Between 1888 and 1901, Matthew Holmes had 168 0-6-0 goods locomotives built for the North British which were designated class C. 138 of these had been built at the NBR's own Cowlairs works, while 15 each came from Neilson & Co. and from Sharp, Stewart & Co. In general they were of a standard design with five foot wheels, inside cylinders and Stephenson valve gear. But the cylinders had a relatively huge diameter of 18 inches.

There had already been another similar class C designed by Drummond and built 32 times in 1876 and 1877. Holmes took these and rebuilt them to the same standard as his own class C between 1898 and 1903. Between 1913 and 1923, all 200 locomotives were fitted with a new boiler with a pressure of 165 instead of 150 psi and a larger cab.

drawing of the original state

Locomotive Magazine, February 1944

The LNER designated all original Holmes locomotives as J36 and all rebuilt Drummond locomotives as J32. 213 were taken over by British Railways in 1948. The last ones were withdrawn in 1967, being the last steam locomotives in service in Scotland. No. 673 „Maude” was the only one preserved, currently being on static display.