The Highland Railway Loch class locomotives were large 4-4-0s normally used north of Inverness.

Fifteen were built by Dübs and Company in Glasgow, all going into traffic between July and September 1896.

Three more were built in 1917 by Dübs' successor, the North British Locomotive Company (NBL).

These were needed primarily for the increased traffic on the Kyle line where they were the heaviest locomotives permitted.

This period was when the initial traffic of the United States effort in World War I was flowing, and much was brought to the west coast of Scotland in an effort to reduce the effect of the U-boat menace.