Grand Junction Railway No. 49 Columbine

No. 49 known as Columbine, was originally part of the Grand Junction Railway and later became part of the London & North Western Railway. Built in 1845 at Crewe Works and designed by Alexander Allen, this 2-2-2 locomotive represented a significant advancement in locomotive engineering.
Notably, Columbine was the pioneer of the standard Crewe type engine, characterized by its impressive 6-foot diameter driving wheels. During the early days of locomotive development, many engines featured inside cylinders that drove onto a crank axle, which posed structural vulnerabilities.
To address this issue, W.B. Buddicom and Francis Trevithick, the son of Richard Trevithick, collaborated on the design of outside cylinders. This innovative design became influential in British locomotive engineering for more than four decades.
Over the years, Columbine underwent various modifications, with one notable change being the removal of its cab. This alteration was made to restore the locomotive's appearance to its early 1870s configuration, allowing it to serve as a historical representation of a pivotal era in locomotive design and engineering. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co205741/grand-junction-railway-locomotive-columbine-steam-locomotive
It was renumbered 1868 in 1872 and was transferred to the Engineer’s Department in 1877 as Engineer Bangor, being replaced on that duty in 1902.
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Two-coupled locomotives
Category:2-2-2 steam locomotives
Category:2-2-2 locomotives
Category:Crewe Works locomotives
Category:Built in 1845
Category:LNWR locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Standard gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain
Category:4 foot 8 1⁄2 inch gauge
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:Preserved locomotives