They are Deutsche Reichsbahn class 52 Kriegslokomotiven (war locomotives), either acquired new (Ty42), or secondhand (Ty2), having been built during World War II in factories in many European countries (Germany and occupied countries, including Poland) in 1942–1945.

The purpose of this simplified, cheaper to manufacture and reliable locomotive was to operate rail routes in the territories acquired by the Third Reich in the east.

In 1962, Poland, due to an insufficient quantity of locomotives, had been forced to buy 220 machines from the Soviet Union.

54 locomotives of this series are still in Poland today, including examples active in the Open Air Museum of rolling stock and railway equipment in Chabowka: the Ty2-911 (major repair July 2007) and the Ty2-953 (major repair April 2006).

Ty2 class locomotives during start-up developed a theoretical tractive force of about 233 kN (52,380 lbf).