The type was specially developed for the Indian 762 mm railway lines.

[1] Locomotive No 600488 was tested on the Kreisbahn Osterode-Kreiensen 750 mm gauge railway line before delivery.

[1][5] The ZDM-2s were fitted with a hydraulic transmission of the Indian "Suri" type, which proved to be highly failure-prone.

[4][2] On the first ten units these operated at the speed of 1400 min⁻¹ for a power output of 650 metric horsepower (478 kW), while on the latter fifteen at 1700 min⁻¹ for a power output of 700 metric horsepower (515 kW).

[2] Several members of the type were modified in the 1980s and 1990s; they were fitted with KPC hydraulic transmissions and MaK diesel engines.