It was designed for industrial and light switching duties, often replacing steam locomotives that had previously been assigned these chores.

The last four locomotives built had Caterpillar D342 engines, of which three were sold to Canadian National Railway and one to the Dansville and Mount Morris Railroad.

During the Second World War, GE produced a "Drop Cab" variant of the 44-ton locomotives for the US Armed Forces.

Numbered 1101 to 1112, after some initial use as light road engines, they spent most of their lives as switchers at the southern region main stations.

1104) at the National Railroad Museum (Fundação Museu Nacional Ferroviário Armando Ginestal Machado) at Entroncamento.