William Buddicom

William Barber Buddicom was a British mechanical and civil engineer best known for his pioneering achievements in innovating and expanding railway and locomotive transport through Europe during the mid 19th century. Early life Buddicom was born in Everton, Liverpool in 1816, the second son of the Reverend Robert Pedder Buddicom (1781-1846) and Ellin Barber. He was educated at home until, aged fifteen, Buddicom became apprenticed to Mather, Dixon and Company, where he trained for 5 years to become a railway engineer. Early career Buddicom's first appointment in 1836 was a two-year contract as resident engineer for the Liverpool – Newton Bridge section of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the first public railway in the world to use only steam locomotives for passengers and goods. His main challenge was tackling the steep incline of the tunnel section at Edge Hill. Buddicom's successes attracted the attention of Joseph Locke, who offered him a position as resident engineer on the Glasgow-Paisley railway. Buddicom exceeded Locke's expectations, who recommended his promotion to locomotive superintendent of the Grand Junction Railway when he was just twenty-four. This was one of the most prominent railway positions in Europe at the time, which initiated a working partnership that lasted until Locke's death in 1860. Buddicom focused his attention on reorganising the company and reducing operating expenses including fuel economy, which was not without controversy (ibid.). At the same time, he was working on improving engine design to prevent frequent fracturing of crank axles. The resulting Crewe type (locomotive) is attributed to Buddicom's partnership with Alexander Allan. The board of the Grand Junction Railway evidently recognised Buddicom's strong grasp of both technical and commercial matters, prompting them to offer him the roles of secretary and managership of the company but he and Locke had other ideas.