As a further development of the 102.0 series, VEB (nationally owned enterprise) LKM 'Karl Marx' Babelsberg, which soon after received the firm name of VEB Kombinat Luft- und Kaltetechnik, 'Karl Marx' Babelsberg, delivered the locomotives of the 102.1 series starting in 1970. The most conspicuous change was the wide ascent at the rear with access to the driver's cab. Another change was the orange paint in order to make the locomotives more easily noticeable for the prevention of accidents. The locomotives proved themselves in shunting service and were also used on branch lines in front of passenger and goods trains. Until it was put out of operation, the 102 178-1 from Bw Wittenberge was one of the stem locomotives on the well-known Perleberg circular railway line.