Designed in 1909 as a replacement for earlier saddle tanks. The basic requirement was for a locomotive capable of negotiating curves of 2 chains radius built to more up to date standards than it's predecessors. Five locomotives were built being numbered 1361-5. The modern cab had large windows front and rear to give good visibility. Initially the 1361's were used at Plymouth and Weymouth docks. However they later saw service at Newton Abbot, St Blazey, Taunton and Bridgewater. One of the class also saw service on the ex S.R. branch at Wadebridge replacing an ancient Beattie 2-4-0. Most of the 1361's remained in service until the late fifties / early sixties with one going on to be preserved at Didcot.

Very few alterations were made over the years. By the time the locomotives passed into B.R. service they had been fitted with taller chimneys, some extra pipework under the footplate and had the original tapered buffers replaced with parallel ones. For reasons that are not clear 1365 also gained an extra handrail on both sides of the bunker.