The drivers, who had to stand on the left side of these English machines, had a lot of trouble due to drifting smoke.

[2] The Austerity 2-8-0 was based on the LMS Class 8F,[citation needed] which had been the government's[dubious – discuss] standard design until that point.

The North British Locomotive Company also built the larger NS 5000 WD.

One of the original WD 2-8-0 is preserved on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in Yorkshire.

In 2007 the locomotive was restored to its original condition, with a new cab and tender having to be built.