Salted paper print of London & North Western Railway locomotive 'Eugenie'

A card mounted salted paper print photograph of the London & North Western Railway 2-2-2 'McConnell Large Bloomer' locomotive 'Eugenie' built by Fairbairn & Sons and exhibited at the Paris Universal Exhibition, 1855. Proof print with caption in black ink, 'McConnell Engine sent French Exhibition' at top left. Printed from a wet collodion glass negative. Photograph possibly the work of Charles Thurston Thompson and Robert J Bingham.

This photograph is believed to be a proof, as the paper has been hastily sensitised and the caption written directly onto the image in black ink. An engraved copy of this photograph appeared on page 661 of the 'Illustrated London News' of 30 June 1855 together with a brief description of the locomotive, which before being sent to Paris ran express and mixed passenger trains on the London & North Western Railway's Southern Division. The engraving is virtually an exact copy of the photograph and includes the houses just beyond the railway line, which have all but faded from the original print.