They were delivered from such different manufacturers as; Henschel, Sächsische Maschinenfabrik and Berliner Maschinenbau (Germany), Tubize (Belgium), Nydquist (Sweden), Baldwin (USA) and Frichs (Denmark).

The State of Denmark sold the Danish West Indies to the US in 1917, and part of the money received from the sale was used to buy 16 class D engines from Baldwin.

The Class D was a dedicated freight locomotive and became the backbone of DSB freight traffic on main and branch lines for half a century, though the class was also seen on passenger trains after World War 2 because of the serious lack of traction power.

Its popularity earned the class, as one of the few in Denmark, a nickname; "Dagmar" which is a traditionally Danish ladies name.

A few class D engines could still be found in service on the minor DSB branch lines until around 1967.