A total of 53 WCAM-1 were built at CLW between 1973 and 1979, which made them the most numerous class of mainline dual-power AC-DC electric locomotive.

The WCAM-1 was one of the most successful locomotives of Indian Railways, having served both passenger and freight trains for over 40 years between 1973 and 2015.

These were 1st class of Wide Gauge's (W) Bi-current charged (CA - runs both under AC and DC) and Mixed load series (M - hauls both passenger and freight trains).

These were the first electric locomotives to enter Western Railway's Mumbai division; prior to that steam and diesel locomotives used to haul trains in Western Railway's Mumbai division.

Their top speed under DC was the lowest, as compared to other Bi-current charged locomotives.

The WCAM-1 did not use a variable ratio auto-transformer in AC mode like the others; it used a fixed-ratio transformer and rectifier bank to convert the OHE supply to 1500 V DC.

The design of the transformers and notches made this a hard machine to operate, with the fusible links tending to blow often.

Unlike the WCAM-2 and WCAM-3 locos, no reconfiguration has been carried out to force the use of all-parallel mode with AC.

These locomotives could run in parallel combination but it was discouraged due to power problems under DC.

Voltage control was done by Tap changer operation under AC and Resistance notching under DC.

[5][6] All 53 WCAM-1s were based at Valsad Electric Loco Shed in Gujarat, and were withdrawn from service after the conversion of entire Mumbai region into AC traction.

Source:[7] Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive with gear ratio 16:61 under AC for 4 wheeler wagons (in tonnes) :- Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive with a gear ratio of 16:61 under AC for BOX wagons (in tonnes):- Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive with gear ratio 16:61 under AC for ICF coaches (in tonnes):- Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive with a gear ratio of 16:61 under AC for BOXN wagons (in tonnes):- Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive with gear ratio 16:61 under DC for 4 wheeler wagons (in tonnes):- Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive fitted with TAO659A1 with a gear ratio of 16:61 under DC for BOX wagons (in tonnes):- Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive with gear ratio 16:61 under DC for ICF coaches (in tonnes):- Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive fitted with TAO659 with a gear ratio of 16:61 under DC for BOX wagons (in tonnes):- Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive with a gear ratio of 21:58 under AC for ICF coaches (in tonnes):- Following is the capacity of WCAM-1 locomotive with gear ratio 21:58 under DC for ICF coaches (in tonnes):-