In the early fifties, Krupp in Germany built the D52 as a 2-8-2 mixed-traffic locomotive for the Djawatan Kereta Api (DKA). It resembled a smaller version of the Reichsbahn class 41 express freight locomotive and had drivers of 1,503 mm, roughly 100 mm smaller than the drivers of the 41. Both shared many visual features, like the elephant ear smoke deflectors. The D52 was rated for 600 tonnes at 90 km/h on the level and at 40 km/h on one percent.

From 100 locomotives built, the first 50 had tenders with eight tonnes of coal and the other 50 had tenders with six tonnes of oil. Between 1956 and 1965, 21 more were rebuilt to oil firing. Due to their good running characteristics and power, they were mostly used in passenger service. The last ones were withdrawn in the seventies. D52 099 is the only class member that is still existing today, it is on display at Surakarta. D52 086 was still used for excursion trains in the nineties, but was scrapped in the meantime.