The first three units of the De Dietrich double railcar were ordered by the Est shortly before the founding of the SNCF for service between Paris and Strasbourg. They were combined of two permanently coupled cars which each had a 320 hp Saurer diesel engine mounted on the outer bogie with a wheelbase of four metres. Each engine transmitted its power via a five-speed Mylius gearbox onto the inside axle of the bogie. 

After being delivered to the SNCF, they were given to the Trans Sahara Railway in Algeria in 1941. Although designed for 140 km/h, one reached a speed of 180 km/h in test runs. Twelve more were delivered to Algeria in 1951 which had an interior modified for use in Africa. When Algeria became independent in 1962, they came to the SNCFA and were numbered ZZN 101 to 115. Their service ended in the early eighties.