Victorian Railways Y class
| Company type | Steam locomotive class |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railway transport |
| Founded | 1885 |
| Founder | Kitson & Co. |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Steam locomotives (0-6-0 tender) |
The Victorian Railways Y class comprises a series of 0-6-0 steam locomotives.
This class marked a transition towards uniform design standards in railway engineering during the late 1800s. The initial 0-6-0 tender locomotive was constructed by Kitson & Co. in Leeds, England, in 1885 and was showcased at the 1888 Melbourne Centennial Exhibition. Following this, the Phoenix Foundry in Ballarat manufactured an additional 30 units between 1888 and 1889. These engines were assigned odd numbers ranging from 383 to 441, with the prototype designated as number 445.
At the time of their debut, these locomotives were the largest and most powerful 0-6-0 types operating within Australia. Praised for their reliable performance and favorable reception by crews, they were commonly utilized on suburban passenger routes prior to electrification and later repurposed for yard shunting duties. The process of retiring these locomotives commenced in 1926; by the renumbering event in 1940, only 20 remained active. The last to serve regularly, No. 108, was withdrawn in 1963 after extensive use as a pilot engine at North Melbourne.
A noteworthy example, Y109 (initially numbered Y413), was deregistered on 23 December 1954. Its frame and wheels were sold to Brunswick Plaster Mills Pty. Ltd., which converted it into a diesel-mechanical locomotive for operations on the Millewa South Railway between Nowingi and Raak Plain. During part of its diesel-powered service, it bore the number Y413.
Preservation
Y108 is preserved as a static exhibit at the Newport Railway Museum.
Y109/Y413 entered the possession of Steamrail Victoria during the 1980s and was relocated to Ballarat East Locomotive Depot, where components were utilized in restoring Y112. Subsequently, its remnants were obtained by the Australian Railway Historical Society and donated to Millewa Pioneer Park at Meringur in 2008.
Withdrawn from service in 1961, Y112 was initially displayed outside Ballarat railway station. It was acquired by the Ballarat Historical Society and is currently owned by Sovereign Hill Museum. Leased to Steamrail Victoria, it underwent restoration with assistance from West Coast Railway, returning to operational status in 1996 and now occasionally runs heritage rail tours.
External links
- Victorian Preserved Steam Locomotives comprehensive details on surviving former VR steam locomotives
- VICSIG Y Class Information regarding the Y class
- Y class drawing
- Y class photo
- Side view
- Y 397