[2] The 26 locos are nearly identical to the more numerous Class 08 shunting locomotives but have different gearing, giving a higher top speed of 27.5 mph (44 km/h) at the expense of a lower tractive effort.

They were introduced from 1959 to 1962 and latterly operated in the Southern Region of British Railways, although some of the class were originally allocated to depots in the Midlands and North.

[4] They were also used on railtours which needed to depart Brighton heading along the West Coastway Line or vice versa.

[5] The connection to the West Coastway Line at Brighton can only be used by four car trains due to the arrangement of the points and track.

[10] Hornby Railways and Bachmann have also produced 00 gauge models of Class 09 locomotives.