Letter from G. Milwyd to Henry Pease

Edgbaston Grove
Birmingham
18 Septr. 1875

My dear Cousin
I feel sure that the Midland Co and its Officers will wish to do anything in their power to assist the celebration which the Nth. Eastn. Co are providing for in so handsome a way. I presume that an application for the use of one of our latest Engines has gone (or will go) direct to our Locove. Supt. Mr. S.W. Johnson Derby, in which direction

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I apprehend the matter will lie. The only difficulty which occurs to me, is, that as he has only recently joined the Midland Service I doubt if any Engine has yet been built for Passr. Service which embodies his ideas of a 1st. class Midland Engine; his predecessor having been a trifle old fashioned in his views.
With regard to Engines built prior to 1844, I should have thought that the L. & N. W. must have had some of that age, as upon branch lines they have a wonderful collection of antiquated machines, but it is very probable that they may not have retained quite their original form through successive

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“thorough repairs.” I write to our Mr. Johnson by this part.
As to Pullman Cars, I believe that any communication should be addressed to the Pullman Car Company who have an office (though probably not headquarters) at St. Pancras Station London. All their carriages which run upon the Midland remain their own property. I will however [illegible] the matter to our Mr. Allport who has had the experimental running of these “Cars” almost entirely in his own hands. I think we shall learn something from the experiment in the way of increased comfort, though I doubt if the American system, pure & simple, will

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be generally popular here, at least in our time.
The “Day Cars” would I think attract much interest, but the “Sleeping Cars” do not differ materially from English ones, except in length.
Hoping that you will have the decided success that your exertions and [illegible] merit.

I remain
[illegible] affectionately
[illegible]

Probably a Goods Engine might be more readily spared from Derby, than a Passr. One, and would better represent the present approved type.

Henry Pease Esq