The Vladikavkaz Railway was convinced that an express locomotive needed a leading bogie. Thus, instead of the 2-6-0 wheel arrangement, the 4-6-0 wheel arrangement was chosen and the series A was designed with it. These were two-cylinder compound machines, of which six were manufactured in Kolomna in 1892. The production machines were slightly heavier with a larger low-pressure cylinder. Their production started in 1894 also at German manufacturers. Some of the locomotives were later oil-fired.