The 7F 2-8-0 was produced by the Midland Railway at Derby for the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, in which it had a fifty percent share with the London & South Western Railway. The main line from Bath to Bournemouth included the Mendip Hills and it was essential for a heavy freight locomotive to be built to avoid costly double heading of less powerful types over the demanding terrain. Six locomotives were delivered in 1914 and a further five delivered in 1925. The second batch was subcontracted to Robert Stephenson & Co. Ltd and had larger boilers. All members of the class were taken into LMS stock in 1928 and passed to British Railways in 1948. The first locomotive was withdrawn in 1959 and the last in 1964. Two examples were rescued from Barry scrapyard and have been preserved.