Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

1872

146

Thor***

2 - 4 - 0

January 1876 April 1876

January 1876

February 1901

638 * 608 * 651 * 662 *

Phantom

2 - 4 - 0

April 1876

October 1892

Jupiter

2 - 4 - 0

May 1876

May 1876

May 1893

Centaur

2 - 4 - 0

June 1877

June 1876

August 1892

Unname d

2 - 4 - 0

May 1877

May 1877

February 1898

These locomotives were described as the East Lancashire Railways most successful engines. They were fitted from new with small cabs to protect the footplate staff, giving more protection than the earlier weatherboards, and were similar to those fitted to London & North Western Railway locomotives. *When absorbed into Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway stock they were re-numbered by adding 600 to their ELR numbers. The one unnamed engine #662 was given this number from new. **The three engines built as tanks 1, 3 & 18 were in a sub-division of this class known as the Clio Class. As the ELR did not normally operate tank engines, they were early rebuilds to tender locomotives. †Engine number 113 was non-standard to the class. As L & Y number 713 Juno was involved in the fatal accident that occurred in Burscough on January the 15 th , 1880. However, it was repaired using a reconditioned boiler and left over spare parts and was subsequently withdrawn in 1886. *** Engine number 146 Thor, was the only locomotive new to the East Lancashire Railway which survived into the twentieth century. By then it was Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway engine number 746. Of those locomotives taken over by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway they retained their names for a period of time after the merger. As a boy Frederick Higginbottom, an early railway enthusiast, recorded that every one of East Lancs Railways’ engines from number 1 ‘Odin’ to number 113 ‘Juno’, had at one time or another passed

through Accrington. He later became a well-respected journalist in London. EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY’S PASSENGER ROLLING STOCK. Year 1 st Class 2 nd Class 3 rd Class Composites *

Saloons Parcels & luggage vans

185 0 185 7

21

42

61

7

6**

14

50

70

77

20

-

21

First class carriages had three compartments on a short-wheelbase, whilst third class carriages had four compartments on a longer four wheeled base. *Composite carriages had separate accommodation for more than one class and comprised of 2 x 3rd Class, two x 1st class and one 2nd Class compartments. The earliest Guards’ Vans were incorporated at one end into a four wheel carriage, along with two 3rd Class compartments. The parcels and luggage vans incorporated the Guards’ Van in a centrally situated compartment on a six wheeled base. **The 6 saloons were thought to be coupés with retractable covers. In addition to this in 1850 there were three trucks each capable of transporting a horse-drawn cab, and 5 horse-boxes. By 1856 the number of horse-boxes had risen to 12. Patented by the Carriage & Wagon Superintendent, James Newall, as early as 1852 the East Lancashire Railway had fitted a continuous braking system to its passenger carriages, well in advance of other systems. In 1859 a Manager’s Inspection Saloon was constructed for the directors of the ELR. It was mounted on four wheels, was 21 feet long and had a small outside platform at each end. It had a centrally mounted fully enclosed compartment with centre doors on either side. The open ends were protected by a waist high hand-rail, and accessed by doors out of the saloon. It had a seating capacity of eight divided equally around two small round tables. It had an elevated outside seat mounted at one end at one end. Later it was modified by the L & Y from manual winding brakes, to being vacuum braked and given stock number 185 in the company’s 1st Class list. It was not withdrawn until 1922. Some coaches

11