The locomotive was built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a charitable trust founded in 1990 to build "Tornado" and possibly further locomotives. "Tornado" was conceived as an evolution of the LNER Peppercorn Class A1, incorporating improvements that would have been likely had steam continued, and changes for cost, safety, manufacturing and operational benefits, while replicating the original design's sound and appearance. "Tornado", completely new-built, is considered the 50th Peppercorn A1, numbered next in the class after 60162, "Saint Johnstoun", built in 1949.