Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

On Sunday, the 24 th , the destination was again Hull, departing at 11:03 for 11/-, whilst on the 31 st , the choices were repeats to Workington departing Accrington at 10:25, Church 10:28 for 13/9d, or to Chesterfield departing town at 11:04 fare 9/-. All these trains would include cafeteria cars. February The old favourites would operate again on Sundays, with one to Millom on the 14 th , on the 21 st to Coventry, and 28 th , to Chesterfield. On Saturday, the 20 th , Blackburn Rovers were away to Bury and the fare was 2/- return, departing Church at 13:29 and Accrington at 13:32. There were also cheap day return tickets available to Blackpool on Saturdays the 20 th and the 27 th . March Overnight on the 2 nd , the heaviest snowfall since 1947 accompanied by very high winds, caused disruption to the local train services. On Tuesday evening the 22:50 from Todmorden to Blackburn, did not reach Accrington until 06:05 the following morning, whilst the 22:14 Skipton train did not reach Accrington until 05:10. Fortunately these two overnight trains which started their journeys on the previous night, were mainly concerned with the conveyance of mail and parcels. The 6am Colne to Bolton, and the 06:40 Colne to Manchester, were both cancelled. The Colne to London express due to depart Accrington at 08:33 was an hour late. On Sunday, the 7 th , there was a special to Preston and Blackpool at 2/8d and 4/3d return respectively, departing Accrington at 10:54 and Church at 10:57. The return train was from Central at 19:15, Preston at 19:46. At a meeting of the Planning Committee, the Town Clerk submitted a letter from the British Transport Commission, in which it was stated they were prepared to sell the strip of land leading under the railway bridge at the foot of Bolton Avenue on the Within Grove Estate in Huncoat, at the price quoted. This was on condition that Accrington Corporation took full responsibility for the future maintenance of this bridge and the adjoining embankment, together with any additional costs which might be incurred by the BTC by way of changes made to this public-user road. April On Sunday, the 4 th , the Workington excursion was repeated, whilst the usual selection of day and half-day trips to Blackpool and Southport ran again. Easter fares were over the weekend, to Blackpool 4/3d and Southport 4/- return, on several timetable services. On Good Friday the destinations were Fleetwood at 10:03 returning at 19:12 for 5/-, or Liverpool for 5/6d with the option of going on to New Brighton by Mersey Ferries for 1/4d extra or on Merseyrail for an extra 1/-. Departing on the 12:17 or the 12:40 return was from Liverpool Exchange at 19:50 or 20:20. Also repeated on Friday were the excursions to Millom and Ilkley. On Saturday a special ran to Morecambe departing 11:41 returning from Promenade Station at 7pm for 5/9d return, whilst on Easter Sunday the Coventry excursion was repeated. Over Easter football specials ran to Bolton on Good Friday for the Wanderers’ game with Burnley, departing from Accrington at 13:36, returning from Bolton Trinity Street at either 17:22 with a change in Blackburn, or at 17:35 or 17:40, the return fare 2/6d. A cafeteria train would take Rovers supporters to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the 17 th , for 11/6d, departing Church at 10:22 and Accrington at 10:26. Rovers were again away on Easter Monday to Leicester City, fare 15/6d. Advanced booking was essential for this train which would depart Accrington at 9am and Church at 09:04. Grassington was another alternative on Easter Monday. Due to extremely good weather, Easter proved to be a bonanza for the railways, “I don’t think we have had a better Easter”, said a spokesman at the Station. “Each of the ‘special’ trains was fully booked including the ones to Llandudno, Millom, and the Sunday trip to Harrogate, Knaresborough and York. The Cemetery Committee met when the Parks Superintendent reported he was in receipt of a letter from the British Railways Executive, requesting that the Council carry out some repairs to the culvert in the Burnley Road Cemetery which adjoins the railway and the Borough Engineer was instructed to carry out this work. At a meeting of the Highways Committee, the Borough Engineer reported on an objection which had come from the British Railways Executive, to the inclusion in a draft of a map and statement of Public Rights of Way in the Borough of a public footpath adjoining the railway in Baxenden. It was however resolved to accept the Borough Engineer’s draft map and report. May An overnight FA Cup Final special would depart Accrington at 20:50 for the Preston North End v West Bromwich Albion game for 43/-, the return departing Euston at 01:10 in the early hours of Sunday, the 3 rd . Bookings were strictly limited on this excursion. On Sunday, the 2 nd , there was a Ramblers’

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