Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

dep. 16:40 16:44 16:42

On April 16th. On April 23rd. On April 30th.

16:39 16:40 16:39

16:45 16:50 16:47

Return on all trains was from Blackpool Central at 23:15. July Again on Sunday, the 1 st , Coventry was the destination, whilst every Sunday up until August 19 th , a 2nd Class ticket for Douglas via Fleetwood would cost 23/9d. On the 8 th , the ultimate destination was Coniston departing at 10:33 for 12/-. It would call at Lancaster and all stations including Kirkby-in Furness at 11/- and Foxfield 11/6d. On the same day another special would head for the Lake District going to Lakeside for 11/3d, with the option of a steamer and then road tour from Ambleside at 14/6d extra for adults and 7/4½d for children. By departing Accrington on the 08:33 or the 09:15, cricket fans could travel to Old Trafford for the 4th Test v Australia on each of Thursday, the 26 th , Friday, the 27 th , or the Monday, the 31 st for 19/5d, which included a reserved seat in the stand, and returning on any train the same day. ( Note, not on Saturday or Sunday .) Period returns on holiday trains included overnight to Douglas via Fleetwood at 47/-, to Portsmouth for IOW departing 21:40 for 87/10d, at 21:35 to Brighton for 80/4d, Bexhill, Hastings or St Leonards all at 84/2d. Departing at 20:25 a train would be calling at Bath 62/2d, then Poole 82/10d and Bournemouth 84/6d, with onward bookings to Dorchester, Swanage and Weymouth. At 00:50 there was a special to Glasgow via Kilmarnock. There was a choice of trains to London at 23:55 on Friday or 05:40, 08:33 or 12:42 on Saturday, with period returns priced at 64/8d. For those holidaying at Butlin’s Camps, there were trains on Saturday, July 21 st , to Penychain at 44/8d on either the 06:00 or the 08:20, to Filey departing at 08:26 or 10:53 at 37/4d which would also call at Bridlington 34/- and Scarborough at 35/2d. Those heading for Skegness would have to change in Blackburn from the 08:10 at 45/-. The town ‘Runabout Tickets’ were again available but the price had gone up by 1 shilling to 27/6d. On Sunday, the 22 nd , there was a day trip to York at 10/-, or Scarborough 14/3d, and repeats to Hull and Workington, whilst a week later Chesterfield was revisited. A new destination was visited on the 29 th , which left at 09:56 to call at Hartington for 8/9d, Alsop-le-Dale 9/3d, Tissington 9/6d, Thorpe Cloud 9/9d and Ashbourne 10/-. Besides light refreshments on this train there were rambles organised from Hartington and Ashbourne. On Tuesday, the 26 th , and Thursday, the 28 th , in the first week and Monday, the 30 th , during the second week, there was a special to Morecambe departing at 09:10 and returning from Euston Road at 18:30 for 7/- return. The usual day and evening trips would operate to Blackpool and Southport during August. August Due to a prolonged spell of poor weather the numbers using the trains was down, although trains travelling to more distant destinations did rather better, prompting a spokesman at the station to say the holiday period had been a “wash-out”. On Sunday, the 19 th , excursions went to Coniston, Llandudno, whilst on the 26 th , a special departed at 09:34 to Appleby West for 10/9d, going via Skipton, Hellifield, Settle, Norton-in-Ribblesdale 6/-, Ribblehead 6/6d, Dent 7/9d, Garsdale 8/- and Kirkby Stephen 9/6d. The same day repeat trips were made to Chesterfield, Leicester and Ilkley, in addition there was a ‘diesel’ excursion to Lakeside with a sail to Bowness and then on to Morecambe for a 3½ hour stay, all for 12/3d. This train left Accrington at 09:25 and returned from Morecambe at 19:52. Seats were strictly limited and had to be booked in advance. Between the 22 nd and the 24 th , Southport Flower Show could be visited for 4/3d return. With the football season underway Stanley were away to Oldham Athletic and fans could go from Huncoat at 12:28 and Accrington at 12:37 for 4/- and 3/6d respectively, returning from Oldham Central at 17:30. ( Athletic 2 - Stanley 4 .) Trains to Blackpool and to Morecambe would operate in conjunction with their respective illuminations. Blackpool of course was a huge draw for holidaymakers and also for some ambitious day trips during the dawn of the diesel railcar era, none more so than the one which the LNER ran on Sunday, August the 23 rd , 1956. This commenced its journey at Newcastle Central at 10:08, picking up at Durham at 10:34, Ferryhill at 10:32 and Darlington at 11:11 where passengers from Middlesbrough (10:14), Thornaby (10:21) and Stockton-upon-Tees (10:08) could join the train from a connecting service. It then

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