The VI c was developed to supplement the tank locomotives of class VI b, which should be considerably more powerful despite a similar appearance. This was achieved primarily through the use of superheated steam and the larger axle loads that were now possible. With the new locomotives, it should be possible to transport trains weighing 350 tonnes at 80 km/h on the level and to reach 35 km/h with 200 tonnes on the steeper sections of the Black Forest Railway at 1.7 percent. As a result, locomotives were developed that, with their reinforced construction and larger reserves, had a service weight that was around ten tonnes higher than that of the VI b.

As with the predecessor, both carring axles were designed as Adams axles, but the coupled wheels were enlarged from 1,480 to 1,600 mm, which now allowed a maximum speed of 90 km/h. The continuous plate frame had blanks at both ends to accommodate the Adams axes and also accommodated a water tank, which also served as to stiffen it up. According to the larger wheels, the position of the boiler was shifted upwards, and the new locomotives now only had a single steam dome. Due to the significantly larger boiler, it was possible to reduce the steam pressure from 13 to 12 bar and still achieve a significant increase in output.

Between 1914 and 1921, 135 pieces were made in a total of nine series, most of which came from Karlsruhe and some from Jung. There were differences in production between the series. First a feedwater heater was introduced, later a firebox made of steel instead of copper and finally a reinforced frame for the last two series. Due to the large number, the engines later made up a good half of all locomotives in Baden. After the First World War, 28 of them had to be handed in as reparations, and some of the others were also used on the S-Bahn in the years that followed. At the Reichsbahn all remaining engines became the classes 75⁴ and 75^10-11, with the former designating the lighter and the latter the heavier variants. After the Second World War, the Bundesbahn took over 66 units and used them until 1969.