With the increasing weights of long range passenger trains in the time before World War I, the VR introduced a new class of 4-6-0 locomotives in 1915. It was called H8 and had a larger superheater and larger cylinders than its predecessors. It got the nickname “Heikki”. In 1915 and 1916, Tampella built 30 locomotives, followed by twelve more built in 1920 and 1921 by Lokomo.
In the beginning, they were approved for 80 km/h, but this was increased to 95 km/h in 1934. In 1942, they got the designation Hv1 in the new scheme. The very similar class H9 built from 1919 got the designations Hv2 and Hv3. The last Hv1 was retired in 1967. Today, 554, 555 and 575 are still existing. Number 555, named “Prinsessa”, is the only one that is operational.