Four years after the delivery of the first class H-8 Allegheny locomotives to the Chesapeake & Ohio, the Virginian ordered eight units, which differed little from their prototype. Both classes can therefore be described as the most powerful steam locomotives of all time, which required a three-axle trailing bogie due to their extraordinarily large firebox. Since the C&O had named their locomotives after the mountain range to be crossed, the Virginian's locomotives were named after the Blue Ridge Mountains. External distinguishing features were only the slightly lower sand domes and other proportions on the tender. The AG was also manufactured near Lima in Ohio.

When the engines were delivered, the Virginian had major problems because the Chesapeake & Ohio did not want any other locomotives with such a high axle load to run on their own network. According to rumors, the C&O itself was not aware of the high axle load of the H-8, as this had been increased several times during development. This subsequently led to the inspection of all affected bridges and cost Lima several million dollars. Later, however, the locomotives adapted for the Virginian were again used as the basis for a second delivery to the C&O in 1948. At the Virginian, the machines were already retired by 1955 and scrapped by 1960.