Indian locomotive class WDM-7

The WDM-7 is a diesel-electric locomotive class of Indian Railways manufactured by Banaras Locomotive Works at Varanasi. The name stands for broad gauge, diesel and mixed traffic engine. Fifteen were built between 1987 and 1989, numbered 11001 to 11015, as a lower powered and lighter version of the original Alco design for small local and passenger services, much as the WDM-6 had been. They use a 12-cylinder Alco 251B power pack giving about 2,000 horsepower against the WDM-2 at 2,600, have a maximum speed of 105 km/h, and are recognisable by a short hood without grilles. The sheds first refused them, and they ended up at Ernakulam before the Southern Railway moved them to Tondiarpet, where they handled shunting at Chennai Central and light passenger work. Retirement began in March 2025, and by November 2025 a single unit remained in service.