This List of first steam locomotives chronicles known steam locomotives to achieve a feat or utilize a technology for the first time in the world or in a significant region.
- Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot's fardier à vapeur built in 1769 - first steam wagon.
- William Murdoch's model built in 1784 - was Britain's first working model of a steam carriage, or road locomotive.
- Puffing Devil built in 1801 - took part in first demonstration of transportation powered by steam.
- Salamanca (locomotive) built in 1812 - first commercially successful steam locomotive, first to have two cylinders, first rack and pinion locomotive, first locomotive to appear in a painting.
- Locomotion No. 1 built in 1825 - on 27 September 1825, became first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line.
- Novelty (locomotive) built in the late 1820's - was the first tank engine.
- Stourbridge Lion built in 1829 - on August 8, 1829, became first steam locomotive to be operated in the United States, and one of the first locomotives to operate outside Britain.
- Stephenson's Rocket built in 1829 - was the first 0-2-2 configuration and the first single driver locomotive.
- Tom Thumb (locomotive) built in 1830 - on August 25 (or September 28), 1930, became first American-built steam locomotive to operate on a common-carrier railroad.
- John Bull (locomotive) built in 1831 - on September 15, 1981, became oldest operable steam locomotive at 150 years old.