Y class diesel electric locomotives
MODEL: G6B
The Y class would end up as the 2nd most numerous diesel class on the VR and they became VR's standard shunting (switching) loco. They worked in every yard on the system and also filled an important role as power for branchline trains. The drivers controls were set up for long end running and the long end was designated as No. 1 end. The first 50 were equipped with 6 cylinder E.M.D. 567 engines but the last 25 had 6 cylinder E.M.D. 645 engines, the only time a 6 cylinder, E.M.D. 645 engine was used in locomotive service anywhere in the world! An interesting feature of the Y class was that the bogies came off scrapped swing door motors.

Their controls were specially designed for shunting, the loco brake was of a "self lapping" type which made for instantaneous brake action, perfect for shunting and the throttle was so wired that the loco moved the instant the throttle was moved away from idle, again, perfect for shunting.

About 4 Y's were always kept on the standard gauge for work in the Dynon yards but the rest of the fleet were flung to every corner of the system. For many years they were the power on Spencer St. to Werribee peak hour passenger services.

All of the Y's were built at Clyde's Granville N.S.W. plant
Until 1983 all of the Y's wore the VR blue and gold paint scheme, after this time most Y's were painted in several different schemes as outlined below.

Click on the color schemes for a photo.
vrb VR blue and gold
vlo V/Line orange and grey
wcb West Coast Railway blue
fv Freight Victoria green & gold

Y 114 at Dennington Dec. 1984

ABOVE: Y 112 at Sth Dynon 1978.

BELOW: Y 112 at Sth Dynon 1988.

Y 110 at Spencer Street 1987.

Y 136 in the V/Line scheme in service as the "Newport Workshops Pilot" 1987

The following roster is quite incomplete, I am working on filling in the gaps and would appreciate any help.

Road # Serial #
In service
 Withdrawn Service life Disposition Colour schemes Notes
1st order
Y 101 63-291
19/9/1963
 vrb
Y 102 63-292
19/9/1963
 to GNR vrb
Y 103 63-293
27/9/1963
 vrb
Y 104 63-294
27/9/1963
 vrb
Y 105 63-295
7/10/1963
 vrb
Y 106 63-296
7/10/1963
 vrb
Y 107 63-297
16/10/1963
 vrb
Y 108 63-298
16/10/1963
 vrb
Y 109 63-299
28/10/1963
 vrb
Y 110 63-300
28/10/1963
 vrb
Y 111 63-301
8/11/1963
 vrb
Y 112 63-302
8/11/1963
 vrb
Y 113 63-303
20/11/1963
 vrb
Y 114 63-304
20/11/1963
 vrb
Y 115 63-305
30/11/1963
 to FV vrb
Y 116 63-306
30/11/1963
 vrb
Y 117 63-307
12/12/1963
 vrb
Y 118 63-308
12/12/1963
 to FV vrb
Y 119 63-309
20/12/1963
 to FV vrb
Y 120 63-310
20/12/1963
 vrb
Y 121 64-311
8/1/1964
 to FV vrb
Y 122 64-312
8/1/1964
 to FV vrb
Y 123 64-313
18/1/1964
 vrb
Y 124 64-314
18/1/1964
 to FV vrb
Y 125 64-315
11/2/1964
 vrb
2nd order Serial # In service Withdrawn Service life Disposition Colour schemes Notes
Y 126 65-392
5/5/1965
 vrb
Y 127 65-393
5/5/1965
 to 707 Op's vrb
Y 128 65-394
24/5/1965
 vrb
Y 129 65-395
24/5/1965
 to vlp vrb
Y 130 65-396
24/5/1965
 vrb
Y 131 65-397
7/6/1965
 vrb
Y 132 65-398
7/6/1965
 vrb
Y 133 65-399
18/6/1965
 to SRHC vrb
Y 134 65-400
18/6/1965
 vrb
Y 135 65-401
30/6/1965
 to Sth Gippsland Tourist Rwy OR EDI????? vrb
Y 136 65-402
30/6/1965
 to EDI rail vrb
Y 137 65-403
12/7/1965
 to ARHS museum vrb
Y 138 65-404
12/7/1965
 vrb
Y 139 65-405
22/7/1965
 vrb
Y 140 65-406
22/7/1965
 scrapped? vrb
Y 141 65-407
2/8/1965
 vrb
Y 142 65-408
2/8/1965
 to FV vrb
Y 143 65-409
13/8/1965
 vrb
Y 144 65-410
13/8/1965
 vrb
Y 145 65-411
27/8/1965
 to GNR vrb - vlo 1st Y in vlo July 1983
Y 146 65-412
27/8/1965
 vrb
Y 147 65-413
17/9/1965
 to FV vrb
Y 148 65-414
17/9/1965
 to BHP vrb
Y 149 65-415
2/10/1965
 vrb
Y 150 65-416
2/10/1965
 vrb
3rd order Withdrawn Service life Disposition Colour schemes Notes
Y 151 67-511
22/12/1967
 to FV vrb
Y 152 67-572
22/12/1967
 to FV vrb doo
Y 153 67-573
17/1/1968
 vrb
Y 154 67-574
15/1/1968
 vrb
Y 155 68-575
2/2/1968
 vrb
Y 156 68-576
26/2/1968
 to vlp vrb
Y 157 68-577
29/2/1968
 to FV vrb - fa
Y 158 68-578
15/3/1968
 vrb
Y 159 68-579
15/3/1968
 to Central Highlands Rwy vrb
Y 160 68-580
5/4/1968
 vrb
Y 161 68-581
5/4/1968
 to vlp vrb
Y 162 68-582
29/4/1968
 vrb
Y 163 68-583
29/4/1968
 to vlp vrb
Y 164 68-584
21/5/1968
 to Steamrail vrb
Y 165 68-585
21/5/1968
 to FV vrb doo
Y 166 68-586
6/6/1968
 vrb
Y 167 68-587
6/6/1968
 vrb
Y 168 68-588
20/6/1968
 to GNR vrb - vlo
Y 169 68-589
20/6/1968
 to FV vrb
Y 170 68-590
16/7/1968
 vrb
Y 171 68-591
16/7/1968
 to FV vrb
Y 172 68-592
26/7/1968
 vrb
Y 173 68-593
26/7/1968
 vrb
Y 174 68-594
9/8/1968
 to FV vrb
Y 175 68-595
9/8/1968
 vrb

The first order of Y's (101 - 125) are distinguished by the presence of a battery box on the walkway next to the cab as shown. The fuel tank was built into the carbody just to the left of the cab. Compare it to the photo of a 3rd order Y 173 below

Y 173 at Sth Dynon circa 1980

Y 152 showing its modifications for one person operation. Sth Dynon, August 2003

Y 136 in EDI colours at Newport workshops, 2005

Photo courtesy Kent Smiley

Y 149 freshly painted at Sth Dynon, 1978

Y 170, photo date 1978

Y 151 at Geelong loco, 1978

2 year old, Y 157 at Murtoa, March 30 1970
Photo courtesy Tony Smith.

Y 130 at Bendigo, 1978

12 month old Y 175 at Woodend, Aug 24 1969
Photo courtesy Tony Smith

please email me with any corrections,comments or questions

page last modified4/21/08