The first six were built by Beyer, Peacock & Co for the South Australian Railways (SAR) in 1884.

The New South Wales Government Railways F351 class locomotive was also based on this design.

The class was successful and a further 14 locomotives were built by James Martin & Co.[2] Initially the locomotives served hauling suburban trains in Adelaide until replaced by the F class in the early 1900s.

In 1899, the SAR took over operations on the Glenelg Railway Company's two lines.

[2] Media related to South Australian Railways P class at Wikimedia Commons