The Old John Bull - and it's replica at Strasburg

 

"John Bull [Replica] on view 1956 at Hepburn Street" Jack Burns, photographer

On September 15 1831, The original "John Bull" - a British built railroad locomotive was operated for the first time, in New Jersey. It became the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when the Smithsonian Institution operated it in 1981, outside of Washington D.C.

According to a 1938 article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the first steam engine to haul cars carrying passengers in the United States was the Stourbridge Lion, which made the trip from Honesdale to Carbondale in 1829.  It ran on the gravity railroad of the Delaware and Hudson Company, which had been build for hauling coal  from the mines to the canal.

The John Bull was the fifth steam engine in the United States to haul cars carrying passengers.

Another view of the John Bull Replica

The longer replica plaque reads:

Built in England for the Camden and Amboy Railroad, for many years a part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system, the original "John Bull", now in the Smithsonian Institution , Washington D.C., is the oldest locomotive in America that has been preserved in completely form.  It's initial run November 12 1831, Near Bordentown N.J, was the firs trip of a steam locomotive with passengers in that state and the fifth anywhere in the United States.

As received from the builders, the "John Bull" had only four wheels: I.E. two pairs of coupled drivers.  The two-wheel leading truck and pilot were added, and other changed made, to take curved more readily.  The locomotive continued in active service until 1865 and in 1883 was presented to the Smithsonian Institution.  Ten years later the "John Bull" ran under it's own power to the world Columbian Exposition at Chicago, hauling two of its original cars.  In 1939 and 1940 it formed part of the railroad exhibit at the New York Worlds Fair, while this replica built at the Pennsylvania Railroad, Altoona Works, was a prominent feature of the fairs noted pageant.

"Railroads On Parade"

Cylinders 10 7/8 (Originally 9") Diameter 20" stroke

Driving Wheels 54" in Diameter

Weight with tender in working order 44000lbs

Tractive Effort - 1861 lbs

Working Steam Pressure 50lbs

Per Square inch

The John Bull was built in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England.  It was disassembled, shipped across the ocean, and reassembled in New Jersey.

There it was used on the Camden and Amboy Railroad, a predecessor of the Pennsylvania Railroad.It was first steamed up on November 1831, in Bordentown New Jersey, and began regular service in 1833.  It was fitted with lead wheels and a cow catcher - the first time these devices were used.

"Between 1831 and 1836 the John Bull underwent considerable modification, and in the  latter year was in the active service on the Camden and Amboy road just as she is today.  For years it was stored away at Bordertown N.J. "Harrisburg Daily Independent April 1893

The John Bull hauled passengers, and later, gravel and work trains.  In 1858, it was exhibited at the New Jersey Agricultural fair.

In 1866, the John Bull was retired, and stored away.  In 1871, when the Pennsylvania railroad took over Camden and Amboy, it acquired the John Bull as well.

In 1876 the locomotive was displayed at the United States Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, and again at a railway supply trade show in Chicago in 1883.

In 1885, the Pennsylvania Railroad donated the locomotive to the Smithsonian Institution, where it resides still today.

But in 1893, the Smithsonian loaned the locomotive back to the Pennsylvania Railroad for it's longest run, more than 900 miles over the main line from Jersey City to Chicago.

At the close of the fair, the it made the return trip, again under its own power.

In 1893, the Original Old Bull Went to The Worlds Fair

The Original John Bull, in 1893

On April 17th 1893, Old Bull left Jersey City Station in PA for the Chicago Worlds Fair:

In 1939, The Pennsylvania Railroad borrowed the locomotive again, for the Century of Progress exhibition in Chicago.. Unlike its earlier jaunt to Chicago, for this trip, the railroad hauled and displayed it as a static exhibit. 

In 1927, the Original John Bull was exhibited in Baltimore.

The Replica, At the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1948

From November 16-19th, 1956, John Bull was on display in Wilkes Barre

The article says "... it was placed in the Smithsonian Institution.  In 1893 it ran under its own power with two of its original cards, which accompany the engine to Wilkes Barre."

It does not make sense for this to be the original, despite what the article says.  But I really don't know, I wasn't there to see it.  

The John Bull Stamp

One of a series of  historic train stamps issues in 1987

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I came across an article that I cannot now locate, that spoke of the John Bull and several other cars being worked on at the Northumberland Engine House.  Another article in the 1960s, makes mention of the John Bull being stored there.  I'm not certain however that it was the "original" John Bull - the Northumberland Roundhouse had "John Bull Style" engines in storage as late as 1960, and a school field trip report from the late 1950s mentioned the John Bull they saw on the trip to visit the roundhouse.