They were introduced by Samuel Johnson in 1899, originally with round-topped fireboxes.

Henry Fowler later rebuilt them with Belpaire fireboxes.

The LMS Fowler Class 3F of 1924 was based on this design.

All passed to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, initially retaining their MR numbers, before being renumbered 7200–7259 between 1934 and 1937.

All passed into British Railways ownership in 1948 and were numbered 47200–47259.