The class was entirely built at Swindon and introduced between 1958 and 1961. Based largely on the German V200 Class, a total of 38 were constructed and all were allocated to the Western Region.

The first 13 built started off with three figure route indicator frames fitted to the cab fronts. The rest had the four digit code boxes, the original 13 being converted on works visits. None survived long enough to carry TOPS numbers

The locomotives originally left the works in BR Brunswick green but most were repainted in maroon in the mid 1960s. They ended service in BR blue. Being non-standard, withdrawals started in 1968 and were completed in 1972. Two have been preserved.

Instead of reintroducing the Mainline Railways model, Bachmann chose to retool it. The model comes with an optional separate apron parts and a buffer beam accessory pack. Despite earlier plans to do so, it was not made DCC enabled until last year when the chassis was rebuilt to take a 21-pin DCC socket and, at this stage, LED cab-front lights were added.