 The 2-8-2 layout of the X class allowed a wide, deep firebox suited to the high ash, low calorific coals from the State Coal Mine typically used for goods haulage.This improved on some key shortcomings of the C class which were regarded as poor steaming and featured a very long manually stoked firebox that was difficult to fire and prone to clinkering.The X class was also equipped with a much larger capacity tender of similar design to the S class Pacific introduced in 1928, enabling through runs from Melbourne to Bendigo without intermediate stops to restock the tender.