The class T 0 referred to two types of small tank locomotives that were only powered on one of two axles. The first four locomotives were omnibus locomotives with a baggage compartment, but since this did not prove its worth, the second batch was built as a conventional tank locomotive. In order to test different types of engines, two of the first batch were each equipped with a simple and a compound engine. The latter were designed with the help of August von Borries and were the first Prussian locomotives with this type of power plant. Schichau of Elbing in what was then West Prussia acted as the manufacturer of these four locomotives.

In service, the compound locomotives showed a significantly lower coal consumption than the others. The baggage compartment attached to the locomotive in order to dispense with a baggage car soon proved to be too small. Thus, in 1883, a second batch was procured, which no longer had a baggage compartment. Instead, the new variant was generally more powerful than the first and used only a compound engine. The increase in power was achieved with a boiler with a larger grate and heating surface and larger cylinders. This also increased the weight by two tonnes. Ten were built, which were supplied by Henschel.

The four of the first batch were either retired or resold around 1900. The remaining locomotives remained in use until they were retired in 1922. One of them can still be seen today in the German Museum of Technology in Berlin. The latter today bears the number 1907 of the Hanover Directorate, although the locomotives actually bore the numbers Hanover 1900 to 1903, Hanover 6001 to 6008 and Cassel 6001 and 6002 respectively.