The 83¹⁰ was one of the less successful types of the new-built steam locomotives of the Reichsbahn in the GDR. It was designed together with the heavier 65¹⁰, but was not convincing in contrast to this. Both had the wheel arrangement 2-8-4T, but in contrast to its sister, the 83¹⁰ was designed for branch lines with an axle load of 15 instead of 17.5 tonnes. This meant a smaller driver diameter, and therefore a lower top speed and less power. As with the 65¹⁰, a plate frame was used here.

Already during the testing of the first two locomotives, some defects became known, but due to the circumstance that series production had already started, these could only be partially remedied by subsequent repairs. Above all, the use of the low-energy lignite required some structural adjustments, which were already implemented before the completion of extensive tests and ultimately turned out to be immature. Since the imminent use of diesel locomotives became apparent as early as the 1950s, only 27 of the class 83¹⁰ were made. Although the Reichsbahn had a large number of steam locomotives in regular service well into the 1980s, the last locomotive of this class was retired in 1974.