When the six-coupled locomotives on the Black Forest and the Odenwald lines with gradients of 1.25 percent became too weak, Hanomag delivered twelve eight-coupled locomotives in 1875. The axles were put as closely together as possible, but the desired rigid wheelbase of 2.5 metres needed for the sharp curves could not be realized. So the first and last driving axles were built with 12.5 mm of lateral play, what had a negative impact on the running characteristics. Later, the Baden State Railway bought type VIII c Mallet locomotives for mountain lines with sharp curves. So the number of the VIII a remained at twelve, which were withdrawn by 1923.