# Victorian Railways Y class (diesel)

The Y class are a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville for the Victorian Railways between 1963 and 1968.

## History

In 1963, the first of 25 general purpose diesel-electric locomotives was delivered by Clyde Engineering. As a cost saving measure, they were built with bogies and motors retrieved from scrapped Swing Door electric suburban train sets; the re-use of these components reduced the unit cost of the Y class locomotive from around £52,000 ($104,000) to £40,000 ($80,000). Two further orders saw the class total 75 by 1968.
Although built to dieselise Victoria's shunting operations and replace steam locomotives on branch line services, they were also used on mainline goods and passenger services, including between Spencer Street and Werribee.
After closure of branch lines across the state and the end of short pick-up goods trains, use of the class dropped.
In the 1980s, it is thought that four Y Class locomotives were on standard gauge, typically Nos 101–104.
Withdrawals commenced from 1985 and large-scale scrappings commenced during 1991 and 1992.
After the mass-withdrawals of the Y fleet up to 1992, engines 101, 102, 104, 150 and 151 were on standard gauge, as 103 had been withdrawn in the late 1980s. Y101 followed in the early '90s after suffering a collision, but it was not directly replaced.
From 1995, under the newly formed V/Line Freight division, engines Y115, Y151, Y152 and Y169 were running trains on standard gauge, and locomotives Y124 and Y142 were confined to shunting at South Dynon. Within a few years Y150 had replaced Y115 on standard gauge, with the latter engine shifting to Ballarat as a yard pilot. Around the same time, Y169 replaced Y102, and Y152 replaced Y104. These two engines were stored at Newport workshops, then transferred to South Dynon's "rotten row" where they sat for about a decade.
Only two engines—Y152 and Y165—were repainted into the V/Line Freight scheme, which was essentially the same as previous with a new decal and a lighter grey.
The 1999 sale of V/Line Freight to Freight Victoria included engines 110, 113, 115, 118–119, 121–122, 138, 150–152, 157, 165, 169, 171 and 174. Some of these were upgraded by 2002 using traction motors and gear sets cascaded from the Freight Australia A and X Class locomotive upgrades, permitting operation at 80 km/h. This required replacing the original plain whitemetal axle boxes; in the short term they were modified but eventually they were all replaced with custom units, obviating the need for fortnightly lubrication of the bearings. Air conditioning was also fitted.
On the 17/2/2013 a mass move of Y class occurred to Newport to be distributed to various heritage operators, locomotives on the train consisted of Y127/VAN/Y102/Y143/Y104/Y108/Y125
Today, four are in service with V/Line as carriage yard shunters and fitted with low speed controls, with others owned by freight operator Pacific National. Seventeen units are officially preserved, though only a handful of those are operational.

## Status table

| Key: | In Service | Stored | Preserved | Unknown | Scrapped |
| Number | Entered Service | Status | Livery | Name | Owners | Notes |
| Y101 (1st order) | Tuesday, 17 September 1963 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y102 | Tuesday, 17 September 1963 | Preserved - Operational | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), SRHC (2015) | |
| Y103 | Wednesday, 25 September 1963 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y104 | Wednesday, 25 September 1963 | Stored | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), SRHC (2015) | |
| Y105 | Friday, 4 October 1963 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y106 | Friday, 4 October 1963 | Scrapped – 1991 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y107 | Tuesday, 15 October 1963 | Scrapped – 1991 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y108 | Tuesday, 15 October 1963 | Stored | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), 707 Operations (2015) | |
| Y109 (as Y145) | Friday, 25 October 1963 | Preserved | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), 707 Operations (1996), El Zorro (2005), Yarra Valley Tourist Railway (2014) | Renumbered Y145 by EL Zorro, Preserved |
| Y110 | Friday, 25 October 1963 | Scrapped – 2011 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004) | |
| Y111 | Wednesday, 6 November 1963 | Scrapped – 1991 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | As per all VR locos that ever carried the number "111" was known as "Lord Nelson" by Drivers and Fitters (1 x eye; 1 x arm; 1 x bottom). Had A7-EL Automatic Brake handle in cab (instead of No.4; Independent was a Westinghouse "W" type self lapping brake as per other Y class) but did NOT have full A7EL brake equipment. |
| Y112 | Wednesday, 6 November 1963 | Scrapped – 1992 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y113 | Tuesday, 19 November 1963 | Scrapped – 2011 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004) | |
| Y114 | Tuesday, 19 November 1963 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y115 | Thursday, 28 November 1963 | In Service | Green and Grey - Regional Connect | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015) | |
| Y116 | Thursday, 28 November 1963 | Scrapped – 1992 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y117 | Tuesday, 10 December 1963 | Scrapped – 1991 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y118 | Tuesday, 10 December 1963 | Scrapped – 2015 | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004) | |
| Y119 | Thursday, 19 December 1963 | Stored | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015) | Used as a shunter at SRHC. |
| Y120 | Thursday, 19 December 1963 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y121 | Tuesday, 7 January 1964 | Scrapped – 2011 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004) | |
| Y122 | Tuesday, 7 January 1964 | Scrapped – 2015 | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004) | |
| Y123 | Friday, 17 January 1964 | Scrapped – 1991 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | FIRST Diesel-Electric Commissioners' Locomotive. Only geared as standard for 40 M.P.H. / 65 km/h. Interior of cab painted non-standard plain white for Commissioners' Train use. Replaced steam locomotive D3 639 (really D3 658) until arrival of 60 M.P.H. geared Y 175 in August 1968. Commissioners' Driver at change-over from steam to diesel was Tommy Donnelly. |
| Y124 | Friday, 17 January 1964 | Stored | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), (ERH ???) | Leased To SSR |
| Y125 | Monday, 10 February 1964 | Stored | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), DERMPAV (2015) | |
| Y126 (2nd order) | Tuesday, 4 May 1965 | Scrapped – 1992 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y127 | Tuesday, 4 May 1965 | Preserved – Operational | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), 707 Operations (????) | Repainted into V/Line orange & grey 2021 |
| Y128 | Saturday, 22 May 1965 | Scrapped – 1988 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y129 | Saturday, 22 May 1965 | In Service | VLP Mk3 | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), V/Line Passenger (1995) | PTV livery. Southern Cross and Geelong Yard pilot |
| Y130 | Saturday, 22 May 1965 | Scrapped – 2011 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y131 | Friday, 4 June 1965 | Scrapped – 1992 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y132 | Friday, 4 June 1965 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y133 | Thursday, 17 June 1965 | Preserved – Operational | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), VicTrack Heritage (????). | Allocated to the Victorian Goldfields Railway |
| Y134 | Thursday, 17 June 1965 | Stored | DownerEDi Rail White and Blue | Yoda (unofficial) | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), Progress-Rail Cardiff | Was EDi / Downer pilot at Cardiff. Now Progress Rail pilot at Cardiff, not used, in storage. |
| Y135 | Sunday, 27 June 1965 | Stored | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), South Gippsland Railway (????), Yarra Valley Railway (2016) | |
| Y136 | Sunday, 27 June 1965 | In Service | Blue With Yellow Stickers | James W Ryan (preserved) | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), EDI-Rail (????) | Newport Workshops pilot |
| Y137 | Saturday, 10 July 1965 | Preserved – Static | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), VicTrack Heritage (????) | Allocated to Newport Railway Museum |
| Y138 | Saturday, 10 July 1965 | Scrapped – 2011 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004) | |
| Y139 | Wednesday, 21 July 1965 | Scrapped – 1992 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y140 | Wednesday, 21 July 1965 | Scrapped – 1996 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y141 | Saturday, 31 July 1965 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y142 | Saturday, 31 July 1965 | In Service | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), ERH (201?) | Leased to the VGR IN 2019. Leased To SSR |
| Y143 | Thursday, 12 August 1965 | Stored | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), 707 Operations (2015) | |
| Y144 | Thursday, 12 August 1965 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y145 | Thursday, 26 August 1965 | Scrapped – 2014 | El Zorro | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983); Great Northern Rail Services (1994 – frame only), El Zorro (2003) | Original Y145 Scrapped ex Great Northern, Y145 ex Y109, Ex Y109 preserved Yarra Valley Tourist Railway |
| Y146 | Thursday, 26 August 1965 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y147 | Thursday, 16 September 1965 | In Service | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), ERH (201?) | Leased to the VGR IN 2019. Leased To SSR |
| Y148 | Thursday, 16 September 1965 | In Service | Fully Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), BlueScope Steel (????) | Long Island pilot |
| Y149 | Saturday, 2 October 1965 | Scrapped – 1996 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y150 | Saturday, 2 October 1965 | Scrapped – 2011 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004) | |
| Y151 (3rd order) | Thursday, 21 December 1967 | In Service | Green and Grey - Regional Connect | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015) | |
| Y152 | Thursday, 21 December 1967 | Stored | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), VicTrack Heritage (2009) | Stored Seymour. |
| Y153 | Saturday, 13 January 1968 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y154 | Saturday, 13 January 1968 | Scrapped – 1992 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y155 | Wednesday, 31 January 1968 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y156 | Friday, 23 February 1968 | In Service | VLP Mk3 | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), V/Line Passenger (1995) | PTV livery. Southern Cross and Geelong yard pilot |
| Y157 | Wednesday, 28 February 1968 | In Service | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), ERH (201?) | Used as a shunter at SSR Bendigo Workshops. Leased to the VGR IN 2019. |
| Y158 | Thursday, 14 March 1968 | Scrapped – 1992 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y159 | Thursday, 14 March 1968 | Preserved – Operational | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), Daylesford Spa Country Railway (????) | |
| Y160 | Wednesday, 3 April 1968 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y161 | Wednesday, 3 April 1968 | In Service | VLP Mk3 | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), V/Line Passenger (1995) | PTV Livery. based at Southern Cross or Geelong Yards as yard pilot |
| Y162 | Saturday, 27 April 1968 | Scrapped – 1988 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y163 | Saturday, 27 April 1968 | In service | VLP Mk3 | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), V/Line Passenger (1995) | PTV Livery. Southern Cross and Geelong Yard Pilot |
| Y164 | Saturday, 18 May 1968 | Preserved – Operational | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), VicTrack Heritage (1991) | Allocated to Steamrail Victoria. Currently Newport Workshops West Block pilot. |
| Y165 | Saturday, 18 May 1968 | Scrapped (Jan 2020) | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004–2020) | |
| Y166 | Wednesday, 5 June 1968 | Scrapped – 1991 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y167 | Wednesday, 5 June 1968 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y168 | Tuesday, 18 June 1968 | Stored | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), DERMPAV (????) | |
| Y169 | Tuesday, 18 June 1968 | Stored | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015) | |
| Y170 | Saturday, 13 July 1968 | Scrapped – 1992 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y171 | Saturday, 13 July 1968 | Stored | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015) | |
| Y172 | Thursday, 25 July 1968 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983) | |
| Y173 | Thursday, 25 July 1968 | Scrapped – 1996 | VR Blue & Gold | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), Australian Paper Mills (may have been leased only; was painted yellow) | |
| Y174 | Thursday, 8 August 1968 | Stored | Freight Australia Green & Yellow | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983), FV/FA (1999/2000), PN (2004), Ettamogah Rail Hub (2015) | |
| Y175 | Thursday, 8 August 1968 | Scrapped – 1992 | V/Line Orange & Grey | | VR (Built), VicRail (1976), V/Line (1983). | Downgraded to "standard" Y class 65 km/h gearing circa 1980 when T class locomotives (399, 400, 403, 406, 410) took over Commissioners' Train role. Was only Y fitted with a 64 Volt power outlet (above main reservoir on Driver's side) for powering batteries on Norman Car on Commissioners' Train overnight). |