The first 10 F class have the distinction of being VR's first diesel locomotives. They were mainly used in shunting service around Melbourne but were also used at Geelong, Seymour, Wodonga and Bendigo and perhaps other locations. Over the years quite a few changes were made: they were delivered in a black paint scheme then went to red with a yellow stripe and finally VR's familiar blue and gold, near the end of their careers at least one was painted V/Line orange/grey. Their road numbers were changed in 1958 as SECV 3 would have become F 320 but T 320 was already in service.
The last 6 were purchased second hand from the State Electricity Commision of Victoria on the dates shown below. No evidence exists that SECV 3 - 6 ever actually worked in SEC service, it appears that VR leased them upon delivery until they purchased them
All of the F's were built by the Dick Kerr Works in the United Kingdom
The VR purchased several diesel electric shunters from English Electric. In the early 1950's there was a shortage of shunting engines. Originally they were red and numbered in the 300's. With the introduction of S loco's in the mid 1950's which took the S steam number group (300 onwards), the F locos were renumbered in the 200's. The F's were numbered 201 - 212.
The SECV (State Electricity Commission of Victoria) also purchased a similar type for shunting at the Newport Power Station. A mystery with the SEC units was that the builders numbers did not fall in line with the chronological sequence of the VR units. It seems that the builders numbers for the SECV units were assigned to a British purchase which was cancelled. There is speculation that these units were then available at reduced price. The SEC units were numberd SEC 1, 2, 3. These were later transferred to the VR and ran with SEC numbers for about twelve months before being renumbered in the F group as 213, 214, 215 though correct conversion sequence is not known by the writer.
The two units allocated to Wodonga, F 205, 215 were fitted with extra air compressors.
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F202 in VR Livery .jpg |
F211 in VLine Livery.jpg |
F317 in a Black and Red livery.jpg |
SEC2 in SEC green Livery.jpg |
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