Samson

Samson is a steam locomotive built in 1838 and brought to Nova Scotia to pull coal cars. The engine features a return-flue boiler with separate platforms at each end where the fireman and engineer could work independently.

Timothy Hackworth built this locomotive in 1838 at his workshop in Durham, England, and it was then shipped to Nova Scotia for coal mining work. It became the first steam locomotive to operate on iron rails in Canada.

The locomotive represents early Canadian industrial development, serving as the first locomotive to operate on iron rails in the country.

The locomotive could reach speeds of about 8 miles per hour (13 kilometers per hour) and carried a boiler holding over 2000 liters of water. Visitors can view it up close at the museum and see how the engine was designed and operated by its crew.

About 90 percent of its original parts remain intact, which makes it an unusually complete example from this era. Only four locomotives built by Timothy Hackworth still exist in the world, and this one is among the best preserved.

Location: Nova Scotia

GPS coordinates: 45.56780,-62.65760

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:54