1815 in rail transport

February events

 * February 6 – The first railroad charter in the United States is issued to the New Jersey Railroad Company, a railroad that ultimately was never built.

May or June events

 * Bryn Oer Tramway in South Wales opened.

July events

 * July 31 – The boiler explosion of a locomotive designed by William Brunton on the Newbottle Waggonway in North East England kills around a dozen people, the first railway disaster.

January births

 * January 21 - Daniel McCallum, Scottish-born General Superintendent of New York and Erie Railroad 1855–1858 (d. 1878).

March births

 * March 24 - Edward Entwistle, first driver of the Rocket locomotive (d. 1909).