Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, 4-6-0 represents the configuration of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading bogie, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second most popular configuration for new steam locomotives in the United States of America (USA) in the mid 19th century. In the USA this type is commonly referred to as a Ten-wheeler.
Other equivalent classifications are:
- UIC classification: 2'C' (also known as German classification and Italian classification)
- French classification: 230
- Turkish classification: 35
- Swiss classification: 3/5
- Russian classification: 2-3-0