You can see the oldest American-made locomotive at Rail Festival this weekend

“The Baltimore & Ohio, the first commercial railroad in the United States, ran a contest in the early 1830s to design an engine, “said Bob Limoseth, a volunteer at Carillon Historical Park.

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“Phineas Davis, a watch maker from York, Pennsylvania submitted a design which was different from all the others in that the rods and the pistons ran in an up and down position as opposed to a horizontal position. From that design it gained the nickname the “grasshopper.”

The John Quincy Adams was one of seven locomotives built with this unique design and put into service. Originally it was on a line from Baltimore to Washington D.C. carrying passengers who paid $2.50 for a ticket.

Over the years its name was removed and changed as the engines with this design were scrapped.

The provenance of the John Quincy Adams became even more muddled in 1893 when it was altered to appear as an 1833 locomotive named Traveler, to appear in what was billed as the “greatest historical railroad show in the world” at the Chicago World’s Fair.

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The “grasshopper” returned to Baltimore and sat in a scrap yard before it was placed in a museum unrestored, according to Dayton History research.

In 1947 Col. Edward Deeds, chairman of the board of The National Cash Register Company, approached the B&O for a train engine for his new museum.

The railroad company had Traveler available and Deeds sent it off for restoration. During rebuilding the true identity of the locomotive was revealed. Deeds had acquired the John Quincy Adams.

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“The uniqueness of the train, the uniqueness of the design, and the fact that it is the only remaining American made steam engine from that time period makes it special,” said Limoseth.

Today the B&O #1, John Quincy Adams, is on display in the James F. Dicke Family Transportation Center at Carillon Historical Park. A Barney & Smith wooden parlor car, an Interurban and more transportation history are also on display in the center.

The two-day rail festival will feature live steam engines, model train displays, and free miniature train rides.

WANT TO GO? 

What: Carillon Park Rail Festival

Where: Carillon Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton

When:  Saturday June 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday June 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: Adults: $8; seniors (60+): $7 and children (3-17): $5; Dayton History members: free.

Parking is free.

For more information: (937) 293-2841 or railfestival.com