After the Second World War, the Austrian Federal Railways had a high demand for new electric Locomotives to replace older steam locomotives in a timely manner.  This led, among other things, to the development of the new locomotive RH 1041. Between 1951 and
1953, 25 specimens of the 83 ton heavy duty four axle locomotive were put into service and stationed in Attnang-Puchheim, Selzthal and Bischofshofen.  (These were approved for 80 km/h, but were known to reach 90 km/h.)  The main task for the 15,32 m long electric Loco
involved regional and freight train traffic, and during the last years of operation they were used in shunting service.  The distinctive machines with their electrical equipment from AEG, BBC, ELIN and SSW proved themselves excellent in the assigned application area.
By the end of 2003, all vehicles in the series were retired from active service during a fundamental modernization process at ÖBB.  Some examples are preserved as museum locomotives, including 1041.15