Instead of an alternative proposal for a twelve-coupled locomotive with sideways-sliding Gölsdorf axles, as was realised a year later in the shape of the Württemberg K, the Saxon Railways decided on a proposal by their head of the engineering department, Lindner, for a design that was unique in Germany: the Saxon XV HTV was given two, fixed, six-coupled drives.

Because the cylinders of adjacent axles also had 28 mm (1.1 in) of side play, the locomotive could negotiate radii of as little as 170 m (560 ft).

Whilst this design enabled the steam lines between the high- and low-pressure cylinders to be extremely short, long admission and exhaust tubes were necessary.

The XV HTV soon proved to be expensive to maintain, particularly concerning the drives and the hollow axles; as a result no more were procured.

They had impressive riding qualities right up to their top speed and wear and tear on the wheel flanges was low.

44 of the former Brunswick State Railway Company and from 1951 it was given to the former French locomotive, 1-242.TA.602, which ended up in German hands after World War II.