Assembly committee releases bill to designate the John Bull as New Jersey’s state steam locomotive

The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee voted to release Assembly Bill 1079, which would designate the John Bull as the New Jersey state steam locomotive, after testimony from a local historian.

Pierre Lacombe of the Bordentown Historical Society told the committee the John Bull first ran on 11/12/1831 and detailed the locomotive’s assembly and regional manufacture: the engine was built in England, the tender was made in Bordentown and passenger carriages were built in Hoboken. Lacombe said the engine ‘‘is the oldest operable land mechanized vehicle on Earth’’ and described plans to mark the John Bull’s 200th anniversary in 2031 and to display related artifacts in a proposed Camden & Amboy Heritage Railroad Museum.

Lacombe also described preservation work in Bordentown, including a nomination to the National Park Service for the Camden and Amboy Railroad Historic District and a local campaign to save an 1831 bridge over early flat-bottom T rails. He told the committee that the town has secured a written agreement with New Jersey Transit for a half-acre site to develop a railroad heritage park showcasing multiple rail styles from the 1830s.

Committee members asked no substantive follow-up questions during Lacombe’s testimony. A motion to release AB1079 was made and seconded; roll call votes recorded all members present voting "Yes." The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Assemblyman McClellan, Assemblyman Guardian, Assemblyman Venezia, Assemblyman Stanley, Assemblywoman Rowan, Vice Chair Bailey and Chairman Mullen. The chair declared the bill released to the next legislative stage.

If enacted, the bill would memorialize the John Bull’s place in the state’s transportation history and support related commemorations and local preservation efforts. The bill’s next step is consideration by the full Assembly.