Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

each of these destinations. On Sunday, the 23 rd , Leicester was one repeat destination with Hull providing a second choice. With the football season underway a special would depart Accrington for Rochdale at 12:53 on Saturday, the 29 th , arriving in Rochdale at 13:38, returning from there at 17:35 back at 18:20. The fare was 2/9d return. On the 31 st , there were trains for Blackpool’s game against Burnley at 4/3d return, with a choice of the 13:48 or the 15:11, returning either from Blackpool Central at 21:15 or from South Station at 21:19. September On Sunday, the 6 th , a special ran all stations from Lancaster to Whitehaven at 13/- or Workington for 13/9d. Light refreshments were available on this train departing Accrington at 10:11 returning at 19:45. Councillor W. Wallwork had made a complaint to MP Harry Hynd, about the apparent abuse by service personnel of the concessionary railway tickets being issued to them for travel whilst on leave, as he felt it was “full of loopholes”. This had come about due to the imprisonment of two Accrington airmen for six months each for attempting to defraud British Railways. His correspondence had been passed on to the Chairman of the British Transport Commission, the Rt. Hon. Lord Hurcomb G.C.B. In reply the Chairman had said, “The only alternative was to issue a full set of duplicate tickets at every manned station on the network especially for any serving personnel, or blanks which would have to be filled in by hand by booking clerks when leave passes were produced. Another alternative was to have tickets issued by the unit at which the serviceman or woman was based”. A petition signed by over 10,000 people and organised by the Rev. Snowden, had been presented for the commuting of these sentences, but MP Hynd stated, “I see no good reason to intervene in the due process of justice”. An excursion to Belle View for the Railwaymen’s Carnival would operate again on Saturday, the 12 th , at 4/- return, whilst at 00:35 on Monday, the 14 th , there was an excursion to London, with a return from Euston at 11pm. The return fare on this train was 43/-. On Sunday, the 19 th , Coventry was again the ultimate destination along with Millom on the 20 th , and Chesterfield on the 27 th . Stanley were away at Bradford City on the 26 th , departing Church at 12:18, Accrington at 12:23 and Huncoat at 12:28, with the fare at 5/-. The return left Manningham Station at 17:16. About 1,500 made the trip and the train engine was decorated with red and white ribbons, although on this occasion due to a clash of strips, Stanley turned out in white shirts and dark blue shorts, but couldn’t avoid being beaten 1 – 0. October At another meeting of the Planning Committee, the Accrington & District Billposting Company Ltd lodged an appeal against the decision not to allow them to erect an advertising hoarding on the British Railways embankment on Whalley Road next to number 95. This was accompanied by a letter from the Ministry of Housing & Local Government, stating that arrangements had been made for one of its Inspectors to visit Accrington on October 29 th next, to examine this site and hear representations from all the parties concerned. The evening runs to Blackpool and Morecambe Illuminations proved popular, and football excursions went to Manchester for the game with Burnley departing at 12:47 on Saturday, the 3 rd , for 3/- return. On Saturday, the 10 th , the destination was Stoke for the visit of Blackburn Rovers at 8/- return, departing Accrington at 11:08, Church 11:12, with a return from Stoke at 17:35. Trips went to Barrow for (10/-) and Ilkley (4/9d), on Sundays the 4 th and 11 th , respectively, whilst Coventry was again the destination on Sunday, the 18 th , and a cafeteria excursion went once more to Leicester on the 25 th . November Millom was the destination on Sunday, the 8 th , and Coventry and the West Midlands must have been very popular for on Sunday, the 15 th , this excursion was repeated. There was warm praise for BR from Mr S. T. Pilkington, of Manchester Road, who was passenger on a private charter to Blyth in Northumberland on Saturday, the 21 st . He congratulated Mr Whitby and his staff for the clean, warm and comfortable coaches and cafeteria car and keeping to the schedule. “It was credit to them, the only negative thing being the “Dirty conditions on show at Accrington Railway Station”. In 1953 the following 16 locomotives came into the allocation - Origin Built New Type Class. Number In Out withdrawn LMS Fowler Derby Aug. 1932 4 – 4 – 0 tender 4P 40937 Oct. 1953 July 1955 Apr. 1958

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