The SNCF 160 A 1 was a single freight locomotive designed by André Chapelon originally for the Paris-Orleans. The PO ordered this locomotive in 1935 when it became clear that the existing 2-10-0 locomotives could only haul 900 tonnes with 20 km/h on an incline of one percent, but the couplers could withstand 1,200 tonnes. The new locomotive had to be optimized for maximum power at low speeds and reach 30 km/h with this train weight on this type of incline. Chapelon used the PO's series 6001 to 6070 as the basis for his rebuild, more specifically this was No. 6030. To create maximum adhesion and to carry enough weight for a more powerful boiler, he chose to add a sixth driving axle, making it the only 2-12-0 locomotive in France.

The actual rebuild was carried out between 1938 and 1940 in the shops at Tours. The power of the boiler was maximized by enlarging the steam lines, using a larger superheater and adding a double Kylchap exhaust. Unusual for a single-frame locomotive, he made it a six-cylinder compound. Between the frames, there were two high-pressure cylinders driving the fourth driving axle and two low-pressure cylinders driving the second driving axle. The second set of low-pressure cylinders was located on the outside and drove the third driving axle. All cylinders were controlled by Lentz poppet valves and were insulated to prevent power loss through condensation. Additionally, the steam was reheated before entering the low-pressure cylinders. The driving axles had a total wheelbase of 8,330 mm, but the first, fifth and sixth axles had lateral play. Finally, the frames had to be enforced to carry the locomotive weight of 137.5 tonnes.

When the rebuild was finished in June 1940, the locomotives in Tours had to be evacuated to Brive-la-Gaillarde due to the invasion. On this way, 160 A 1 hauled a freight train of 1,200 tonnes. But real test runs could only be conducted after the war ended, and the locomotive was actually only placed into service again in 1946. In this time, it could demonstrate its abilities, although electrification had already been started on a larger scale. In 1948 it hauled a train of 578 tonnes up the Col des Sauvages with 30 km/h, on an incline of 2.6 percent. When it was withdrawn in 1954, it had only run 40,000 km. It was scrapped in the following year.