The WDS-5 was a more powerful shunter built in parallel to the smaller WDS-4. The designation stood for broad gauge (W), Diesel (D) and Shunting (S). With six axles and an output of around 1,000 hp, it was powerful enough to shunt trains of 20 to 24 coaches. In 1967, 21 were assembled at Varanasi from kits supplied by ALCO. Meanwhile, most were withdrawn by Indian Railways and some were sold to private operators.