In order to rationalize shunting operations at larger stations, the Zentralamt of German DB developed a two-axle diesel locomotive with hydrodynamic transmission together with the locomotive manufacturer Gmeinder. The first 300 copies still had a power transmission with chains, the others had a cardan shaft drive. The proven 240 hp RHS 518 from MWM was used as the engine for the series locomotives. The pre-series locomotives later classified as class 331 initially had to be content with a maximum speed of 30 km/h, the locomotives designated as 332 with chain drive and the 333 with cardan shaft drive all reached 45 km/h. In the late 1980s, numerous 333s were equipped with radio remote controls and these machines were known as the 335 series.
| Key | Functions | Sound slots | Volume CVs | Volume values |
|---|
| F0 | front light | | | |
| F1 | sound on/off | 1, 2, 22, 30 | 259, 267, 427, 491 | 200, 100, 85, 90 |
| F2 | single air horn signal (double air horn signal available via CV 163 value 1) | 3 | 275 | 255 |
| F3 | chain drive on/off | 30 | 491 | 90 |
| F4 | handbrake | 29 | 483 | 105 |
| F5 | heavy load | | | |
| F6 | acceleration/brake time, shunting mode/shunting speed | 21 | 419 | 60 |
| F7 | curve squeal | 15 | 371 | 110 |
| F8 | AUX#1 | | | |
| F9 | compressed air let off | 9 | 323 | 100 |
| F10 | conductor's signal | 10 | 331 | 100 |
| F11 | coupler clank | 8 | 315 | 80 |
| F12 | coasting | | | |
| F13 | apply locomotive brake/locomotive brake release | 13 | 355 | 128 |
| F14 | sanding valve | 11 | 339 | 60 |
| F15 | ESU smoke generator | | | |
| F16 | open/close cab door | 12 | 347 | 230 |
| F17 | brake function | 25 | 451 | 90 |
| F18 | radio conversation #1 (shunting distance) | 27 | 467 | 165 |
| F19 | radio conversation #2 | 23 | 435 | 165 |
| F20 | radio conversation #3 | 26 | 459 | 165 |
| F21 | switch flange | 18 | 395 | 130 |
| F22 | apply train brake/train brake release | 31 | 499 | 70 |
| F23 | rail clank | 17 | 387 | 120 |
| F24 | sound fader | | | |
| F25 | disable brake squeal sound | | | |
Make sure that index CV31 is set to 16 and index CV32 is set to 1 before changing a volume CV.