After completion at Horwich Works it was allocated to Blackpool Central's 24E Shed where it remained for nearly six years until January 1952 when it was transferred to Accrington near Blackburn.

Further shed transfers were to follow throughout its career with British Railways including Agecroft - Greater Manchester, Leicester, Annesley and Derby.

The engine undertook its first test run on 10 August running from Carnforth to Hellifield and back,[1] and the engine worked its first revenue earning trip down the Cumbrian Coast and Furness Line while hauling the return leg of a "Cumbrian Coast Express" railtour from Carlisle to Carnforth on 24 September 2022.

60163 Tornado, as part of Network Rail's "Pathfinder Project" which is being undertaken to assess the fitment of in-cab signalling to heritage locomotives.

[3] In 2013 during the 45th anniversary celebrations of the end of steam in August 1968, it took part in two special one off railtours, the first was on Wednesday 7 August working one of the Statesman Rail's Fellsman trains which was renamed for the occasion "The Fifteen Guinea Fellsman" which it ran in double headed form with 45231 The Sherwood Forester from Lancaster to Carlisle and back via The Settle and Carlisle line.