In 1864, the Großherzoglich Mecklenburgische Friedrich-Franz-Eisenbahn ordered the first type III 2-4-0 steam locomotives for passenger and express trains from the Sächsische Maschinenfabrik Hartmann in Chemnitz. They had become necessary because the types I and II with a 2-2-2 wheel arrangement no longer had sufficient power, especially on the newly opened lines in Mecklenburg Switzerland.