They were designed for shunting in locations with a sharp curves, such as the dockyard at Devonport and as pilots at the major stations.

[2] Drummond designed a similar class of five locomotives in 1907, with a slightly smaller boiler and lipped chimney.

[2] The first ten locomotives were allocated to major stations throughout the system including Eastleigh, Exmouth Junction, Bournemouth and Plymouth Friary (for use on Cattedown Wharfs and the Turnchapel branch).

[2] After 1923 the Southern Railway also used them at Dover Marine, Ashford, Stewarts Lane, Hamworthy (for use at Poole Quay) and at Guildford (as a shed pilot).

The locomotives used by Southampton Docks, were also given names reflecting the destinations of ships then sailing from Southamton numbers.