The first DSJ was assembled in Japan by Toshiba Heavy Industries in 1983 and arrived in New Zealand in 1984.

[1] Toshiba are the same company who built the EO class electric locomotives.

[1] With only five members in this class, it represents one of the smallest contingents of shunt locomotives in current use.

[2] On the afternoon of 1 September 2021, DSJ4004[3] and a wagon went off the end of the rail ferry linkspan at Picton and into the harbour.

Due to the cost of repairing the flooded locomotive, DSJ4004 was written off and became a parts donor for the remainder of the fleet.