They featured Bulleid's distinctive BFB wheels, and incorporated a number of details from the diesel-electric shunters produced by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway 1936–39.

The locomotives were designed for use in the two South London marshalling yards at Norwood Junction and Hither Green, and remained there for much of their working lives.

Four (15230–15233) were fitted with air train braking originally for the 1966 Bournemouth line electrification scheme and the need for air brake depot shunters and station pilots; based at Bournemouth 1967 but re-allocated 1968 to Ashford and then often used at Dover shunting continental ferry vans before Classes 08 and 09 were generally converted to this system.

[3] One, 15222, had been used as a generator by a quarry in South Wales having been acquired from the Newport scrapyard of John Cashmore Ltd. A second, 15231, was sold by BR to Tilling Construction at Grassington.

A detailed overhaul and restoration scoping plan is in development; the locomotive requires a complete re-wire as the original wiring is suffering age related deterioration.