Following the extension of Commonwealth Railways' standard gauge line from Port Augusta to Port Pirie in 1937, and with increasing loads being hauled on the Trans-Australian Railway, an order was placed with Walkers Limited, Maryborough for eight 4-6-0 passenger locomotives to the same design as the New South Wales Government Railways' C36 class, but with higher capacity tenders.

The new locomotives were able to shave 10 hours off the journey time of the Trans Australian.

[1] With the arrival of the GM class diesels, the first was withdrawn in January 1952 and by early 1953 only two remained.

The locomotives were scrapped, but the tenders were converted into water carriers for use on the Commonwealth Railways weed killer train, still being in use in the early 1980s.

[1] Media related to Commonwealth Railways C class locomotives at Wikimedia Commons