Indian locomotive class WDS-6

The Indian locomotive class WDS-6 is a diesel-electric shunting locomotive used by Indian Railways for shunting and departmental duties. The name stands for broad gauge, diesel, shunting and sixth generation. It was designed in 1975 as a powerful shunter able to haul rakes of 20 to 24 coaches, which the earlier WDS-4 class was severely underpowered for. It combines the YDM-4 powerpack, a 6-cylinder, 4-stroke, inline, turbo-supercharged ALCO engine, with a WDM-2 body frame. Banaras Locomotive Works at Varanasi first built the class alone, and the Parel Workshop later built more from kits the works supplied. Many units were sold to private industry and public sector undertakings, and 375 were in use as of April 2022. The class is recognised by its low short hoods and flat-ended cabs on the long-hood end.