<Li> 1830 - The first public railway in the United States , the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ( B&O ) , opened with 23 miles of track , with mostly hardwood rail topped with iron . The steam locomotive , Tom Thumb ( locomotive ) , was designed and built by Peter Cooper for the B&O -- the first American - built steam locomotive . Trials of the locomotive began on the B&O that year . </Li>
<Li> 1830 - The first public railway in the United States , the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ( B&O ) , opened with 23 miles of track , with mostly hardwood rail topped with iron . The steam locomotive , Tom Thumb ( locomotive ) , was designed and built by Peter Cooper for the B&O -- the first American - built steam locomotive . Trials of the locomotive began on the B&O that year . </Li>
when was the first public railroad in the us started
when was the first public railroad in the us started
1830
1830