Baldwin built only seven cab and two booster units of this model. In February 1946, the NYC ordered two A-B-A sets, and SAL ordered three cab units (#'s 2700-2702), for a total production of nine units in seven months. The NYC introduced their units in service November 22, 1947, and the SAL placed their first unit number 2700 in service the next day. The SAL units spent their service life mostly on secondary runs in Florida, and after 17 years of service, were traded to EMD. Although the NYC re-powered their copies with EMD 567's, the SAL retained their original Baldwin 608SC diesels to the end. The SAL did modify the headlight, the door below the headlight, and added MU to the nose. The numberboards on the SAL units were a Baldwin design, although the NYC versions were more like EMD FT numberboards. The model designation DR-6-4-1500 translates to: Diesel Road, 6 axles, 4 traction motors, 1500 horsepower.

Baldwin designed the DR-6-4-1500 as a dual service locomotive to compete with EMD's F-3 and Alco's FA-1, but with the added advantage of being easy on light rail branch lines by virtue of its GSC Commonwealth A-1-A trucks. It was powered by the 8-cylinder turbocharged model 608SC diesel prime mover, and in comparison to the freight only DR-4-4-1500, it was slightly longer, 61 feet for the DR-6-4-1500, versus 55 feet 6 inches for the DR-4-4-1500. Only nine DR-6-4-1500's were built, seven cab units and two boosters. The SAL owned three cab units, all retired in 1964.