Letter from William Bouch to Henry Pease

Burdon Hotel
Weymouth
September 13:1875

North Eastern Railway – Darlington Section
To Henry Pease Esqr. JP
Chairman of the Anniversary Committee

My Dear Sir,
I am very sorry that I cannot participate in the pleasure of the forthcoming Jubilee and I am more sorry that I cannot be at my post of duty sharing the labor and responsibility of the preparations for this event.

The Locomotive plant and its repairing establishment of the Darlington Section is in a condition somewhat exceptional to that of other Railways and as this condition is not likely to be discovered by ordinary observation and inquiry I beg to submit for your consideration the following facts.
The total number of Locomotive Engines is 291 of this number 74 have been supplied by funds taken from Revenue Account, a further number of this stock of Engines are comparatively new and of modern type, they have been constructed to replace an equal number of Old and inferior Engines all of which are broken up.

The aggregate power of these modern Engines is at least double the aggregate power of the old Engines replaced. There are also 69 other Engines in the existing plant which have been

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greatly improved in power and design.

This has also been done at the Cost of Revenue.

In carrying out these changes & in designing new Engines, I have for many years past adopted a rule of assimilating all the working parts of each Engine: this has been accomplished
without sacrificing the adoption of modern improvements.

The result is the possession of a stock of materials (not very costly) all fit up and quite ready to be applied in repairing Engines, giving a despatch in the execution of these repairs which is unusual.

The success which has resulted in the application of this rule has been greatly facilitated by the energy and enthusiasm displayed by the Officers of the establishment, especially Mr. Younghusband.

Two recent examples have established the fact that in the event of any one Engine going into the North Road Repairing Shops whatever may be the extent of the damage to be repaired, it can be accomplished in seven days.

I remain
Yours faithfully in affliction
Wm. Bouch
for W.B.S.