Among other things, 22 2'C (4-6-0) steam locomotives of the class A 3/5 603–649, which were withdrawn there, were taken over from the Swiss SBB.

Between May and October 1946 they were taken in five locomotive convoys via France and Belgium to the Central Workshop of the NS in Tilburg.

There were some adjustments made before they were put into service from June 1946 in unaltered black livery.

The locomotives were allocated to Zwolle, Nijmegen, The Hague, Venlo and Zutphen depot.

At the NS, they were nicknamed 'Goudvinken' (bullfinches) because of the narrow brass band around the chimney.