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PATIALA LOCOMOTIVE WORKS
The Organization Profile
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Introduction and historical backdrop…
Administrative Building, PLW Diesel locomotives were introduced in Indian Railways in late 1950s, when first lot of diesel locomotives was imported from M/s. ALCo, USA. With the setting up of Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW) at Varanasi in the year 1961, the additions to diesel locomotive fleet started at a regular pace. In the earlier years of diesel operation, a limited demand of spares was being met either by imports or by manufacturing in DLW, Varanasi, but the demand increased with the increasing size and age of the LOCO fleet. To meet the ever-growing demand of high precision components required for maintenance of diesel loco fleet, a decision was taken in the year 1979 to set up a dedicated Diesel Component Works at Patiala. The Foundation Stone of Diesel Component Works (DCW), Patiala was laid on October 24, 1981 and production started in 1986. Besides manufacturing diesel engine components, DCW also started rehabilitation of Traction Machines (Traction Motors and Traction Alternators), Engine Blocks (Crank-case) and Power Packs, giving them a new lease of life.
A bird’s eye view of PLW Workshop Production Shops were also set up for chrome plating of cylinder liners and manufacturing of carbon brushes of various types for traction and auxiliary machines. A dedicated Bogie Shop was set up for manufacturing of Motorized Truck Assemblies (Bogies) and Motorized Wheel Sets for supply as unit exchange spares to diesel loco maintenance sheds. Later, a decision was taken to carry out Mid-life Rebuilding (MLR) of diesel locomotives which has rendered a service life of 16-18 years. Accordingly, Phase-II project of DCW was sanctioned and the MLR work started in 1989. During MLR, retro-upgrades of technology were also applied to increase the horse power of locomotives from 2600HP to 3100HP, improve their fuel efficiency and also reduce their maintenance periodicity. With this, the unit was rechristened from DCW to Diesel Loco Modernization Works (DMW) in July, 2003 to signify the modernization of diesel locomotives being done here. Since inception, 2296 ALCo diesel locos have been rehabilitated/modernized by DMW. DMW also started manufacturing new WDM3D 3300HP ALCo Locomotives in 2010-11 but the activity was discontinued after 2015-16. Till then 227 new WDM3D locomotives were manufactured by DMW. To cater to the shunting requirements, Multi-Genset Locos were conceived which were having fuel saving of 15-20%. First such loco was turned out in Mar’13 and three such locos were manufactured thereafter.
DMW acted as a nodal agency to provide maintenance support for the entire fleet of ALCo design diesel locomotives owned by Indian Railways. It included bulk procurement and distribution of critical maintenance spares to all Zonal Railways, entering into AMCs and RCs for critical systems, planning and execution of retro-upgrades on locomotives sanctioned under Rolling Stock Program of Indian Railways. From the last few years (from 2017-18), Indian Railways has embarked on the path of complete electrification of all its routes, at an accelerated pace. As a result, DMW had to realign itself with the changing requirements of nation. Leveraging its inherent strength of lean and agile working, it quickly transformed itself into a new electric locomotive manufacturing unit. The first 3-Phase IGBT based 6000HP WAP7 Electric Loco was turned out from DMW in Feb’18 and its series production was started from 2018-19 onwards.
Adding another feather to its cap, DMW started manufacturing much needed Tower Cars for the massive electrification projects being under taken by Indian Railways. The first 8-Wheeler Diesel Electric Tower Car (DETC) was manufactured in Dec’2018 and its series production was started from 2019-20. As the pandemic forced Railways to give priority to freight traffic, DMW introduced manufacturing of electric freight locos for the first time and the first WAG9HC locomotive was turned out in March 2021. DMW also took up a project to convert diesel locomotives to a 10000 HP twin electric loco, and the prototype WAG10 loco was turned out from DMW in March’21. Again, due to these major changes in its product profile, it has been renamed as Patiala Locomotive Works (PLW) on 28/01/2022, giving it a full-fledged status of a Production Unit of Indian Railways.
Not sitting on these laurels, PLW has transformed its existing infrastructure to cater to changing requirements of Indian Railways. The facilities, which were earlier dedicated to diesel locomotives, have been converted for providing maintenance support to electric loco sheds. In this direction, it started overhauling and rehabilitation of traction motors used on Hitachi as well as new generation 3-Phase electric locomotives. To fully utilize the existing infra-structure, PLW started producing new 3-Phase 6FRA6068 Traction Motors in-house for meeting its own needs of new loco manufacturing. The Bogie Shop of PLW, which is unique of its kind, has catapulted itself to manufacturing new Motorized Bogies and Motorized Wheel Sets for electric locos for supply to Zonal Railways. It has now developed capabilities to manufacture all kinds of bogies for diesel as well as electric locos. With its inherent strengths, PLW is all geared up to achieve new heights and serve the nation to the best of its capabilities.
IMPORTANT MILESTONES
INFRASTRUCTURE AND RESOURCES Land & Buildings
Staff Quarters
Township is self-sufficient in all basic amenities such as Hospital, School, Shopping Centre, Bank, Post Office, Recreational and Sports facilities. Electrical Services
Water Supplies
Railway Hospital
WORKSHOPS AND MANPOWER RESOURCES Manufacturing & Support Shops
Assembly and Testing Shops
Manpower Resources
QUALITY AND ENVIRONMENT Certifications and Accreditations
Awards, Ratings and Recognitions
PLW team with Minister of Railways receiving Best PU Shield
PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE
PLW PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE FOR FY 2024-2025
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT Technical Training Centre A Technical Training Centre is functioning at PLW, Supervisors and Technicians undergo Initial and Refresher Training Courses at Technical Training Centre, PLW. Besides this, courses on Industrial Safety, Fire Fighting and First Aid are also conducted regularly. In addition, a ‘Knowledge Centre for CNC Machines’ was set up in 2017, where specialized courses for Programming, Operations and Maintenance of CNC Machines are regularly conducted, not only for PLW staff but also for maintenance staff of Zonal Railways.
SPORTS AND WELFARE PLW has a rich sporting culture and is actively associated with the promotion of sports among its employees and their wards. PLW Sports Association is headed by Patron/Principal Chief Administrative Officer and supported by President, HGS& Jt. Secretaries of PLWSA. PLW has a lush green Stadium that boasts of having excellent facilities for Cricket, Kabaddi, Volleyball and Athletics. Besides the green and clean Stadium, the Golf course is another feather in our cap. A dedicated red sand walking path at PLW Stadium has also been made for promoting Morning & Evening walks by employees. PLW has a most advanced and well-equipped modern gymnasium having all physical fitness facilities for Cardiac and Muscular Fitness for our Sportspersons and employees. A new Boxing Hall having two Boxing Rings facilities is constructed and operationalized in PLW Stadium.Many out-door gyms are also installed at PLW Colony I & II. A Synthetic Lawn-Tennis Court, two wooden badminton courts & Squash court is also available in PLW premises. Sports Hostels with accommodation facilities for 60 persons are also available in PLW. A new Sports Hostel with capacity to accommodate 35 persons is also under construction and same may be completed shortly. Achievements: PLW Players have performed exceptionally well, especially in Athletics. Achievements of PLW Sports persons during 01/04/2024 to 31/03/2025
(Ms.Kiran qualified for Olympics Games 2024 with time 50.92 sec in 400 mtr)
Apart from the above, following Inter Department Tournaments, AIR coaching camps & AIR championships and development of sports infra. has also been successfully organised at PLW/Patiala:-
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