The 40-ton capacity bogie ballast hoppers were first used by the Southern Railway. Adopted by Britiah Rail as a standard design these wagons carry fresh ballast from quarries to maintain the British Railway network.

The olive green livery was standard for engineering vehicles from the 1960's to the early 1980's, engineers wagons often missing out on regular repainting! The YGH code was added during the 1970's.