They were designed as a development as the previous H Class, adding a Belpaire firebox to a new design of boiler, which was similar to that of the NSR G class but with a reduced barrel length.
Four were built between December 1910 and March 1911, all at the company's Stoke railway works.
[1] As with the H class, the H1s were built with the NSR's long distance freight work outside of their own system thanks to their extensive running powers, but they also partook in some passenger and excursion trains.
[1] The livery of the H1 Class was the NSR's Madder Lake with straw lining, and NORTH STAFFORD lettering on the tender along with the company crest.
In LMS days they received the standard plain black freight livery with large numerals on the tender.