Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

On Friday, the overnight holiday trains went at 18:33 to Newquay, fare 125/4d, 20:27 to Bournemouth 89/8d, 21:28 to Great Yarmouth 82/8d, 21:37 to Hastings 89/4d and 21:45 to Portsmouth Harbour 93/4d. At 00:50 the Glasgow train departed for a fare of 69/8d, whilst travellers to London had the choice of trains on Friday night or Saturday morning, fare 68/8d. On Saturday the holiday camp trains left for Penychain for 47/4d, Skegness at 47/8d and Filey for 39/8d. Also on offer were period returns to Southport at 10/4d, and Morecambe at 14/-, Fleetwood for 12/8d and Douglas 56/2d, with a return with 16 days. Second Class ‘Runabout Tickets’ were now 29/-, but not valid on specials such as the ones to Workington or Scarborough on the 20 th , or York on the 27 th . Although it was anticipated that the poor spell of weather and the previous year’s bus strike, (which boosted numbers), would result in a reduction in numbers but the reverse was in fact the case, with many of the specials heavily booked. The day trips and tours were subject to the vagaries of the weather on the day, as they need not be booked in advance, but period returns and to the Lancashire resorts were up to average. August A spokesman for BR announced that bookings were up to normal levels, and there had been a repeat of the late rush during the second week. There were daily trips to all the Lancashire coastal resorts along with North Wales, and these had been relatively well booked despite indifferent weather, and the story had been much the same at Rishton and Church & Oswaldtwistle Stations. The destination was Barrow again on Sunday, the 4 th , along with Lakeside for Bowness and Ambleside. On every Saturday up to the 30 th , there was a trip to Blackpool at 5/9d, leaving at 09:09 returning from Central at 19:55. Every Sunday to the 24 th , there was a train to Fleetwood for Douglas at 25/9d. Specials ran on the 10 th , to Fleetwood at 5/3d and to Morecambe at 6/3d, with afternoon sailings from Liverpool to Llandudno at 15/6d or for non-sailors a train direct to Llandudno at 14/3d. Millom was the destination again of the 17 th , and there was a new destination in the shape of Denby, calling at Chester at 8/3d, Mold 9/3d, Rhydymwyn 9/9d, Caerwys 10/9d then Denby 11/6d. There were organised rambles from Chester, Rhydymwyn and Caerwys, with light refreshments available on the train. On Sunday, the 24 th , Hull was revisited and there was a ‘diesel’ excursion to Scarborough departing at 09:35 returning at 18:40 for 15/6d. Again accommodation was strictly limited and advanced booking was essential. On Saturday, the 23 rd, Stanley were away at Notts County and a change was necessary off the 08:33 train to get to Nottingham. The return also required a change from a train leaving Midland at 18:10 and the fare was 16/6d. ( Stanley drew 1 - 1 .) Burnley were at Leeds United on Saturday, the 30 th , the fare to City Station was 6/6d return. There were rambles arranged from the special to Ilkley on Sunday, the 31 st , and to Chesterfield again, in addition to a diesel excursion to Harrogate and Knaresborough. September On Sunday, the 7 th , Workington or York via Ilkley and Otley were the choices or another diesel excursion Bridlington and Filey departing at 09:30 returning at 18:52 for 14/6d. Once again there were regular trips to both the Blackpool and Morecambe Illuminations, which would continue up until the end of October. On Sunday, the 14 th , Barrow and Coventry were revisited, and a ramblers excursion to Penrith via Clapham at 6/3d, Ingleton 7/-, Kirkby Lonsdale 7/6d, Sedburgh 8/6d, Tebay 10/3d and Penrith 13/3d with walks from Sedburgh and Clapham. Accrington Stanley were away to Hull City on Saturday, September 20 th , and fans could get to the game by departing Accrington at 10:03 and by changing at Todmorden and Wakefield both ways for 12/9d return. The return from Paragon Station was at 18:52. ( Hull City 4 - Stanley 2. ) On Sunday, the 28 th , there were return trips to Chesterfield, Millom and another diesel excursion to Scarborough, leaving Church at 09:40, Accrington at 09:45 and Huncoat 09:50, which would return at 19:00. The usual caveats about booking and accommodation applied, and the 200 seats were rapidly fully booked. The Accrington Labour Party sent a strongly worded letter of protest to the British Transport Commission, about the cuts to eleven train services from Accrington which were to come into operation from Friday, the 12 th , affecting services between Blackburn and Todmorden, Accrington and Manchester, Colne and Bolton. Mr T. A. Grant, the Agent for Accrington Trades Council, also wrote to the Commission, deploring cuts to an ‘already inadequate service’. An official from British Railways stated, “These are mainly rural and branch line services which had been operating at a loss for a considerable period of time”. In the light of these circumstances the Trades Council asked if it was possible to arrange

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