An Overhauled Locomotive was commissioned at Traffic & Raw Material (T&RM) Department of SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) on 4th March, 2025. Mr. Biswaranjan Palai, ED (Works) inaugurated the Periodically Overhauled Locomotive (POH) Number 1423 in a programme organised in the department to mark the commissioning. Mr. S S Roychoudhury, CGM (Maintenance), Mr. A C Sarkar, CGM (Services), Mr. R K Muduli, CGM (Electrical), Mr. K Sunyani, CGM (Traffic), Sectional Heads and other officers as well as employees of the T&RM Department also attended the function.
Mr. Palai inspected the refurbished locomotive and personally operated it to mark its commissioning. He encouraged the team to maximize its utility to boost the plant’s performance and emphasized the importance of maintaining overall safety within the department.
Notably, the Periodic Overhauling of Loco no. 1423 was done at Central Workshop Golden Rock, Trichurapalli, Indian Railways Workshop. Loco no. 1423 was first commissioned in 2009 and was procured from Messrs Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi, Indian Railways. This locomotive was sent for overhauling on 4th November, 2024 and received after Periodic Overhauling at RSP on 20th March 2025.
Major and important repair works included complete dismantling of the locomotive, engine block, cylinder heads, crank-shaft repair/replacement, compressor work, alternator with rectifier work, all control panels, repair of under-carriage, traction motors, wheel turning or replacement based on condition, load testing, complete body painting and various other jobs. After POH, the condition of the locomotive is as good as a new loco, giving a renewed life of another 8 to 9 years and increases codal life. This helps further in trouble free operations of loco in and outside plant with increased loco availability. Notably, Golden rock, Trichy has been designated by Indian Railways as one of the railway workshops to carry out IOH, POH among other maintenance schedules.
The Overhauling of the Locomotive has improved its reliability, availability and horse power which will result in smooth internal and external movement of rolling stock. The locomotive will be used for transportation of Raw Materials, finished and semi-finished products through captive as well as Railway Wagons. RSP has a fleet of 41 locomotives at present. On an average 03 locomotives are sent for POH yearly.
