Shortly after the changeover to cape gauge, the NGR ordered seven tank locomotives with a 2-6-0T wheel arrangement. They were quickly converted to the 4-6-0T wheel arrangement and all 30 others were built with this wheel arrangement ex works. Some of them were used with additional water tenders to increase the range. Two were converted by Reid to 4-6-4T and one to 4-6-2T. When the SAR was founded, there were still twelve locomotives which became class C. One of the locomotives built in 1879 was sold to a power plant company and reached a service life of more than 100 years before it was declared a museum piece. 