The class H was a 4-4-0 goods locomotive designed for work on the line between Roseworthy and Burra-Burra that was limited to light axle loads. It used the same boiler as the 2-4-0 of the class C, but had less load on the individual axles due to the bogie at the front. The first three were built by Robert Stephenson & Co. in 1870, but their good performances led to three more orders which brought the total to nine. From 1886, they were replaced by the 4-6-0 class R on their original line and were transferred to another line. One was withdrawn in 1888, but the SAR has already begun to rebuild all others in 1880. The rebuilding process was completed in 1910 and seven members of the class survived until the twenties. More withdrawals followed and the last one was gone by 1930.