September 15

Events - Transportation & Infrastructure

1830day.year

The Liverpool to Manchester railway line opens; British MP William Huskisson becomes the first widely reported railway passenger fatality when he is struck and killed by the locomotive Rocket.

When the Liverpool-Manchester Railway launched in 1830, MP William Huskisson became the first widely reported railway fatality, highlighting early rail dangers.
The Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the world’s first inter-city passenger line powered by steam locomotives, opened on September 15, 1830. Hundreds of dignitaries gathered at Parkside to witness the inaugural journey. During the celebrations, British MP William Huskisson stepped onto the track to greet friends and was tragically struck by Stephenson’s Rocket. He became the first prominent railway passenger fatality, dying later that evening. The accident underscored the need for greater safety measures on the emerging rail network. Despite the tragedy, the line’s success ushered in a new era of rapid transportation and industrial growth. It laid the foundation for global railway expansion.
1830 Liverpool to Manchester railway line opens British MP William Huskisson Rocket
1981day.year

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.

The John Bull locomotive becomes the oldest operable steam engine at the Smithsonian.
On September 15, 1981, the Smithsonian Institution brought the historic John Bull locomotive back to life outside Washington, D.C. Built in 1831, the John Bull had been preserved as a static exhibit for decades. Firing its boiler under its own steam, it became the oldest operational steam locomotive in the world. This demonstration celebrated early American railroad engineering and industrial heritage. The event drew crowds eager to witness a living piece of transportation history.
John Bull steam locomotive Smithsonian Institution