The 1200 class were rostered to haul The Sunlander between Brisbane and Cairns, The Westlander between Brisbane and Roma and The Inlander from Townsville to Mount Isa.

[1] A characteristic addition to the 1200s in 1961 was a sun visor to help reduce glare.

As they became due for heavy overhauls in the late 1970s, they were withdrawn.

[2][3][4] In 1984, 1208 was rebuilt using parts from 1250 class locomotives 1252 and 1253, including a more powerful 1,145 kW (1,540 hp) engine to replace the original 962 kW (1,290 hp) EE 12SVT engine, while the body was modified to resemble a 1250 class.

It remained in service until 1987, based at Toowoomba working mainly on the Southern line.