In its first move in 90 years, the 185-year-old Rocket steam locomotive recently took off from The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia to make its way to its new home at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

Completed in March 1838, the Rocket was the first of eight locomotives purchased by the Philadelphia & Reading Railway from London-based builder Braithwaite, Milner & Company from 1838 to 1841. In addition to Rocket, the locomotives were named Firefly, Spitfire, Comet, Dragon, Helca, Planet and Gem, and most of them remained in service for decades.

The Rocket is all that remains from this group and is the oldest surviving Reading Railroad locomotive. The woodburning steam locomotive Rocket originally weighed 17,000 pounds and is 17 feet long. As with most early locomotives, it did not have an enclosed cab to shelter the engineer.

The Rocket was shown at the World's Columbian Exposition - Chicago World's Fair - in 1893, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition - St. Louis World's Fair - in 1904 and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad's Fair of the Iron Horse in 1927. The Rocket came to the Franklin Institute on loan from the Reading Company in 1933. It was placed on public display in 1934. Since that time, it has been displayed on a portion of its original tracks next to the Baldwin 60000 locomotive. The Consolidated Rail Corporation - Conrail - the owner of the Rocket, identified the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania as the next home for the early steam locomotive.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is home to a collection of about 100 historic locomotives and railroad cars, a vast research library and archives, a working restoration shop, an immersive education center and programs, a museum store and special events and exhibits.

A Smithsonian Affiliate, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is one of 24 historic sites and museums administered by the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission as part of the Pennsylvania Trails of History, with the active support of the nonprofit Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit http://www.RRMuseumPA.org or call 717-687-8628.