Owing to a full order book the company subcontracted the remaining 20 to Société Franco-Belge, Raismes, France.

[2][3][4][5] All were painted Midland red and had chrome yellow lining with large QR monograms on the sides of the front tank and bunker.

Originally trialled on the Brisbane to Toowoomba line, they were soon withdrawn from this section due to problems with limited clearances in the tunnels.

In later years they worked Moura coal trains via Mount Morgan, prior to the opening of the short line to Gladstone.

They were attributed with saving 19,500 miles of assistant and goods engine running on the Bundaberg – Rockhampton – Emerald sections between October 1950 and June 1951.

They had a number of unique features (for QR steam engines) including Ajax air operated butterfly fire doors, Hadfield power reverse gear, speedometers and also flow meters; the latter being fitted to the class in 1955.

1009 was preserved as a static exhibit at the Redbank Locomotive Museum, was taken into North Ipswich Railway Workshops in 1993 and restored to working order.