Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

visiting Chinley for 5/-, Edale 6/-, Hope 6/9d, Hathersage 7/3d, Grindleford 7/6d and Sheffield 8/6d, departing town at 10:04 and returning from Sheffield Midland at 18:04. The organised rambles would commence from Edale and Grindleford. For 4/3d return there was a choice of several trains to see Blackpool Illuminations throughout the month. A spokesman at Accrington Station said these evening trips to Blackpool were well patronised, but the ramblers’ trains to the Lake District and along the Hope Valley proved only to be moderately popular. Not only was Altham’s Travel Agency an outlet for tickets on BR, but were also agents for all the continental railway companies, Canadian Pacific Railroad & Steamship Company and the Canadian National Railroad Company. October On Saturday, the 2 nd , departing Accrington at 09:43 there was a special to Aintree for motor car racing, or for a visit to Liverpool for 7/6d and 8/9d respectively, with the return departing Exchange at 18:00, Sefton Arms at 18:12 or any later service train. A cafeteria car was included in the football train to Chester on Saturday, the 9 th , the fare from Huncoat was 7/6d where it departed at 11:10, and 7/- from Accrington at 11:18, Church 11:22 and Rishton 11:28. The return was from Chester General at 18:05, ( Stanley drew 1 – 1. ) Another cafeteria special went to Nottingham on Saturday, the 16 th , where Rovers were to play against Forest. Departing at 09:50 returning from Nottingham Midland Station at 17:30 the fare was 11/9d. The following day Coventry was revisited, and a new excursion was made available. Departing Church at 09:40, Accrington at 09:45 it would call at Hellifield 4/3d, Garsdale 7/3d, Hawes 8/-, Askrigg 8/6d, Aysgarth 9/-, Redmire 9/3d and Leyburn 9/9d. The return would depart Leyburn at 18:33 and there was a choice of organised rambles from Aysgarth and Redmire. Light refreshments were also available on this train. Evening 4/- trips to Blackpool began on Saturday, the 30 th , with admission to the Winter Gardens or the Tower now at 1/6d extra. November Tranmere Rovers were at home to Stanley on 6 th , and supporters were encouraged to depart on the 11:42 train from Accrington. This train could also be boarded at Huncoat at 11:35 and Church & Oswaldtwistle at 11:46 and the return fares were to Liverpool 5/6d and to Birkenhead 5/9d. There was a choice of trains returning home from Exchange Station in Liverpool, ( after a 3-1 defeat. ) They could catch the 18:15 which required a change at Todd Lane, or by changing in Preston on either the 20:00 or the 22:00 departures from Lime Street. On Saturday, the 6 th , another big game was Wolves versus Burnley at 15/- return departing at 08:33 on the London train but with a change in Stockport. On Sunday, the 7 th , the Workington excursion was repeated, and on every Saturday up to December 18 th , on either a 12:13, 1 o‘clock or 13:47 train to Blackpool the fare was 4/3d return. For 4/- return people could visit Southport on the 12:03, or with a change in Blackburn onto the 1 o‘clock. England played Wales at Wembley on the 10 th , and by departing Accrington at 07:25 with a change in Preston the fans could see the match for a return fare of 43/-, returning Euston at 18:30 or the 23:05. Throughout the winter months and into the New Year there were cheap day returns on Saturdays to Manchester at 3/-, Blackpool 5/9d and Morecambe for 7/-. December On Wednesday, the 1 st , there was a special excursion from Accrington to Wembley for the England versus West Germany international match, which departed at 06:28, returning from Wembley Central at 16:30. The return fare was 43/-, but for supplement of 17/- a fan could have luncheon on the outward journey and dinner on the return. All tickets would have to be booked in advance. On Saturday, the 6 th , the excursions were again to either Millom, or to Doncaster this time via Penistone and Barnsley. From the 6 th , it was announced that BR were to provide a better service in the mornings between Accrington and Preston, by extending the push-pull service from Colne at 08:20 that normally terminated in Accrington at 9am, through to Blackburn where it would provide a connection onto the 09:34 to Preston. This would provide a better connection in Preston to Glasgow and Edinburgh on the Scots Express at 10:40 and to the 11am to London. Before this the next train after the 08:33 to Preston had been the 10:06, which sometimes missed the 10:40 connection. The extension of the 08:20 from Colne, known colloquially as the ‘Little Billy’, had fuelled rumours that a light diesel railcar would provide a regular shuttle service between Accrington and Blackburn, but this had been denied. Another suggestion was that the line from Manchester should be electrified beyond Bury through to Colne via Accrington. ( This idea

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