J. G. Brill Company were contracted to supply twelve railcar chassis, which would be mated to bodies constructed by the SAR's own Islington Railway Workshops.

[2] The 55s and 75s worked on country lines around South Australia until their withdrawal from service, and originally featured a brown livery.

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the SAR in 1936, all Model 55s and 75s still in service were repainted into a green and cream livery, which they wore until retirement.

From 1934, the SAR began re-powering the 55s with Gardner six-cylinder 102 horsepower (76 kW) diesel engines but, as a result of World War II, some railcars were not converted until after 1945.

200MT remained in service until the mid 1970s, then was stored at the back of the Bendigo carriage shed until early 1981.

In 1955 the SAR introduced its Bluebird and Redhen railcars, and the "Barwell Bulls" – nicknamed after a former Premier of South Australia, Henry Barwell, and the bovine sound that the air horn emitted – were moved to suburban services in Adelaide.

As more Redhens were constructed to replace them on the metropolitan lines, the last Brill railcars were withdrawn in October 1971.

[3] SteamRanger has 60 (75) which was converted from condemned Brill trailer 207 and also 43 (75) which was donated to the society at no cost long-time ARHS member John Wilson.

In 2018 200MT was transferred to the Daylesford Spa Country Railway, re-entering service in 2022 following an overhaul and further restoration.