The 42 Class were fine locomotives; alas they were one of the most raucous machines on the rails, such that those living along the steeper sections of the Main North became regular complainants to the railways. Thus the 42 Class were "banished" to the Main South and Illawarra lines, where they were less intrusive.

While the majority of the class were withdrawn by the early 1980s, 4201 - then the oldest locomotive in the fleet - was painted in a celebratory green livery for the 125th anniversary of the NSW Railways in 1980.

Today, 4201 retains the same commemorative livery in heritage operations as part of the State Operational Heritage Fleet. Following major overhaul by Transport Heritage NSW in 2017, the locomotive plays a supporting role in heritage events across NSW and at the NSW Rail Museum.