Foster, Rastrick and Company built the Stourbridge Lion in 1829, which was the first locomotive to be operated in the United States.
One of the first to operate outside Great Britain, the locomotive takes its name from a lion face painted on its front and Stourbridge, England, where it was manufactured.
The Delaware & Hudson Canal Company obtained the steamer, which was shipped to New York in May 1829. There, it was tested and raised on blocks.
It was then transported to Honesdale, Pennsylvania, for testing on the company’s newly built track. While the locomotive performed well in its first test in August 1829, it was found too heavy for the track and was never used for hauling coal wagons.
Several parts were removed from the abandoned locomotive during the next few decades. Eventually, only the boiler and a few other components remained.
The Smithsonian Institution acquired the parts in 1890, and they are currently on display at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore.
