- Value
- 4,397
Indian Railways recorded approximately 4,397 diesel locomotives in 2023–24.
The total consisted primarily of diesel-electric locomotives, together with a small number of diesel hydraulic or mechanical units.
Diesel locomotives played an enormous role in India's transition away from steam traction beginning in the twentieth century.
Famous Indian diesel classes include WDM-2, WDP-4, WDG-3A and WDG-4.
However, rapid route electrification has reduced dependence on diesel locomotives for normal mainline operations, with electric traction increasingly taking over both passenger and freight services.