The Type YC tender first entered service in 1896, as tenders to the second version of the 6th Class 4-6-0 Tenwheeler type steam locomotives to be acquired by the Cape Government Railways.

[1][2][3] The tender, as built, had a coal capacity of 5 long tons 10 hundredweight (5.6 tonnes), a water capacity of 2,590 imperial gallons (11,770 litres) and an average maximum axle load of 10 long tons 8 hundredweight (10,570 kilograms).

Some Type YC tenders were fitted with new tanks and modified to increase their coal capacity from 5 long tons 10 hundredweight (5.6 tonnes) to 7 long tons 10 hundredweight (7.6 tonnes).

The new tank was slightly bigger, which increased the water capacity from 2,590 to 2,600 imperial gallons (11,770 to 11,820 litres).

The maximum average axle load of the modified tender was 11 long tons 1 hundredweight 2 quarters (11,250 kilograms).