Soon after World War II and in the years after Independence steam locomotive design culminated in a new standard design based on war time experience of running larger American locomotives. For passenger services which took into account the latest developments in boiler efficiency, the sleek bullet nosed ‘WP’ 4-6-2 was developed and manufactured on a very large scale at the newly established Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, The initial locomotives were imported from North America and elsewhere. Similarly for Freight traffic the ‘WG’ 2-8-2 design was adopted and these two types became the ‘work horses’ of Indian Railways for over three decades. Both these locomotives had an axle load of 18 ½ tons common boiler and motion parts.
Class Code
Wheel Arrangement
Grate Area Sq.ft.
Axle Load Tons
Standard Passenger
WP
4-6-2
46
18.5
Standard Goods
WG
2-8-2
46
18.5
