Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

16:52 and Rishton at 16:57, and the return fares were 4/-, 3/9p and 3/6p respectively. The return from Blackpool Central was at 22:45. These were the same for the following Saturday the 27 th , although the times on that occasion were Accrington at 16:35, Church & Oswaldtwistle 16:39 and Rishton 16:45, with at return at 23:15. One advantage of these evening trips was that there was reduced admission to either the Tower Ballroom or the Winter Gardens for just 1 shilling extra. On Sundays the 21 st and 28 th , the trains ran from Accrington only at 10:54 on the 21 st and 11:40 a week later. The fare on these day excursions was 4/3d with a return from Blackpool Central at 19:15. April Over the Easter weekend on Sunday and Monday trips were going to Southport, departing Accrington on 10:20 on Sunday and 11:40 on Monday, returning at 19:40 and 19:20 respectively, also to Morecambe on Saturday, the 4 th , departing at 11:57 returning from Euston Road at 19:40 for 5/9d. Light refreshments were available on a special for York via Ilkley 4/9d, Otley 5/-, Harrogate 7/-, Knaresborough 7/3d and York 9/3d, returning York at 19:35. On Easter Monday the destinations were Skipton 3/5d and Grassington 5/6d, departing 11:15 returning at 18:55. BR was also introducing a 5/- return to Fleetwood at 10:24 on Good Friday. A football special was off to Preston versus Burnley on Saturday departing at 08:52 for a morning kick off, returning from Preston at 13:30, fare 2/8d. Passengers could travel to Liverpool for 5/6d with the onward option to New Brighton at an extra 1/1d departing either at 11:40 or 11:52, returning from Exchange on either the 19:55 or the 20:20. “The spell of poor weather over the Easter break was the reason for less passengers using the trains, although the evening trip to Blackpool was well patronised, as was the Good Friday trip to Fleetwood, whilst the Sunday special to York did reasonably well”, said a spokesperson at Accrington Station. A celebration was held at the Charter Street depot to honour engine driver J. Fox, following retirement after 48 years on the railway where he had started work as an engine cleaner. The presentation of a timepiece was made by the Assistant Locomotive Superintendent, Mr Binns. May With the cricket season underway, fans were encouraged to use the trains to see Accrington play at East Lancs on Saturday, the 9 th , at 1/- return to Blackburn, or Church play at Lowerhouse with a return to Rose Grove also at 1/-. On Monday, the 19 th , Accrington would be away at Nelson, where the fare was 1/8d return. The Millom excursion would run again on Sunday, the 17 th , whilst every weekday up to June 5 th there would be trains to Southport at 11:30 or 12:13, for 4/- return, (which would even run on Coronation Day). On Saturday, the 16 th , to celebrate its centenary, Howard & Bullough were taking all its 7,000 employees and families to Blackpool for the day. No less than 14 special trains were hired to depart at intervals between 08:03 and 11:25 in the morning, returning between 20:30 in the evening and 00:10 at night. Employees would be able to board at stations in Helmshore, Haslingden, Church, Rishton, Colne, Nelson, Burnley Bank Top, Rose Grove, Hapton, Huncoat, Padiham, Great Harwood, and Blackburn, as well of course, at Accrington. In the resort itself, meals would be served in 9 restaurants each with two sittings and there would be free entry into the Tower or the Winter Gardens. On returning home a fleet of buses would meet the trains to ferry the workers back to their home towns. Those responsible for the arrangements included Mr T. Langton the Finance Director, Mr W. Smith the Personnel Officer, with his assistant Miss J. Duxbury, the Wages Cashier Mr P. Hindle, and Councillor James Hodson, the Welfare Officer. The total cost of this outing was estimated to be £10,000. “This was the largest influx on any one occasion of a day trip, beating the previous record by 1,500”, stated Mr Harry Whitby the Service Manager of British Railways, who was put in charge of all the train arrangements, especially those at Blackpool Central Station. One of the hired specials did not run, but was kept as a ‘standby’ just in case of any problems. One of the engines which operated this outing was ‘Black 5’ 45068 of Bank Hall Sheds on Merseyside, drafted in to provide extra motive power. June The Planning Committee met when the Town Clerk reported that a local manufacturing firm had ambitions to expand to a larger works, and to overcome some limitations had identified an area of land adjoining the railway line at Within Grove. The Borough Engineer reported he had been in communication with the British Railways Executive regarding the purchase of a small strip of land, which would be required to give access to this industrial development. Alongside the normal Whitsuntide traffic on Tuesday, the 2 nd , a special train would depart Accrington at 01:00 to go overnight to London, for the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

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