This locomotive was built by Beyer Peacock in 1856 for the Swedish State Railways.
It was one of 45 B class locomotives built between 1856 and 1872 for service on the Southern Main Line and the Western Main Line for use on mixed freight and passenger trains. The Southern Main Line route was Katrineholm–Norrköping–Linköping–Nässjö–Sävsjö-Alvesta–Hässleholm–Malmö and the Western Main Line Stockholm–Katrineholm–Hallsberg–Skövde–Falköping-Göteborg.
The original locomotives of this class were delivered from England without a cab. They were capable of speeds of 75kmh (a little under 50 mph).
This locomotive was given the name Prinus August after Prince August the Duke of Dalarna who was said to be fond of railways. It was the first of 23 locomotives built by Beyer Peacock in Manchester to run in Sweden. The remaining 22 members of the B class were built in Sweden (5 by Nyköpings Mekaniska Verkstad, 8 by Motala verkstad, and 9 by Nydqvist & Holm).
The locomotive ran until 1906 when it was taken out of service and preserved at the Swedish Railway Museum at Gävle. The last class B locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1972.
It has subsequently been steamed on a number of occasions as in 2006 as part of the 150th anniversary celebration of the Malmö–Lund rail line. Other times in operation were in 1956 for its 100th anniversary and then again in 1981.
When running it was the oldest operating steam locomotive in the world. The oldest in Britain was built by Sharp Stewart & Co (Works number 1448) for the Furness Railway seven years later than this engine.
The locomotive is now on static display at the Swedish Railway Museum at Gävle.
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