Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Skegness at 08:10 with a change of train in Blackburn, fare 45/-. On the first day there were 9 extra trains for Blackpool and 3 more for Fleetwood. There were several choices of trains to London starting with one in the early hours of Saturday at 00:20, or on the 05:40, 08:33 or the 12:42, the return fare being 64/8d. Another overnight excursion was off again at 00:54 to Carlisle for 33/8d, Kilmarnock 61/10p and Glasgow 65/8d, this train would also include a stop in Dumfries. There were also period return tickets to Hoylake at 15/10d, New Brighton 15/- and West Kirby 16/4d, on trains departing on Saturdays at 08:59 and 09:25. The town’s ‘Runabout’ ticket was available again, whilst Llandudno, Southport and Morecambe could all be visited on special trains on a daily basis. At Accrington Station it was difficult to gauge just how many people would use these special trains, but the majority using them to the longer distance destinations would be travelling on the first week of the holiday fortnight. On Sunday, the 17 th , there was a day excursion to Lakeside, for Bowness and Ambleside, which would be repeated on Monday, the 18 th , Wednesday, 20 th and Thursday, the 21 st , during the first week, and Tuesday, the 26 th and Thursday, the 28 th , during the second week, other choices on the 17 th , were either Scarborough or Workington. On Monday, the 18 th , the destination was York. Chesterfield was revisited on Sunday, the 31 st , whilst a new one was on offer via Lancaster and Grange to Foxfield at 10/6d and Coniston 11/-. LUGGAGE IN ADVANCE British Railways were currently offering a service whereby holidaymakers could send their luggage on ahead them. The tariffs were 4s – 4p for each item to be picked up at home and then delivered to the holiday address. Alternatively luggage could be deposited at the local Station and then picked up at a designated Station for the price of 2s – 2d. This service was offered nationwide and also to Douglas IOM, the Channel Islands and to selected stations in Ulster. Every Sunday until August 21 st , there was a day trip to the Isle of Man departing at 05:45 to Fleetwood and returning from Douglas at 17:15, the fare inclusive of sea crossing was 22/9d. The spell of hot weather meant there was a big demand for the 40 special trains, with the three London trains and the one going through to Portsmouth fully booked. With temperatures well into the seventies day trips had proved very popular throughout the fortnight. However, councillors in Church complained to BR that only one of the special holiday excursions had stopped at Church & Oswaldtwistle Station during the second holiday week. This meant some residents had to travel as far as Rawtenstall to board the direct trains to Bournemouth, Great Yarmouth, Torquay and the West Country. The explanation given was that due to a clash of holidays they had not the resources to operate these excursions on two consecutive weeks, and it had been Accrington’s turn on the 15 th and Rossendale’s turn on the 22 nd . August Excursion trains would continue to run with repeat trips to York on the 7 th and Millom on the 14 th . Also on the 14 th , there was a new outing to Hellifield for 4/3d, Clapham 5/3d, Bentham 6/-, Wennington 6/3d, Caton 6/9d and Lancaster 7/3d. Light refreshments were available and there were organised rambles to choose from in Clapham and Bentham. Despite the good summer there were fears being expressed that stocks of coal for the winter were only at 50% of normal. The Highways Committee met when the Borough Engineer reported that the British Transport Commission had decided against proceeding with their scheme for making alterations to the railway bridge on Back Newark Street, for the time being at least. They stated they would give notice to the Council when they were in a position to commence with these works. September There were regular trips to Morecambe for the Illuminations at 5/9d return, plus 1/- for adults children for 6d for admission to Happy Mount Park, whilst the fare to Blackpool’s lights was 4/3d return. On Saturday, the 3 rd , there was an evening run to Longsight for Belle View, departing Accrington at 17:28 returning at 22:40 for 3/3d return, with entrance to the gardens at 1/3d for adults and children 6d. This was again the destination on the 10 th , this time for the Railwaymen’s Carnival, departing at 11:50 and returning at 22:42 with advanced admission included in the 4/- ticket price. Residents of the Within Grove Estate had written to the Council about the poor state of the fencing next to the railway, as children were finding it easy to get onto the line. This fence was of the normal ‘post and rail’ type universally used by the BTC. The Borough Engineer, Mr G. Heys, had prepared an estimate for a chain-link fence to separate the estate from the tracks.

216