Between 1885 and 1892, the
Tasmanian Government Railways took delivery of 19 C class locomotives from
Beyer, Peacock & Company,
Manchester. A further eight followed in the early years of the 20th century. A 28th originally built for the
Emu Bay Railway was purchased second hand in 1937. They were the first of what became almost an Australian standard, as locomotives of similar design served in large numbers as the
Silverton Tramway Y class,
South Australian Railways Y class and
Western Australian Government Railways G class, and also in
Queensland and on the
North Australia Railway. In 1912, six (16-19, 26 & 27) were rebuilt with new cylinders, Belpair boilers and larger smokeboxes and reclassified as the CC class. In 1924, a further four (21, 23-25) were rebuilt also receiving
Walschaerts valve gear and reclassified as the CCS class. ==Preservation==