The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was America's first Common Carrier Railroad and the builder of the first American-built steam locomotives. The Atlantic, a 4-wheeled steam locomotive was built in 1832. This would be the first American-built steam locomotive to enter service on a common carrier railroad in the USA.
The original Atlantic was built by its inventor, Phineas Davis, and was not preserved. Nicknamed the "Grasshopper" for its unique vertical piston movement, the B&O continued to build around twenty of these locomotives of this same basic design in their Mt. Clare Shops in Baltimore, Maryland, (now home to the B & O Railroad Museum). Three of these historic "Grasshopper" locomotives are preserved and on public display appropriately enough in Baltimore and Ohio. These are the oldest American Built Steam Locomotives surviving today. 4
The original Atlantic was built by its inventor, Phineas Davis, and was not preserved. Nicknamed the "Grasshopper" for its unique vertical piston movement, the B&O continued to build around twenty of these locomotives of this same basic design in their Mt. Clare Shops in Baltimore, Maryland, (now home to the B & O Railroad Museum). Three of these historic "Grasshopper" locomotives are preserved and on public display appropriately enough in Baltimore and Ohio. These are the oldest American Built Steam Locomotives surviving today. 4
3. B&O Steam Locomotive #8, the John Hancock, is on display at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum which is the location of the Mt. Clare Shops where all of the B&O Railroad Grasshopper Locomotives were built. Baltimore & Ohio Steam Locomotive #8 was built in 1836 and was in continuous service at the Mt. Clare shops until 1892 when it was retired from service and put on display at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Illinois. 1
2. B&O Railroad Steam Locomotive the "Atlantic" is on display at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore Maryland. But remember when I said the Atlantic was not preserved? Well, this locomotive on display is actually -
Baltimore & Ohio Steam Locomotive #7, the Andrew Jackson, which was built in 1836. It was rebuilt and re-lettered as the Atlantic in 1892 when it went on display at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. Since the original Atlantic had been scrapped, the #7 was modified and backdated to represent the original B&O Steam Locomotive the Atlantic, which it has done at various locations since 1892, up to to the present day. 2
Baltimore & Ohio Steam Locomotive #7, the Andrew Jackson, which was built in 1836. It was rebuilt and re-lettered as the Atlantic in 1892 when it went on display at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. Since the original Atlantic had been scrapped, the #7 was modified and backdated to represent the original B&O Steam Locomotive the Atlantic, which it has done at various locations since 1892, up to to the present day. 2
1. This leads us to the oldest Steam Locomotive, built in America and surviving today...
B&O Railroad Locomotive #6, the "John Quincy Adams" which was built in 1835.
This locomotive is on display at the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton Ohio. The Carillon Park was developed by Edward Deeds who acquired the locomotive from the B&O Railroad in the 1940s. It's been on display at the Carillon Park since 1950. 3
This locomotive is displayed at the Carillon Park as “B&O #1” which is the number that it was given since it represents the oldest surviving Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Steam Locomotive.
1- http://www.borail.org/John-Hancock.aspx
2- http://www.borail.org/BO-Atlantic.aspx
3- http://thedaytonmagazine.com/DM/Articles/Dayton_History_5716.aspx
4- http://www.borail.org/The-Mt-Clare-Shops-Historic-Site-and-Buildings.aspx
B&O Railroad Locomotive #6, the "John Quincy Adams" which was built in 1835.
This locomotive is on display at the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton Ohio. The Carillon Park was developed by Edward Deeds who acquired the locomotive from the B&O Railroad in the 1940s. It's been on display at the Carillon Park since 1950. 3
This locomotive is displayed at the Carillon Park as “B&O #1” which is the number that it was given since it represents the oldest surviving Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Steam Locomotive.
1- http://www.borail.org/John-Hancock.aspx
2- http://www.borail.org/BO-Atlantic.aspx
3- http://thedaytonmagazine.com/DM/Articles/Dayton_History_5716.aspx
4- http://www.borail.org/The-Mt-Clare-Shops-Historic-Site-and-Buildings.aspx