The firebox was equipped with a rectangular flat-bottomed type of ashpan, which was only 10 inches (254 millimetres) deep since it had to clear the trailing axle.

The arcs of the leading and trailing radial axle boxes were struck from a centre midway between the coupled wheels.

[1][2] The first official trip was made from Durban to Pinetown on 7 January 1889, after which the engine Havelock was placed in service on the Durban-Cato Ridge section.

Unlike usual practice in such cases, the engine was not equipped with armour plate protection, but was draped in strands of thick hemp rope which covered it from front to back.

[1][4] After the introduction of the more powerful Dübs A 4-8-2T locomotives, the engine Havelock was relegated to branchline working.

It was converted to a 4-6-2 Pacific type wheel arrangement for this work, since the shorter coupled wheelbase would enable it to negotiate sharper curves.