The locomotive was built by Kitson, Thompson & Hewitson of England and worked on passenger and freight services for more than 55 years.

[4] The locomotive was constructed by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson at Leeds, in England, in 1855,[5] and reached Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, in the same year.

[10] In 1943, the locomotive was moved to the Railway Zonal Training School at Chandausi, in Uttar Pradesh, where it served as a curiosity object for many of the students based there.

Express was restored by Loco Works Perambur for running in 2011, making it a contender as the world's oldest operating steam locomotive.

It was restored and given a special spot in the newly built National Rail Museum at Chanakyapuri, in New Delhi,[17] which offers a comprehensive history of the Indian railway's defunct and operational models, their signalling apparatus, antique furnitures used, historic photographs, relevant literature, etc.

[18] Following the success of the Palace on Wheels, the locomotive was restored to full working order in 1997, in preparation for its first mainline journey in 88 years and its return to commercial service on 18 July.

[8] The two-day excursion saw the train plying the 143 kilometres (89 mi) from New Delhi to Alwar in Rajasthan, with passengers spending an overnight stay at the Sariska Tiger Reserve.

The locomotive hauled a carriage capable of carrying 60 passengers at a maximum speed of 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph), with a service car holding a generator, compressor and pantry.