The G 52 belongs to a series of 2-6-0 freight locomotives that have been built primarily for the Prussian State Railways since the end of the nineteenth century. It originated from the G 51 with a simple two-cylinder engine and had a compound engine.
The G 52 was more powerful and economical, but could not completely replace its predecessor due to its better suitability for lines with several stops. Since they were equipped with air brakes, which were not very common at the time, they were often used in front of passenger trains.
Between 1896 and 1901, 499 G 52 were built for Prussia, another 215 were built between 1900 and 1908 for Alsace-Lorraine as G 5. When the newly founded Reichsbahn took over the engines in 1923, there were only still around 300 in service. Two years later, the renumbering into the series 542 and 543 took place when only a little more than half were left. Now it only took another six years until all locomotives of the series were retired.