The Prussian G 8.3 was a 2-8-0, superheated, freight locomotive with three cylinders. It was developed to redress the lack of goods locomotives after the First World War. The inspiration to design a 2-8-0 locomotive based on the 2-10-0 Prussian G 12 came from Württemberg. The first vehicle was delivered in 1918. Compared with the G 12, the G 8.3 had one boiler shell and coupled axle fewer. After it had proved itself, a total of 85 examples of the G 8.3 were placed in service, all of which were taken over by the Reichsbahn, where they were numbered 56 101 to 56 185. No more were built thereafter because the G 8.2, with only two cylinders, was less costly to procure and maintain.