Y136

Y136 at Newport Workshops.

Owned by Clyde, it is the Newport Workshop Pilot Loco. Seen here in the Tarp Shop roads shunting an old suburban EMU.

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