In the 1920s, NZR began experimenting with railcars as a way of replacing mixed trains that carried both passengers and goods and ran too slow schedules as they had to load and unload freight regularly.

Capable of carrying about 70 passengers, with 60 seated, and a separate smoking compartment, the railcar had a range of about 100 miles (160 km) on one battery charge.

[9] Previously, the Little River Branch's passenger services had been provided by mixed trains, and the Edison battery-electric railcar was introduced as a faster and more desirable alternative.

[10] The railcar was popular with both passengers and crews; it was fast for its time for a rural train on New Zealand's railway network and ran cleanly and efficiently.

[11][12][13][14] Conditions created by the Great Depression meant it simply was not possible to build a replacement,[10] and the Edison battery-electric railcar's legacy was left as that of a promising and unique experiment that may have achieved its full potential in more prosperous times.

The locomotive remnants were placed in the care of the Oamaru Steam and Rail Restoration Society while the bogies were donated to the National Railway Museum of New Zealand, and placed in storage at Ferrymead Heritage Park, awaiting refurbishment.