1981 the john bull becomes the oldest operable steam locomotive i 09 15
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1981 45 years ago Historical Events September 15 3 sources

The John Bull becomes the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when the Smithsonian Institution operates it under its own power outside Washington, D.C.

On September 15, in the year 1981, The John Bull becomes the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when the Smithsonian Institution operates it under its own power outside Washington, D.C. This event is recorded as a Historical Events event in the history of September 15, one of 447 recorded events on this date across all of history.

John Bull is a historic British-built steam locomotive that operated in the United States. It was operated for the first time on September 15, 1831, and became the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when the Smithsonian Institution ran it under its own steam in 1981. Built by Robert Stephenson and Company, it was initially purchased by and operated for the Camden and Amboy Railroad, the first railroad in New Jersey, which gave it the number 1 and its first name, "Stevens". The C&A used it heavily from 1833 until 1866, when it was removed from active service and placed in storage.

Key Facts

  • This event took place on September 15, 1981 (AD era).
  • It is categorised as a Historical Events event in recorded history.
  • Referenced in 3 Wikipedia articles.
  • Wikipedia source last updated on 4 July 2026.

On This Date in History 447

Type Year Date Event
Notable Deaths 2024 Sep 15 Tito Jackson, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1953)
Notable Deaths 2024 Sep 15 Elias Khoury, Lebanese intellectual, playwright and novelist (born 1948)
Notable Deaths 2023 Sep 15 Fernando Botero, Colombian painter and sculptor (born 1932)
Notable Deaths 2021 Sep 15 Lou Angotti, Canadian ice hockey player and coach (born 1938)
Historical Events 2020 Sep 15 Signing of the Bahrain–Israel normalization agreement occurs in Washington, D.C., normalizing relations between Israel…
Selected Events 2020 Sep 15 Signing of the Abraham Accords (signatories pictured) occurs in Washington, D.C., normalizing relations between Israel…
Notable Deaths 2019 Sep 15 Ric Ocasek, American musician (born 1944)
Notable Deaths 2018 Sep 15 Helen Clare, British singer (born 1916)
Historical Events 2017 Sep 15 The Parsons Green bombing takes place in London.
Notable Deaths 2017 Sep 15 Harry Dean Stanton, American actor (born 1926)
Notable Deaths 2015 Sep 15 Harry J. Lipkin, Israeli physicist and academic (born 1921)
Notable Deaths 2015 Sep 15 Meir Pa'il, Israeli commander, historian, and politician (born 1926)
Notable Deaths 2015 Sep 15 Bernard Van de Kerckhove, Belgian cyclist (born 1941)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 15 John Anderson Jr., American lawyer and politician, 36th Governor of Kansas (born 1917)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 15 Eugene I. Gordon, American physicist and engineer (born 1930)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 15 Nicholas Romanov, Prince of Russia (born 1922)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 15 Jürg Schubiger, Swiss psychotherapist and author (born 1936)
Notable Deaths 2014 Sep 15 Wayne Tefs, Canadian anthologist, author, and critic (born 1947)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 15 Habib Munzir Al-Musawa, Indonesian cleric and scholar (born 1973)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 15 Jerry G. Bishop, American radio and television host (born 1936)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 15 Gerard Cafesjian, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1925)
Notable Deaths 2013 Sep 15 Jackie Lomax, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1944)
Selected Events 2013 Sep 15 The Belarusian serial killer Ivan Kulesh murdered two saleswomen in Lida.
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 15 Tibor Antalpéter, Hungarian volleyball player and diplomat, Ambassador of Hungary to the United Kingdom (born 1930)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 15 Nevin Spence, Northern Irish rugby player (born 1990)
Notable Deaths 2012 Sep 15 Hajra Masroor, Pakistani writer (born 1930)
Historical Events 2011 Sep 15 Four miners are killed in the Gleision Colliery mining accident in the Swansea Valley, Wales.
Notable Deaths 2011 Sep 15 Frances Bay, Canadian-American actress (born 1919)
Notable Deaths 2010 Sep 15 Arrow, Caribbean singer-songwriter (born 1949)
Notable Deaths 2009 Sep 15 Troy Kennedy Martin, Scottish-English screenwriter (born 1932)
Historical Events 2008 Sep 15 Lehman Brothers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history.
Notable Deaths 2008 Sep 15 Richard Wright, English singer-songwriter and keyboard player (born 1943)
Selected Events 2008 Sep 15 Financial crisis of 2007–2008: The global financial services firm Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy while holding…
Notable Deaths 2007 Sep 15 Colin McRae, Scottish race car driver (born 1968)
Notable Deaths 2007 Sep 15 Jeremy Moore, English general (born 1928)
Notable Deaths 2007 Sep 15 Aldemaro Romero, Venezuelan pianist, composer, and conductor (born 1928)
Notable Deaths 2007 Sep 15 Brett Somers, Canadian-American actress and singer (born 1924)
Notable Deaths 2006 Sep 15 Raymond Baxter, English television host and author (born 1922)
Notable Deaths 2006 Sep 15 Oriana Fallaci, Italian journalist and author (born 1929)
Notable Deaths 2006 Sep 15 Pablo Santos, Mexican-American actor (born 1987)
Notable Deaths 2005 Sep 15 Guy Green, English director and cinematographer (born 1913)
Notable Deaths 2005 Sep 15 Sidney Luft, American manager and producer (born 1915)
Historical Events 2004 Sep 15 National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announces lockout of the players' union and cessation of operations…
Notable Deaths 2004 Sep 15 Johnny Ramone, American guitarist and songwriter (born 1948)
Notable Deaths 2004 Sep 15 Walter Stewart, Canadian journalist and author (born 1931)
Notable Deaths 2003 Sep 15 Garner Ted Armstrong, American evangelist and author (born 1930)
Historical Events 2001 Sep 15 During a CART race at the Lausitzring in Germany, former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi suffers a heavy accident…
Notable Deaths 2001 Sep 15 June Salter, Australian actress and author (born 1932)
Notable Births 2000 Sep 15 Felix, Australian singer based in South Korea, member of Stray Kids
Notable Births 1999 Sep 15 Jaren Jackson Jr., American basketball player

This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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