The locomotive was superheated, with a Belpaire firebox, a plate frame and Walschaerts valve gear. It was erected in the Durban shops and placed in trial service on the Natal mainline. During the trials it was found that the absence of trailing carrying wheels on the engine units was a disadvantage, since it led to excessive flange wear on the driving wheels. As a result, the locomotive remained the only representative of its Class and all subsequent Garratt models of the SAR were equipped with trailing Bissel trucks on their engine units. The locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1938 because of a cracked frame and scrapped.