Narrow-gauge locomotives of India

This is a list of all narrow-gauge locomotives that have been or are being operated by Indian Railways. IR has decided to convert all routes except the heritage one to the nation-wide standard 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge, under Project Unigauge. So narrow gauge locomotives are becoming rarer and rarer.

General

• ZDM-1: This locomotive was built by Arn. Jung. These were called the class DZ on NR (Kalka-Shimla Railway).It is identical to NDM-1 class with 2'6" gauge. Only four of these locos were regauged to 2'0" gauge and converted to NDM-1 units. When the ZDM-3 locos were available in (1972-1982). The fifth loco NR #704, was at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Where it was used to haul a short train of aluminium-bodied coaches on a 1.5km figure-8 track at a exhibition centre. Loco numbers doesn't written on the body of the loco.

• ZDM-2: This is a narrow gauge locomotive with 2ft 6in wide gauge.These loco were mainly used in Nainpur-Gondia section narrow gauge route.Now all the locomotives are retired/withdrawn from service.

• ZDM-3: This is a narrow gauge locomotive with 2ft 6in wide gauge of Indian Railways.This locomotives can be found on the routes of Kalka-Shimla route and Kangra Valley route.

• ZDM-4: This locomotives were built by CLW and they are the modified version of ZDM-3 class with an extra axle to reduce axle load (1-B-B-1 bogies). But this extra axle cause wheel slip.This locomotives can be found on routes like Kangra Valley,Nagpur narrow gauge route and raipur narrow gauge route.
  ZDM-4A: This is a variant of the ZDM-4 loco. This loco was used in Barsi Light Railway. These 1-B-B-1 locos have a 700hp power-pack. In 1996 one of this was sent to Nepal Jayanagar Janakpur railway line.

• ZDM-5: This locomotive was one of the powerful narrow gauge locomotive of the world .This locomotives can be found on routes like Paratapnagar narrow gauge and Dhaulpur narrow gauge routes. Four locos of this class was sent to work on Jayanagar Janakpur railway in Nepal in 1994.

• NDM-1: This is a articulated locomotive with two prime movers. But in case of uphill travel it uses its both engines and in case of downhill it uses one engine on Neral-Matheran line. It was originally intended to be used in Kalka-Shimla route. When Kalka-Shimla route was regauged ZDM-3 was obtained for that route.

• NDM-5: This locomotives are used on Central Railways Gwalior narrow gauge route. This locomotives are based on another narrow gauge locomotive called ZDM-5. It has been equipped with dual brake system.

• NDM-6: This locomotive was originally intended for Matheran Light Railway but due to some reason it was then allocated to Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Only 6 of these locomotives have been made and all are in service on Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

• NBM-1: This locomotives were used on Central Railways Gwalior narrow gauge route. This are the battery electric locomotives. Only three units were built in 1987.

Specifications

Name	Year	Manufacturer	Engine	Transmission	Wheels	Power(HP)	Speed(KM)	Weight(tonnes)	Starting TE (kg force)	Quantity	Serial No.
ZDM-1	1955	Arn. Jung	MWM TRHS 518S, 145/128hp	Twin Voith hydraulic	B+B	2x145	33	29	8790	5	543-547
ZDM-2	1964-65	Maschi-nenbau Kiel	Maybach V8 MD435	Voith hydraulic	B-B	700 (650 net)	50	32	10560	25	123-147
ZDM-3	1970-82, 2009-2020	CLW, Parel	Mak/CLW 6M 282 A(K)	Suri hydromechanical transmission	B-B	700	50 down / 32 up	35	10500	40	148-167/178-187/168-177 (ex-ZDM-4)
ZDM-4/4A	1975-77/1982-90	CLW	Mak/CLW 6M 282 A(K)	Voith hydraulic	1-B-B-1	700	50	39	7800	10/39	4: 168-177(later rebuilt as ZDM-3)/4A: 198-236
ZDM-5	1989+	CLW	KCL KTA-1150L	Voith hydraulic	B-B	450	50	23		41+	501+
NDM-1	1955	Arn. Jung	MWM TRHS 518S, 145/128hp	Twin Voith hydraulic	B+B	2x145	33/16	29	8790	7	500-506(500, 504-506 ex-ZDM-1)
NDM-5	1987-89	CLW	KCL KTA-1150L, 450hp	Voith hydraulic	B-B	450	50	22		11	801-811
NDM-6	1997	(SAN) Engg. and Loco Co.	Kirloskar-Cummins NTA 855L	Voith hydraulic	B	335	30	17.2		6	600-605
NBM-1	1987	BHEL		Battery electric	Bo-Bo	80				3	21951+

Units produced and in service

Name	Produced	In Service
ZDM-3	70	23
ZDM-4	39	24
ZDM-5	41	28
NDM-1	17	12
NDM-5	14	13
NDM-6	06	06
Total locomotives in service as of July 2020		106

See also

• Locomotives of India

References

Bibliography

• Hughes, Hugh (1996). Indian Locomotives: Part 4 – 1941–1990. Harrow, Middlesex: The Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9521655-1-1. OCLC 35135033.
• Indian narrow gauge diesel loco information