The J class entered service between July and October 1966 to provide as shunters for the 657-kilometre (408 mi) Eastern Goldfields Railway from Perth to Kalgoorlie that was being converted to standard gauge.

[1] J101 was scrapped in July 1986 with the remaining four sold in 1995 to Great Northern Rail Services and moved to South Dynon Locomotive Depot.

These 2 units were hired to Southern Shorthaul Railroad for use as terminal shunters and infrastructure workings.

J104 & J105 were sold to Freightlink, renumbered to FJ104 & FJ105, and moved to the Northern Territory as terminal shunters in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

102 and 103 currently bear their former SSR colour scheme, whereas 104 and 105, which are currently stored at Dry Creek, are still painted in Freightlink livery.