In June 1883, Kitson & Co delivered three steam trams and six trailers for a proposed tramway in Brisbane from Ann Street to Petrie Bight.
The tramway was not built and with the locomotives considered unsuitable for railway use, they were stored.
Per Queensland Railway's classification system they were designated the 6D11½ class, 6D representing they were a tank locomotive with six wheels, and the 11½ the cylinder diameter in inches.
This confirmed its unsuitability for main line use, and it was instead employed as a shunter in Ipswich and South Brisbane.
They returned south in 1893 hauling trains on the Redbank-Bundamba Loop Line.