We represent many leading ISO/QS/TS quality certified Indian companies who are approved vendors/ suppliers to OEMs likes DLW (Indian Railways) and EMD for export of fully machined quality engine parts for ALCO, EMD, GE engines.

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"EDIT: According to the caption with this video, Alco production has ceased in India, at least partially due to smoke complaints and concerns. However, the railroads there are attempting to extend the lives of the Alcos already in service with improvements to cut down on the exhaust."

I have watched the videos on Youtube of the India Alco locomotives smoking. Part of their problem is how they throttle up these locomotive to maintain the schedule they are trying to maintain. They are running high speeds, which means high axle gearing and 18 car trains that are loaded with people. Try doing that with one GE locomotive on Amtrak and see if it smokes.

I was also told once by someone with knowledge of the India Railways, that the diesel fuel that they burn is not up to the standards that with use here in the USA.

So many people think that all Alco locomotive have to smoke, they do not. It comes down to how you maintain and operate the locomotives. Many train crew put on smoke shows, by advancing the throttle too fast and before the turbo has a chance to catch up.

I was at one railroad some years ago, that was running some Alco locomotives. One of the locomotives had slim all over it's carbody. I ask them why they did not replace the diesel engine injectors and was told they did not need to be. A few months later I was at their shop and they were pulling the injectors. The mechanic threw an injector down on the floor, which I picked up, so I could look at the openings in the tip. The holes in the tip were so big, that I could stick a number 2 pencil lead in the openings. This was in no way properly antimozing that diesel fuel.

Fuel systems need to be properly maintained and if not they are going to waste fuel.

I was at the Railroad Supply Convention in Indianapolis last fall and talked with the people from Globle Turbocharger that purchased the rights to the Alco turbochargers. They had a new impeller design to help the turbo at lower speed.

The heavily smoking ALCos causing a major pollution and environmental concern has brought enough criticism to the Railways. Though ALCO production for Indian Railways has already stopped and has completely moved to the Fuel efficient Electromotive Diesels which are less pollutant. The existing ALCos cannot not be scrapped all of a sudden and the Railways are trying hard to maintain them until they reach their codal life and phase them out in batches. The two main reasons for heavily smoking are either due to bad Turbo lag or fuel injector pumps as well as careless operating skills by the Loco Pilot.

Some major steps taken by the Railways to improve the performance of ALCO Diesels (Technical details) :

All Over aged Broad Gauge Diesel Mixed Traffic Engine (WDM2) locos have been withdrawn from mainline service.

Miller cycle based turbochargers and Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) Turbochargers have been developed for ALCo locomotives to achieve fuel efficiency.

Common Rail electronic Direct Injection (CReDI) system has been developed and are being fitted in Diesel Locomotive.

Retro-fitment of Micro-processor control system in diesel Locomotives have been executed to achieve fuel efficiency.

Auxiliary Power Unit has been introduced in Diesel locos for automatic shutting down of the diesel locomotive while standing idle.

Use of B-5 blended High Speed Diesel (HSD) with 5% Biodiesel in the Diesel Locomotives

Steel capped pistons: In the fuel efficient engine, peak firing pressure likely to exceed
1800 psi and thus steel cap pistons are required to be used. Use of steel cap pistons
will also result in lower lube oil consumption..

High efficiency Turbo Charger: Existing 720 turbo chargers being replaced by high
efficiency ABB VTC 304/ NAPIER NA 295 turbo chargers having capacity to develop
2.2kg/cm2 air pressure/ booster pressure.

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Train : 12726 Dharwad - KSR Bengaluru
SIDDANGANGA Intercity Express.
Locomotive : Eco-friendly WDG3A 14647 & Shakti 13637.
Location : Soldevnahalli, Karnataka.

. . .the trucks on the loco hunting side to side at the 1:54 plus mark of the video.