Today in 1981, the British-built John Bull steam locomotive became the oldest operable steam locomotive in history when the Smithsonian Institute fired it up for the locomotive’s 150 year anniversary. The John Bull was built in 1831 and was operated for the first time on September 15 of the same year in Bordentown, New Jersey, USA. It saw many ownership transfers over the years, but is now on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.