Requirement for hauling heavy loads on steep gradients and in its quest necessitating technology up-gradation, the state of art micro processor controlled locos from M/s. GM/USA (WDG4/WDP4) were introduced on Indian Railways. Under the concept of transfer of technology to Indian Railways, Diesel Loco manufacturing unit at DLW/BSB became the first unit to undertake the production of this type of locomotives.
This shed has been constructed by imbibing various features of diesel sheds across the globe. It was the first shed on Indian Railways where these locos were based and their maintenance undertaken.
Staff and supervisors of the shed have innate thirst for work and a flair for innovation. They, with their relentless efforts are maintaining these high tech locomotives to world standards with high level of availability, reliability and productivity. Man power yardstick for this loco is 3.7 which is the lowest on Indian railways for any type of locomotives.
·Salient features of the shed are:
ØTotal area of the shed : 75 acres (303550 sqmtrs.)
ØTotal covered area of the shed : 14500 sq meter
ØTotal plinth area of the administrative building : 1700 sq meter
ØTotal Covered area of Training School : 2633.7 Sq meter
ØTotal Covered area of Training Hostel : 1609.5 Sq meter
ØNo. of stocked item : 775
ØTotal Staff Strength : 706
(IncludingOtherthanR&MStaff).
ØCurrent Shed Holding : 1239 Locos+2WDS6+1Railbus
·Unique features of the shed.
This Diesel shed is a benchmark shed in terms of maintenance friendly facilities and elegant administrative building. Layout of the shed has been finalized by amalgamating the features of major North American Diesel Sheds at Alliance, North Platte, Kansas City, Corwith and Clyde Diesel Shed in Australia. Construction of shed was completed in June ’99 and the Administrative building was completed in Aug’2002.
ØState of the art administrative building.
ØPit less concept of light repair bays with sunken sub level for ease of working.
ØDrop pit table facility for quick changing of wheels and Traction Motors.
ØWash house with cat walks facility.
ØWare house annexed to shed at deck level with storage racks and stacker.
ØDeck level access to maintenance area.
·Shed holding
The shed which had a modest beginning with 12 imported locos in 1999 has grown in strength mainly after its manufacturing in DLW and the present loco holding is 195 as detailed below:
·Loco holding
| LOCO TYPE | WDG4 | WDP4 | WDP4B | WDG4D | WDP4D | WDS6 | Total Holding |
| Holding | 151 | 9 | 21 | 40 | 18 | 2 | 241 |
.·Training Facilities
Diesel loco Shed, Hubballi being a nodal shed for homing of these unique locomotives is having facilities for training of running staff as well as maintenance staff.
·MDDTIHubballi(Multi–DisciplinaryDivisionalTrainingInstitute)DieselShed HubballiTrainingCentre:
ØInitially for acquiring the knowledge and skill on the maintenance ofGMlocomotives,
20 Staff and Supervisors from Operating and Maintenance side weretrained at the trainingfacilityinGeneralMotors,USA.
ØTo facilitateindigenoustrainingon the maintenanceand operationof GMlocomotives,a unique training facility has beencreatedwhich consists of an elegant Training School equipped with Loco component display rooms, Auditorium, Library, Seminar room and facultyrooms,inmotion.
ØGM Loco Simulator and excellent training hostel to provide accommodation to trainees.MDDTIHubballi(DTC)was commissionedon 07-Nov-2005.However,training was beingimpartedfrom2003. As on 30-June-2021,5177 Locopilots,4477, Asst.Loco pilots,270 Pro Asst.Loco Pilots and 821 Loco Inspectorshavebeenimpartedtraining at this TrainingCentreapartfrommaintenancetechniciansand supervisors.
FromApril2021toJune–2021atotalof44 runningstaffsi.e, LocoInspectors–Nil, Loco
Pilot-44,AsstLocoPilot-Nil,Pro ALP-Nilweretrained.
ØThe refresher course for staff and supervisor was started from 02-Mar-2020. As on 30-June-2021, 46 Supervisors and 262 staffs have been trained. A total of 308 supervisors& Staffweretrainedand alsofromothersDivisions92 (Supervisors,Staff& pre promotionaltraining)wheretrained.
OnlinerefreshercoursefromApril2021to June–2021,atotalof 75 Supervisorsand Staff i.e., 03 Supervisorsand 72 Staff weretrained
ØMaintenance staff were trained namely (Mech Supervisor – 1244, Technician-2601, Helper-537, Ch.OS-1, Junior Clerk – 4, Act Apprentice-56, Internship Training-
362) (Elect-Supervisor-546, Technician-1377, Helper-247)from2006.
FromApril2021toJune–2021atotal268 weretrained,i.e., Supervisor–73, Technician–
80, Internship Training-109and PPTfor supervisorand technicianofHHPlocoshed/UBL-
06.
ØInthe Year2020-2021atotalof 31570traineedayshas beencompleted.
FromApr -2021to June–2021atotalof 3732traineedayshas beencompletedincluding simulator.
ØIn 2020-2022,5284Onlinetraineedayshavebeenachieved.,4799traineedays(2020-21)
and 485 traineedays(2021-22uptoJune)
.
·Simulator
ØGM Loco Simulator was commissioned during Oct 2005 for imparting more meaningfultrainingto Loco Pilotsfor improvingtheirLoco /trainhandlingskillsunder difficultworkingsituations. With the increase in length and tonnageof the trains, the severity ofthe slackactionand the resultantshockon couplersbecomeveryhigh.Henceit becomesverymuchnecessarythat LocoPilotsshouldacquiremoreand moreskillsin controlling in-train forcescausedby slackactionand knowthe trainbehavioron different trackprofiles.
ØSimulator helps in measuring Loco Pilots’ performance and identifying the draw backsin their train handling methodsand addressing themin asystematic way.This helps LocoPilotsto improvetheirconfidencein propertrainhandlingand thereby asafe and efficientTrainoperationisachieved.
ØFrom Nov-2005,a totalof 9459 runningstaff,i.e. 590 Loco Inspectors,5047 Loco
Pilots&3822 AssistantLocoPilotshavebeentrainedtill 30-June-2021.
FromApril2021to June2021a totalof 90 runningstaffi.e, , LocoInspector-Nil, Loco
Pilots-23 &Asst.LocoPilots-67 havebeentrained.
