Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Although the ‘official’ date for the ending of passenger services on the Great Harwood Loop was Monday, the 2 nd , of December, on Saturday November 30 th , at 22:47 the final passenger train consisting of 3 carriages hauled by a 2-6-4 tank engine, departed Blackburn for Burnley. Very few people turned up to see the end of an era. It carried only 6 passengers, (none for Great Harwood, 1 for Simonstone and the remainder for Padiham). Some through freight trains still ran on the line after 1963 when excursion traffic ceased, but even these finished on November 2 nd , 1964. Two locomotives from Lower Darwen Shed, ‘Crab’ 42732 and ‘Big 8’ 48500 came to take away any remaining rolling stock, said to number over 100 wagons. Later in 1965 all the buildings were removed, and the only remaining vestige is the Stationmaster’s house, which was the end one nearest to the Railway Station on Station Road. The only remaining traffic on the Loop was on the section between Rose Grove and Padiham ‘B’ Power Station, which itself closed during 1993. December The hardy could go to either Barrow or Doncaster on Sunday, the 1st, and Stanley were away to Carlisle United on Saturday, the 7 th , in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. To take supporters a cafeteria car train left Huncoat at 11:03, Accrington at 11:09 and Church at 11:12, fare 14/9d, with a return from Carlisle at 17:15. ( Stanley drew 1 - 1 .) It would be possible to go to Blackpool every Saturday until further notice departing on the 12:13, 13:00 or 13:47 for 4/6d and returning on any train, or to Southport for the same fare leaving on the 12:03 or with a change in Blackburn onto the 13:00. The year’s excursions came to a close with visits to Leicester on the 15 th and Chesterfield or Workington on the 29 th . There was however a football special to Sheffield for Rovers’ game at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day. This left Accrington at 11:50 and the fare was 9/9d, with cafeteria car facilities available throughout. A series which was featured each week in the Junior Observer section was ‘an introduction to trainspotting, which was accompanied by photographs, the first of which was Black 5 #45226 on Accrington sheds, one of the Garth Dawson collections. In the ensuing weeks other engines would include 90374 and 51497 all of which were shedded at 24A. In 1957 the following 3 locomotives were allocated - Origin Built New Type Class. Numbe r In Out Withdrawn Midland Johnson Vulcan Foundry. Dec. 1899 0 – 6 – 0 tank 3F 47201 Dec. 1957 Mar. 1961 Dec. 1966 Mar. 1961 The Midland Railway & London Midland & Scottish 3F 0 – 6 – 0 tanks were universally referred to as ‘Jinties’ and were along with the saddle tank 51371 used almost exclusively for shunting duties. ( As a footnote, about this time the powerful engineering unions were lobbying for an earlier holiday in the last two weeks in July which were the traditional ‘Wakes’ weeks. Eventually they would get their way and this would of course, bring to an end the mass exodus and concentration of holiday special trains in the town .) 1958 January Diesel railcar excursions were now well established but still retained some novelty appeal and on Sunday, the 5 th , seats were again limited on one to Llandudno. On Saturday, the 4 th , Rovers were away in the Cup to Rotherham United and there were two trains from Accrington at 10:49 and 10:57 which would return from Masborough at 16:55 and 18:40 respectively. Both trains would have cafeteria cars and the return fare was 9/3d. It was possible to go to Carlisle to watch Stanley play away against United on Saturday, 11 th , for 14/9d return by departing town on the 10:06 with a change of trains at Preston in both directions. The return trains from Carlisle were either the 18:52 or the 19:00. ( Carlisle United won 6 - 1 ). There was another diesel railcar trip to Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the 19 th . On Saturday, the 25 th , it was the turn of Burnley supporters to go and watch the Clarets in the FA Cup 4th Round at Bristol Rovers. The train called at Huncoat at 06:45, Accrington at 06:52, the fares 31/- and 30/- respectively, and LMS Fowler Hunslet Apr. 1928 0 – 6 – 0 tank 3F 47562 Dec. 1957 Aug. 1957 Mar. 1961 Nov. 1962 L & Y Aspinall Kitson Oct. 1878 0 – 6 – 0 s/tank 2F 51371 Dec. 1957

234