simonbpJun 3, 2023

#CoolTrainTuesday (even though it's Friday)

The John Bull, the oldest intact locomotive in the Americas. Built originally by Robert Stevenson in 1831 as a similar 0-4-0 "luggage locomotive" to what was used on the Liverpool & Manchester, it was significantly modified by the Camden & Amboy (of New Jersey) into a 2+2-2-0 by removing the connecting rods and adding floating pony truck with cowcatcher.

#train #steam #steamtrain

Show threadsimonbpJun 3, 2023
The safety valve (left) and crowned chimney (right) are 1830s UK standard practice. The bell, extra steam dome (between the safety valve and chimney), and large smokebox light are American additions
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You can see where the cranks to connect the wheels used to be; the C&A removed them because they caused the engine to derail too easily. American locomotives after John Bull diverged from English ones largely because American track was of poorer quality.

The Bury-style domed firebox is original, and iirc could be the oldest Stevenson domed firebox left. Norris would copy the design and it briefly became the American standard.

Jun 3, 2023 at 1:22amWeb
Show threadsimonbpJun 3, 2023
The tender is a replica of the original. When John Bull was briefly steamed in the 1980s, it used a replica of the covered tender more contemporaneous with its 2+2-2-0 configuration