They were the smallest state railway Länderbahn locomotives with a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement.
They were designed from the outset for the steep gradients in Württemberg and therefore had smaller driving wheels with only a 1,800 mm diameter.
Striking features included the outside subframe and the streamlined shape of the driver's cab and smokebox, resembling that of the Bavarian S 2/6 4-4-4 express locomotive and the later S 3/6 Pacifics.
The locomotives were also known as "the beautiful Württemberg lass" (die schöne Württembergerin) due to this unique form.
Roco has produced a model of the C class in HO scale with part number 43216.