This was following the earlier practice of 2-4-2T of around 1900 for suburban passenger services, although with their pony trucks replaced by bogies to allow faster running.

With the relatively short range of 250 kilometres (160 mi) required, the Class 242 could afford to be a tank locomotive, even though this reduced the water and fuel capacity available.

To cope with the high ash production of Eastern European coal, a rocking grate was fitted.

In tests over the high-speed running lines of the Berlin–Hamburg Railway, also used for the Flying Hamburger service, they achieved 152 kilometres per hour (94 mph).

[1] In 1961, 242.002 was used to test new rolling stock and set a speed record for Hungarian steam traction of 161 kilometres per hour (100 mph).

After static exhibition in a park for some years it was restored to running order in 2002 as part of the Hungarian Railway Museum and is in use for enthusiast special trains.