For use in World War I, Baldwin built a total of 1,500 Consolidations in the years 1917 to 1919. While designated type 10-36E by the manufacturer, they are more commonly known as Pershing class. For use in foreign countries, they were lighter and had a smaller loading gauge compared to domestic Consolidations. Furthermore unlike American practice the firebox was narrow and located between the drivers.

Most of the 1,500 locomotives were delivered to France by a fleet of four ships. After the war, most large French railways got three-digit numbers, only the Alsace-Lorraine got only 83. The PLM got the biggest number with 549, alongside 29 similar locomotives by ALCO. Some also came to several American railroads after the war. Others were used by the US Army in both World Wars and in the Korean War, like No. 101 that's today one of three preserved. This one is now owned by the National Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.