[3] They were designed by Sentetsu as the most advanced locomotives in Korea at the time of their introduction, and the first twelve were built in 1932 by the Gyeongsong Works.

A further 26 were built in 1939 by Hitachi and Kisha Seizō and assembled at Sentetsu's Busan shops.

Many Pureha class locomotives were used by the Korean National Railroad after Liberation, which designated them 푸러8 (Pureo8) class;[4] they were used by the KNR primarily for shunting duties, and on light local and suburban passenger services.

[5] The Sentetsu Purena class locomotives that remained in the North after the partition of Korea were operated by the Korean State Railway, designating them 부러파 (Purŏp'a) class, and later renumbering them into the 1800 series around the early 1970s.

It is unknown whether the locomotive remained in the North after the Korean War, or if it was taken by UN forces during the withdrawal.