Narrow-gauge locomotives of India

This is a list of narrow-gauge locomotives that have been or are being operated by Indian Railways. All railways except the heritage ones are closed or under conversion/are converted to the nation-wide standard 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) gauge, under Project Unigauge. As of 2024, narrow-gauge locomotives are only operating on heritage routes.

General

Diesel locomotive classes

• ZDM-1: This locomotive was built by Arnold Jung Lokomotivfabrik. These were called the class DZ on NR (Kalka–Shimla Railway). This was a narrow-gauge locomotive with 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) wide gauge. It was identical to NDM-1 class with 2 ft (610 mm). Only four of these locos were regauged to 2 ft (610 mm) gauge and converted to NDM-1 units. The ZDM-3 locos were available in (1972–1982). The fifth loco NR #704, was used at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, where it was used to haul a short train with the name Pragati Express with aluminium-bodied coaches on a 1.5 km figure-8 track at an exhibition centre specially during IITF. Loco numbers were not written on the body of the loco.

• ZDM-2: This was a narrow-gauge locomotive with 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) wide gauge. These locomotives were mainly used in Nainpur–Gondia section narrow-gauge route. All these locomotives are retired/withdrawn from service.

• ZDM-3: This is a narrow-gauge locomotive with 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) wide gauge of Indian Railways. These locomotives can be found on the routes of Kalka–Shimla route and Kangra Valley route.

• ZDM-4: These locomotives were built by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works and they were the modified version of ZDM-3 class with an extra axle to reduce axle load (1-B-B-1 bogies). But this extra axle caused wheel slip. These locomotives can be found on routes like Kangra Valley and were found earlier on the Nagpur narrow-gauge routes and Raipur narrow-gauge routes. This is a narrow-gauge locomotive with 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) wide gauge.
• ZDM-4A: This was a variant of the ZDM-4 loco. This loco was used in Barsi Light Railway. These 1-B-B-1 locos had a 700 horsepower power-pack. In 1996 one of these was sent to Nepal Janakpur–Jaynagar railway line.

• ZDM-5: This locomotive was one of the powerful narrow-gauge locomotives of the world. These locomotives were operated on routes like Pratapnagar narrow-gauge and Dhaulpur narrow-gauge routes. Four locos of this class were sent to work on Janakpur–Jaynagar railway in Nepal in 1994. All the locomotives are retired/withdrawn from service. This was a narrow-gauge locomotive with 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) wide gauge.

• NDM-1: This is a articulated locomotive with two prime movers. But in case of uphill travel it uses both its 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. This is a narrow-gauge locomotive with 2 ft (610 mm) wide gauge. When Kalka–Shimla route was regauged ZDM-3 was obtained for that route.

• NDM-5: These locomotives were used on Central Railways Gwalior narrow-gauge route. These locomotives were based on another narrow-gauge locomotive called ZDM-5. It had been equipped with dual brake system. All the locomotives are retired/withdrawn from service. This was a narrow-gauge locomotive with 2 ft (610 mm) wide gauge.

• NDM-6: This locomotive was originally intended for Matheran Hill Railway but for some reason it was then allocated to Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Only six of these locomotives have been made and all are in service on Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. This is a narrow-gauge locomotive with 2 ft (610 mm) gauge.

• NBM-1: This locomotives were used on Central Railways Gwalior narrow-gauge route. These were the battery electric locomotives which are similar to YAM-1 locomotives. Only three units were built in 1987. All the locomotives are retired/withdrawn from service. This was a narrow-gauge locomotive with 2 ft (610 mm) wide gauge.

Specifications

Name	Year	Manufacturer	Engine	Transmission	Wheels	Power(HP)	Speed(KM)	Weight(tonnes)	Starting TE (kg force)	Quantity	Serial No.
ZDM-1	1955	Arnold Jung	MWM TRHS 518S, 145/128hp	Twin Voith hydraulic	B B	2×145	33	29	8790	5	543–547
ZDM-2	1964–1965	Maschinenbau Kiel	Maybach V8 MD435	Voith hydraulic	B-B	700 (650 net)	50	32	10560	25	123–147
ZDM-3	1970–1982, 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	1975–1977/1982–1990	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	Arnold Jung	MWM TRHS 518S, 145/128hp	Twin Voith hydraulic	B B	2×145	33/16	29	8790	7	500–506(500, 504–506 ex-ZDM-1)
NDM-5	1987–1989	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 October 2021		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.