After final assembly was completed in South Australia, all entered service between January and May 1877.

In 1879, two W class locomotives were transferred with V9 becoming the shunter at Kingston wharf and the other three stored.

From November 1891 until May 1893, V11 was loaned to BHP to operate on its lightly laid Broken Hill network.

Between September and December 1893, a further four were delivered from James Martin & Co.[1] They operated at various locations including Peterborough, Port Lincoln, Terowie and Wallaroo.

[1] Media related to South Australian Railways V class at Wikimedia Commons