Chennai Loco Shed Excels in Railway Contest

Chennai, May 27 (PTI) - The Royapuram Electric Loco Shed in Chennai has secured the first prize in a "Beauty Contest" for electric locomotives, a contest held at the Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), as announced by the Southern Railway. The CAB Upgradation Competition, colloquially referred to as the "Beauty Contest" for electric locomotives under the Indian Railways, was orchestrated by the Railway Board during the 42nd Electric Loco Maintenance Study Group (MSG) meeting at BLW, Varanasi, on May 23 and 24. The event witnessed participation from 16 Zonal Railways alongside three production units vying for top honors in this coveted competition, according to a release from the Southern Railway. The Electric Loco Shed in Royapuram shared the top spot with the Electric Loco Shed at Lallaguda in South Central Railway. This award was handed over by V P Singh, Additional Member (Traction) of the Railway Board. The competition aims to inspire and recognize the outstanding maintenance and aesthetic presentation of electric locomotives by Indian Railways. Entrants are evaluated across various criteria including overall appearance, cleanliness, paintwork, and originality. Key judgments are based on unique modifications, overall aesthetic appeal, and adherence to high maintenance standards. The winning locomotives often enjoy the spotlight at exhibitions and are featured in publications. A standout feature of Loco No 30333 (WAP-7) from the Electric Loco Shed in Royapuram includes a redesigned Driver Desk to improve ergonomic access, a single Lookout Glass for enhanced visibility, improved crew comfort via a ventilated driver seat, the installation of a waterless urinal for crew convenience, a Driver Fatigue Monitoring System for heightened safety, and a Digital Medical Kit equipped with BP and SPO2 (Oxygen) monitoring for the well-being of crew members.