At this time, Professor N. L. Shchukin, head of the commission of rolling stock, the Ministry of Railways, proposed ordering 400 2-10-0 locomotives from the United States.

This called for 10 drive wheels, a low axle loading, a large firebox to burn low-grade coal, and an overall similar design to the Э class 0-10-0.

Some people, including Shchukin, would have rather ordered a 2-10-2 locomotive, but the decision was made to keep it as a 2-10-0, as its shorter length would allow it to fit on smaller turntables.

At the same time, Russian designers were also planning for a tandem compound 2-10-0 and 0-10-0, and an ordinary 0-10-2 and 0-12-0 to be produced at home, but the orders were never implemented due to the factories being at the limit of their capacities.

This is due to the fact that it was determined to equip these locomotives with Westinghouse brakes, but this did not comply with the requirements of Russian railways.

At this point, the United States Railroad Administration decided to convert them to standard gauge by fitting wider tires, and then distribute them among American railways.

At the time, much effort had been put into rebuilding the track; however, the hasty nature of the construction meant that it could not support locomotives with axle-loadings of more than 18 tonnes.

To reduce costs and accelerate production of steam cylinders, brass bushings were used, and the cast iron dome was pressed, and the firebox was now welded.

These valves allowed saturated steam directly into the cylinders while preventing combustion gases from the firebox to enter.

[further explanation needed] The number of tubes for the super heater elements was increased from 28 to 35, raising the superheater area to 76.2 m2 (820 sq ft).

At the conclusion of the third protocol of Lend-Lease in the summer of 1943 (effective from 1 July of that year), the American factories ALCO and Baldwin were given an order for production of more 2-10-0 locomotives based on the Soviet designers' drawings.

It is noteworthy that these engines, built between the world wars, were based on the Ел locomotives, having similar features such as the high location of the boiler.

In September the same year, the first Baldwin built locomotive (Еа-2201) was sent to the pilot ring VNIIZhT which was tested until October.

In the course of the tests, it was found that forcing the boiler to 70 kg/m2 (0.00069 MPa; 0.100 psi), a cutoff of 60% and at a speed of 19.6 mph (31.5 km/h), the engine could develop 36,080 lbf (160.5 kN) of tractive effort.

The State Railroads of Finland purchased 20 American Decapods after World War II - these were originally built for the Soviet Union, but never delivered to them.

The Soviet Union sent American Decapods to North Korea as aid starting almost immediately following the end of the Second World War, mostly of the Еа class.

[3] Originally designated 데가하 (Degaha) class by the Korean State Railway and later renumbered in the 8100 series, number 8112 was still operational in 2007.