Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

completely destroyed. Along with breakdown gangs, which were summoned from Newton Heath in Manchester and Sandhills in Liverpool, were three steam cranes and over 200 gangers. Working under the supervision of Assistant Passenger Superintendent Nicholas, Mr Coomber the Assistant Traffic Manager, both from Manchester, along with Mr Hargreaves the District Goods Superintendent from Bury, the lines were cleared just at half past one in the afternoon, just 11½ hours after the accident had occurred. Also in attendance were Mr Hously and Mr Hattock from Horwich Locomotive Works, along with Mr Hart from Newton Heath Sheds. Whilst the work was ongoing trains for Manchester from the Colne direction were diverted to run via Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton. Those passengers for intermediate stations between Accrington and Bury were dispatched onto trains which loaded at a siding in the goods yard. The General Works Committee met when a letter was received from the L & Y enquiring if they could obtain possession of the land required for the station approach, referred to in the February 20 th minutes. Would the Corporation then take down the hoarding and replace it to the line of the curve, also carry out the necessary excavations and street work? The Town Clerk was authorised to reply that they would be willing to these proposals. September At a meeting of the Higher Education Committee, it was resolved the Town Clerk should write to the L & Y with a view to obtaining reduced terms in line with those afforded to traders, to students who were required to purchase contracts. November The General Works Committee met, to receive correspondence from the L & Y with regard to the repair of the roadway passing over their lines on Penny House Lane. They requested an estimate of the cost of keeping it in good repair and in a satisfactory condition. The Town Clerk was authorised to reply that the Corporation would undertake this work for a consideration of £10 per annum. December The Town Clerk reported to a meeting of the General Works Committee, that the L & Y had declined the Corporation’s offer of terms for the repair and upkeep of the roadway over their lines near to Strawberry Bank. It was resolved the Town Clerk should contact the Railway Company in order to negotiate terms under which the repair of the roadway could be carried out in future. 1914 January At a meeting of the Watch Committee, it was resolved the Town Clerk should write to the L & Y drawing their attention to the potential danger to passengers, caused by the ‘wide gap’ which existed between the railway carriage doors and the platform edges on the platforms on which the arrivals and departures of trains to and from the Blackburn direction loaded and unloaded. It requested that the railway company takes all steps to alleviate these problems. February A letter was received from the L & Y by the General Works Committee, agreeing to the Corporation taking over the maintenance of the roadway over their lines on Penny House Lane at Strawberry Bank, for the sum of £3 – 3s – 0d per annum. It also contained an estimate for the proposed widening of this bridge at £5,500. May The General Works Committee met and received correspondence from the L & Y, with regard to the repairs to the loop of track leading out of the town’s works yard. It was resolved to ask the railway company to carry out this work. ( At the outbreak of the War the nation’s railways were put under control of the Government, and all receipts were handed over to fund the war effort. However, they were allowed to deduct a sum equal to the net receipts as shown in the accounts for 1913, and this situation would remain in force until the conflict ended. ) 1915 August At a meeting of the Watch Committee, another letter was received from the L & Y asking that the sign which read ‘ THIS WAY TO THE RAILWAY STATION’, which was attached to a lamp standard at the foot of Eagle Street, could be replaced with one twice its size? But no decision was taken on this. Accrington was host to a very special train on Sunday, September 26 th , when the Gipsy Love Company arrived in Accrington at 15:10. The train, comprising of six vehicles which were all London & North Western stock, had departed Manchester Victoria at 13:52 and had been routed via Bolton, Darwen and Blackburn. October The General Works Committee met and received a letter from the L & Y, containing a plan along with notice of their intentions to carry out the widening of the railway bridge over Scaitcliffe Street, as

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