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All Aboard: The John Stevens Bicentennial

Nestled near the first-floor windows of the Samuel C. Williams Library lies an essential, unexpected piece of American industrial history: a 1920s-replica of the John Stevens steam locomotive, originally built by Col. John Stevens (father of Stevens Institute of Technology founder Edwin). This year marks the 200th anniversary of Stevens’ first successful demonstration of an American-built steam-powered locomotive. A series of trials took place from 1825 to 1826 at his Castle Point estate and near the current Hoboken PATH station. Colonel John — a steamboat innovator whose sons developed the first railroad built in New Jersey and conceived the T-rail — wrote with great vision: “… Diverging from the center, like rays of the sun, railroads will diffuse light, heat and animation to every extremity of the Commonwealth and the rest of the nation.”

– Beth Kissinger

1. Steam Locomotive

This replica — based on John Stevens’ original writings — was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Altoona Works for the inauguration of Stevens President Harvey Davis in 1928. Acquired by the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, it was later purchased at auction by John Hovey ’57, who donated it back to Stevens in 2015.

2. Legacy

The original John Stevens locomotive is lost to history, but its boiler, shown here, and safety valve are with the Smithsonian Institution.

3. Painting

This Fulvio Giudici watercolor celebrated the locomotive’s 150th anniversary in 1975-76.

4. Pamphlet (Facsimile)

In 1812, Col. John published Documents Tending to Prove The Superior Advantages of Rail-Ways and Steam-Carriages Over Canal Navigation, his prescient treatise that argued for a U.S. railroad system.

5. Reenactment

President Davis’ inauguration included a re-enactment of the John Stevens’ first locomotive run. It took place on a circular track built just north of Walker Gymnasium.

6. Inauguration Day, 1928

John Stevens VII (in top hat) and his cousin Emily Lewis Stevens (fur-lined cape), great-great-grandchildren of Col. John Stevens, ride aboard the John Stevens replica at President Davis’ inauguration on November 23, 1928.

Historic Items: Archives & Special Collections, Samuel C. Williams Library.

Visit the Library Archives & Special Collections

Photos from the Archive

Replica of the steam locamotive, about 15 feet long, in window of library
Black and white photo of small steam locamotive on circular track with about 8 people aboard.
Black and white photo of a crowd around an old steam locamotive with a man in a top hat and a woman in a winter coat aboard.
Black and white photo of an old boiler, which is a series of tubes.
1812 book with the title "Documents Tending to Prove The Superior Advantages of Rail-Ways and Steam-Carriages Over Canal Navigation".
Watercolor painting of early steam locamotive on a circular track with four people aboard.
Replica of the steam locamotive, about 15 feet long, in window of library
Black and white photo of small steam locamotive on circular track with about 8 people aboard.
Black and white photo of a crowd around an old steam locamotive with a man in a top hat and a woman in a winter coat aboard.
Black and white photo of an old boiler, which is a series of tubes.
1812 book with the title "Documents Tending to Prove The Superior Advantages of Rail-Ways and Steam-Carriages Over Canal Navigation".
Watercolor painting of early steam locamotive on a circular track with four people aboard.
Replica of the steam locamotive, about 15 feet long, in window of library
Black and white photo of small steam locamotive on circular track with about 8 people aboard.
Black and white photo of a crowd around an old steam locamotive with a man in a top hat and a woman in a winter coat aboard.
Black and white photo of an old boiler, which is a series of tubes.
1812 book with the title "Documents Tending to Prove The Superior Advantages of Rail-Ways and Steam-Carriages Over Canal Navigation".
Watercolor painting of early steam locamotive on a circular track with four people aboard.

The John Stevens replica locomotive inside S.C. Williams Library was built for President Harvey Davis’ 1928 inauguration.

A re-enactment on campus of the John Stevens’ first locomotive run, during President Davis’ inauguration.

John Stevens VII (top hat) and Emily Lewis Stevens (cape), great-great-grandchildren of Col. John Stevens, at the inauguration.

The original John Stevens locomotive’s boiler, now with the Smithsonian Institution.

Col. John Stevens’ Documents Tending to Prove The Superior Advantages of Rail-Ways and Steam-Carriages Over Canal Navigation.

This watercolor by Fulvio Giudici celebrated the locomotive’s 150th anniversary in 1975-76.

The John Stevens replica locomotive inside S.C. Williams Library was built for President Harvey Davis’ 1928 inauguration.

A re-enactment on campus of the John Stevens’ first locomotive run, during President Davis’ inauguration.

John Stevens VII (top hat) and Emily Lewis Stevens (cape), great-great-grandchildren of Col. John Stevens, at the inauguration.

The original John Stevens locomotive’s boiler, now with the Smithsonian Institution.

Col. John Stevens’ Documents Tending to Prove The Superior Advantages of Rail-Ways and Steam-Carriages Over Canal Navigation.

This watercolor by Fulvio Giudici celebrated the locomotive’s 150th anniversary in 1975-76.

The John Stevens replica locomotive inside S.C. Williams Library was built for President Harvey Davis’ 1928 inauguration.

A re-enactment on campus of the John Stevens’ first locomotive run, during President Davis’ inauguration.

John Stevens VII (top hat) and Emily Lewis Stevens (cape), great-great-grandchildren of Col. John Stevens, at the inauguration.

The original John Stevens locomotive’s boiler, now with the Smithsonian Institution.

Col. John Stevens’ Documents Tending to Prove The Superior Advantages of Rail-Ways and Steam-Carriages Over Canal Navigation.

This watercolor by Fulvio Giudici celebrated the locomotive’s 150th anniversary in 1975-76.

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