAU, WAU, WAU, YAU.
• Power Circuit
Power Circuit in an electric locomotive is the circuit which carries
current for the traction motors.
Power Circuit Diagram of AC Locomotive
1. OHE or Contact wire: It provides power supply to the electric
locomotives.
2. Pantograph: It collects the power from contact wire.
3. C.B. : Its main function is to disconnect the locomotive
equipment from the supply in the event of fault in the
equipment.
4. On load tap changer: It is used to change the input voltage to
the rectifier section as required by traction circuit to change
the speed /torque generated by motors.
5. Traction transformer: It is used in combination with the tap
changer to supply voltage in the high range of 15 to 25 kV. But
the normal utilization voltages are low.
6. Rectifier: It is used to convert ac input voltage to DC suitable
for traction motor.
7. Smoothing reactor: It is used to filter the rectifier output to
give smooth v/f of the dc supply for the operation of traction
motors.
8. Traction motors: It Generates mechanical power required
according to the dc supply given, for the requirement of
speed and torque.
• Equipments in Power Circuit and their Function:
(a) Circuit Breaker:
• When supply to a vehicle is given from H.V. then it is necessaryto provide a Circuit Breaker (CB).
• In 25 kV, 50 Hz, supply system, CB is provided in between pantograph and transformer.
• Its main function is to disconnect the locomotive equipmentfrom the supply in the event of fault in the
equipment.
• Its additional function is to isolate the locomotive equipment at a phase-change point in the Overhead
Equipments (OHE) such as before entry into the neutral section.
• Air blast type CB is normally used.
(b) Earthing Switch:
• Earthing switch is provided to every traction power circuit.
• The earthing switch is to be closed whenever the line maintenance is to be done on the system.
• For the maintenance of the lines, the CB is to be opened first, and then the earthing switch is closed. If by
any reason the charge is still present in the line, then it will discharge upon the ground with the help of
earthing switch.
• It is provided on additional protection to the person who is performing maintenance of the line.
• (c) Tap changer:
• Tap changers are of two types such as "on load" tap changer and "off load" tap changer.
• In the traction power circuit, mainly on-load tap changer is used. Tap changers are used to change the input
voltage to the rectifier's section as required by traction circuit to change the speed or torque generated by
motors.
• There are two methods of tap changer adopted:
(i) Keeping primary turns of the transformer unchanged but changing secondary turns by tap changer in
secondary. This is the "low voltage tap changing method".
(ii) The second way of tap changer is that by applying variable voltage to the primary. This method is
known as "high voltages tap changing".
(d) Traction Transformer:
• Traction transformer is the main equipment to the traction system. They are mounted on the locomotive as
well as mounted on the traction substation.
• They are used to step-down the high voltage of 220/132/110 kV to 25 kV operating voltage. This is done at
traction substation.
• 25 kV voltages are again step-down to working voltage levels required by the traction motors. This is done
with the help of the transformer which is mounted in the locomotive itself.
• Normally, the traction transformer is oil immersed, air cooled with forced oil circulation.
(e) Rectifier:
• The rectifier is used to convert AC supply into DC supply.
This DC supply is given to traction motors.
• For converting AC into DC, diode and thyristors use as a
rectifiers.
• Modern electric locomotives usually have at least two
rectifiers, one for power circuit called as "main" rectifiers
and other one are used for the auxiliary circuit's to the
power circuit, DC traction motors are connected and to
auxiliary circuit other necessary electrical systems are
connected.
(f) Smoothing Reactor:
• The output of the rectifiers is not a purely DC it consists of
some AC ripples (pulsating DC).
• Smoothing reactor is used to remove the AC ripples and
making rectifiers output purely DC.
• Smoothing reactor is nothing but a pair of choke coils.
• The output of the rectifiers is fed to the smoothing reactor
before feeding it to the DC traction motors.
• Equipments in Auxiliary Circuit and Their
Function:
(a) Head Light:
• The head light is provided at centre position of the locomotive. It is at the
roof level or mid-level.
• The main function as the head light is to light up the track andalso to warn
the people on the track.
• The intensity as the head light can be adjusted.
• 24V, 100/90W twin filament halogen lamp is used for a headlight.
(b) Flasher Light:
• This is used in case of emergency or special circumstance.
• It is arranged at the right side to the head light.
• Nowadays, the conventional flashers light unit is replaced by Light Emitting
Diode (LED) based flasher light unit.
(c) Horn:
• The train horn is an air horn, which serves as an audible warning device on electric locomotives.
• Its main purpose is to alert people and animal about the presence of a train, so they can clear the tracks. The
horn is also used for communication purpose.
• These horns are operated by compressed air. The air pressure is about 125 to 140 psi and it is fed from the
locomotive main air tank.
(d) Marker Light:
• In electric locomotive the head lights are always referred as "Marker light.“
• These are provided at the both ends, and are arranged above the buffers.
• The marker's light has two colors such as yellow or white and red.
• When the train is traveling, the rear side marker light is lit red and the front-side marker is lit white or yellow.
• In case of critical condition, obstructions ahead, etc. The front marker's lights are lit red.
(e) Batteries:
• Batteries are used for lighting the train, when it is in standstill condition.
• Nowadays, Lead acid and Nickel-Iron batteries are replaced by the light weight Nickel-Metal Hydride and
lithium batteries.
• Batteries should have low cost, long life and low maintenance.
• Traction batteries must be capable of withstanding wide temperature ranges from -31° to + 65⁰.
(f) Arno Convertor:
• Its main function is to convert 1 phase AC supply into 3 phases AC Basically; it is on Induction Motor (IM).
• This Three phase supply is needed for the IM used at various places such as blowers and exhausters.
• The Arno convertor is supplied by the main traction transformer.
• To start the Arno convertor, 1 phase AC supply is given to two leads of the induction motor direct while 3rd lead is
connected to supply through starting resistance and starting contactor.
• The motor start up as split phase IM and when its speed riches 90% of synchronous speed, starting resistance is
opened out by means of relay.
• The machine then pulls into synchronism and gives 3 phase output.
• Currents in the 3 phase windings are not equal; this gives unbalance voltage in the 3 phase supply obtained from Arno
convertor.
• Output voltage of Arno convertor fluctuates between 290 volts to 460 volts.
(g) Blowers:
• Blower is used for cooling various equipments such as transformer oil, cooling radiator, rectifier, smoothing
reactors, traction motors, etc.
• Nowadays, locomotive are having a complex air managements system which monitors the temperatures of
the various rotating machines in the locomotives and accordingly adjusts the flow rate through the air. This is
done with the help of blowers.
• 3 Phase motors are used for blowers supplied from Arno convertor.
(h) Exhausters:
• Exhausters are nothing but a two-speed rotary machine fittedon a locomotive to evacuate the atmospheric
pressure from the break pipe, reservoirs and break cylinders to affect the brake release.
• There are two types of exhausters: (i) Reciprocating type, (ii) Rotary type.
• It is controlled by the locomotive operator with the help of brake valve.
• Exhausters are operated by the electric motors or directly by the diesel engines.
• It is also called as ejectors.
• It is used for electric traction for vacuum braking system in the operation of vacuum brakes, Exhauster is
needed to produce vacuum.
(i) Compressors:
• These are used to provide the compressed air supply on the locomotive for various applications like operation
of breakers, Horn, Air blast, CB pantograph contractors etc.
• The compressed air is produced by the air compressor about 1000 liters per minute. At 9kg/cm2 pressure.
• There are various types of compressors such as direct power driven compressors, Belt driven compressors
and mechanically driven compressors.

(j) Selsyn Transformer:

• Selsyn is an electro-mechanical device used for the easy transmission of angular data between two or
remoter points.
• Its construction is much more like, electric motor primary winding. It is fixed in the motor and is excited by
alternating current.
• Electromagnetic induction current flows in the three star connected secondary winding. Which are fixed at
120° to each other on the stator.
• The selsyn transformer supplies 115 VAC supply to the system which transmits the position of the tap changer
to the control desk for indication after stepping down 230V AC supply.