Narrow gauge engines are surprisingly adaptable locomotives, even a small engine designed for industrial shunting and contractors railways would be capable of hauling trains for several miles without difficulty and many narrow gauge lines employed small engines like this. Although of a distinctly Germanic appearance narrow gauge engines were much more mobile than standard gauge 'mainline' locomotives and many European locomotive builders' engines could be found on British narrow gauge lines, being available from stock for rapid delivery.
A German built engine would not be out of place with a short train on a British layout, well known Kilmarnock loco builders Andrew Barclay even copied some Orenstein & Koppel (of Berlin) designs.
Often being considered as industrial plant for moving 'stuff', the train was the dumper truck of the pre-WW2 world. Narrow gauge trains were easily moved from one site to another and many construction contractors used narrow gauge trains, especially when building embankments and dams in remote locations where a standard gauge railway was impractical.