Y class

The Y class were built as motive power for branch lines if needed and primairily shunting duties. Over the years though they have diminished in numbers to less than half of the origional 75 that were built. When they were orderd the VR was scrapping some of it's Tait and Swing Door suburban electric stock. It was decided that the bogies and traction motors would be recylced from these and used under the new locomotives. Only the first series had the recycled bogies as the second and third had newly fabricated bogies under them when built. They also had a large electrical cabinet for the circuitry required to mate and EMD generator with GE traction motors. The Y's were built with a highly responsive throttle and brake for shunting purposes. As soon as the throttle was moved out of idle the loco would start moving. The interesting thing about the Y's is that the fuel tank is situated behind the cab and not under the frame between the bogies like traditional diesels. There were some differences in the 3 series, the first had the battery boy set out of the locomotive nody and sitting on the frame behind the cab where as the 2nd and third had theirs set into the body and sitting flush with the rest of the loco body. The third seried incorperated the new 645 engine and was the only known time the 6 cylinder EMD 645 engine was used in a locomotive. The first two series were mechanically identical with both producing 640hp but the 3rd series never made the most of the 645 because the electricals did not transmit the extra hp developed in the 645 and despite this upgraded engine they still only produced 640hp. At one point in time for the comissioners train one Y was regeared for 95km/h running but shortly regeared back to 80km/h configuration. Y151 was fitted with EMD D77 traction motors at some point in time, possibly to gain the lost horspower from the GE traction motors (the 645 engine would have produced about 825hp).

First series

Drive Type: Diesel Electric - DC

Engine: EMD 6-567C

Generator: EMD D25E

Traction Motors: GE 237

Horse Power: At Engine: 680hp

                         At Rail: 640hp

Weight: 65t

Max rated speed: 80km/h

Builders Model: G6B

Second series

Drive Type: Diesel Electric - DC

Engine: EMD 6-567C

Generator: EMD D25E

Traction Motors: GE 237

Horse Power: At Engine: 680hp

                         At Rail 640hp

Weight: 65t

Max rated speed: 80km/h

Builders Model: G6B

Third series

Drive Type: Diesel Electric - DC

Engine: EMD 6-645E

Generator: EMD D25E

Traction Motors: GE 237

Horse Power: At Engine: 825hp

                         At Rail: 640hp

Weight: 65t

Max rated speed: 80km/h

Builders Model: G6B

Y 151 (carries D77 traction Motors)

Drive Type: Diesel Electric - DC

Engine: EMD 6-645E

Generator: EMD D25E

Traction Motors: EMD D77

Horse Power: At Engine: 825hp

                         At Rail: 800hp?

Weight: 68t

Max rated speed: 100km/h

Builders Model: G6B