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.