Even for mixed traffic, the PLM ordered four-cylinder compounds with wind cutters around the smokebox, chimney, dome and cab, called “coupe-vent” in French. The locomotives starting with number 3401 were 4-6-0 with a driver diameter of 1,650 mm. They were used from everything from fast coal trains over heavy passenger trains in the mountains to expresses with many stops. Many similarities could be found with the 4-4-0 express locomotives numbered C 61 to C 180.
From a total of nine manufacturers, five came from France, two from Germany, one from Austria and one from Belgium. 250 were built between 1900 and 1902 and 85 more between 1906 and 1909. 18 had been built for service in Africa with PLM Algérie. In 1924, the 327 locomotives in France were numbered 230 A 1 to 327.