Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

East Lancashire Railway Company, James Smithells, had then advertised for tenders in the Manchester Guardian on June 19 th , for the construction of this new facility nearer to the hub of the town. The new stone-built station opened for passengers on May 1 st , 1853. This new station, in the Eachill District, was accessed along Station Road passing just before entering the site the Rishton Arms Public House, between two small single-storey buildings, one of which was the booking office. The buildings on the Accrington (down) platform, consisted of a two-storey block built in stone and containing the ‘General’ and ‘Ladies’ waiting rooms, and a separate masonry block which housed the Gentlemen’s toilet. The (up) Blackburn Platforms had similar facilities but in single-storey configuration, plus, at the footbridge end a simple wooden shelter stood, but this was removed when the levels of the platform surface was raised during the period 1892/3. Now in Lancashire & Yorkshire ownership, during 1892 another contract, this time for improvements to the station and extensions to the goods yard was issued. This also included the raising up of the platforms and most importantly the construction of a footbridge. By the start of 1893 the footbridge was finished to be followed in quick succession by a new booking hall. This footbridge not only provided a link over the lines between the platforms, but also meant that passengers did not have to cross the goods yard on foot. Before this a timber walkway had been provided, which during the ’70s and ’80s had been a contributory factor in several serious incidents whilst wagons were being shunted, one of which had resulted in a fatality and others resulting in serious injuries. All was not sweetness and light however, as in 1893 through the Courts, the Rishton Local Board challenged the monopoly of Henry Petre. “That the agreement between the landowner and the Railway Company could not be justified”, was the verdict given at the Railway Commissioner’s Court in London. This resulted in the Company being able to handle goods and services from other than the landowner. This led to an incident which occurred during March, 1895, when cattle that were being handled strayed from the yard onto the running lines and one was struck by a train and killed. As a result a cattle pen was added to the facilities at the behest of the Local Board, but it was a long period of time before one was built at the far end of the yard. In March, 1896, following an inspection by an official from the Railway Company and his meeting with the Urban District Council, they requested that this footbridge should be fitted with a covered top to its walkways. They then received a letter from the L & Y indicating that this work would be completed before the winter set in. However, it was not until February of 1897 that this work even began. The UDC had also complained about the noise and inconvenience to local residents caused by shunting in the goods yard, but this did not solicit any response from the Company! The cover on this bridge was later removed and the part crossing the goods yard taken down not long after the yard fell into disuse. A new footbridge was constructed connecting the two platforms in 2004, even though that part of the original bridge was still serviceable. Rishton had two signal boxes, the one to the west of the Blackburn platforms being a modest affair with 13 levers, whilst to the east the second Rishton East Box was the most spectacular in the area. Also built to the Saxby & Farmer pattern it was four storeys high, for it had to be tall enough for the Signalmen to be able to see over the adjacent bridge for trains coming from the direction of Church and also observe the movements within the goods yard. It contained just 12 levers and was also passed for use during 1876. Due to vibration and some subsidence, this structure began to lean slightly and it was necessary for it to be stabilised before, along with the West Box, it was closed during 1925. This was the year when these two structures were made obsolete by a third box, which was situated in a slightly elevated position between the gents and the main buildings on the down platform. This 24-lever box was a wooden framed building on brick foundations, and even had its own toilet situated at the top of the steps leading into the box itself. This too became obsolete when Preston Power Box assumed responsibility for the entire East Lancashire Line’s signalling on September 23 rd , 1973.When the goods facilities were withdrawn in November 1968, the long footbridge was cut back to connect the two platforms and no longer spanned the yard. 1852 At a shareholders meeting held at the Company’s Head Offices in Bury on February 11 th , the main topic for discussion was a proposed amalgamation with the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. The East Lancashire Railway and the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway had often been in conflict, and as early as

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