Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

( Not all the problems caused by Accrington’s railway bridges were confined to the running of trains. Several low railway bridges were to cause the Corporation’s Transport Department some problems. The original Nuttall Street Railway Bridge was constructed in 1846 and ninety years later was remodelled to allow double deck buses to pass through. Before 1936 the narrow tunnel had only room for a saloon to go through and for single line of road traffic at any one time. Following the changes it was possible to roster double deck buses onto the Fern Gore portion of the through Huncoat combined bus services. Accrington’s bus services had several routes which required to be operated by single deck saloons due to low railway bridges. These obstacles were located on Scaitcliffe Street, at the bottom end of Willows lane, and at the three-way junction of Eagle Street with Ormerod Street and Scaitcliffe Street. Services affected by these obstacles were the Moscow Mill and Willows Lane circulars, and the Green Haworth service. Other low railway bridges in Market Street, Church, next to the railway station and along Blackburn Road at Blythe’s Chemical Works also caused difficulties. These were alleviated by lowering the level of the road surface which passed beneath them. The one over Market Street was modified in time to allow the passage of the new electric saloon cars through to go up to the Black Dog terminus at the top of Union Road in Oswaldtwistle, when the extension opened in 1907. Similarly the one at Blythe’s Bridge then allowed other than low height tramcars and double deck buses to go through en route between Accrington, Church and Blackburn, although for years this left this section of Blackburn Road prone to flooding. ) 1937 January At a meeting of the General Works Committee, the Town Clerk submitted a letter from the Ministry of Transport intimating that it had been decided to include the LMS Railway Bridge on Queens Road, in Class 2 of the scheme to improve the B6237 road, with effect from April 1 st , next. It was resolved to inform the County Council of this development. The Borough Engineer then produced his plans for the widening of the roadway under the Willows Lane Railway Bridge. It was then resolved to obtain information on the possibility of the Ministry of Transport giving a grant towards the carrying out of this improvement. April The General Works Committee met when the Borough Engineer reported on the LMS Company’s proposals for the widening of the Scaitcliffe Street Railway Bridge. Following careful consideration it was resolved the Borough Engineer should submit to a subsequent meeting, information regarding the following points - the Willows Lane Bridge, the Scaitcliffe Street Bridge and the Lonsdale Street Bridge . In each case furnished with an estimated cost of the railway works, street works and compensation to properties, which might be damaged or altered during these works. The Borough Engineer reported to a meeting of the General Works Committee, after he had received a communication from the Ministry of Transport, in which they stated that they would consider giving a grant towards the estimated cost of widening the roadway passing beneath the railway bridge on Willows Lane. But this would be dependent on production of a detailed scheme made in collaboration with the LMS Railway Company. May The General Works Committee met, and the Borough Engineer, referring to a plot of land of 148 square yards on the southerly side of the Queens Road Railway Bridge adjoining the LMS railway’s lines, suggested it should be acquired by the Corporation. It was therefore resolved that the Town Clerk could negotiate for its purchase. June The General Works Committee met again, and the Town Clerk reported on the terms upon which the Corporation could purchase the plot of land belonging to the LMS adjacent to the Queens Road Railway Bridge. It was resolved he could go ahead with the purchase. September The Watch Committee met to consider the question of how cattle were driven from the cattle pens of the LMS Railway Company on Paxton Street to the abattoir on Moreton Street. The Town Clerk submitted a report on the numbers of beasts, the time of arrival and the days on which droving occurred. It was resolved that representatives from the Railway Company, the Butchers’ Association, together with the ‘principal drovers’, should all be invited to appear before a further meeting of a Watch Sub Committee. Meeting again later in the month the Watch Sub-Committee interviewed representatives from the various parties concerned with the transfer of cattle from the LMS sidings to the abattoir. Following a pledge from the Butchers’ Association and the main drovers that they would provide better supervision, it

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