Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

organised rambles in conjunction with the latter. On Saturday, the 31 st , a cafeteria train took Rovers fans to the Wolverhampton Wanderers game for 14/3d return. February On Sunday, the 1 st , there was a repeat of the special excursion to Coventry which had operated on December 7 th , last, or to Hull. It was announced that a regular diesel railcar would operate between Preston and Blackpool daily from January 31 st to February 7 th , with connections from Accrington, in conjunction with the ‘Gifts & Fancy Goods Fair’ which was on in the resort. Further trips ran on the 8 th to Workington and on the 15 th to Derby, the latter one departed at 10:36 calling at Manchester 3/6d, Chinley (6/6d), Millers Dale (7/6d), Bakewell (8/6d), Matlock and Matlock Bath (both 9/6d). The fare to Derby was 11/9d. On Sunday, 22 nd , there were repeat trips to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Barrow and Sheffield. Light refreshments were available on all these long distance trips. Advanced notice was given that tickets to the Isle of Man for the TT Races on Friday, June 5 th , were to be strictly limited at 28/-, with a supplement of 4/- for a 1st Class berth on the boat. The connecting Fleetwood train would depart Accrington on Thursday night at 23:38. Another notice was given for the ‘unique’ rail and steamer cruise to the Highlands & Islands of Scotland including Staffa and Iona. The train would leave Accrington at 21:00 on Friday, May 29 th , and go overnight to Oban. Passengers would then transfer to a steamer calling at the Island of Mull and Tobermory, with time at Staffa before returning to Oban for a 21:20 departure for home. Light refreshments would be available on the train with full meals available on the steamer. A limited number of 2nd Class berths were available on the train at 14 shillings extra in each direction on top of the 72/6d fare, and tickets were strictly limited so early booking was essential. There was a special excursion to Derby on Sunday, the 15 th , which departed from Accrington at 10:36. The destinations and return fares were to Chinley 6/6d, Millers Dale 8/6d, Bakewell 8/6d, Matlock or Matlock Bath 9/6d and Derby 11/9d. Light refreshments were available on this excursion. It was also announced that at both Blackpool North and Southport Chapel Street, what were described as ‘self-help’ barrows would be available for the transfer of luggage all free of charge. British Railways opened an ‘internal’ inquiry as to why a goods train of 27 wagons ran away down a 1 in 76 incline on the stretch of line between Haslingden and Ramsbottom, on the evening of the 10 th . The driver, Robert Wallbank of Hartmann Street, Accrington, and his 17 year old fireman, Brian Newlove, of Dill Hall Lane, Church, could not stop the train from running backwards after the brakes failed to hold the train despite being locked on. The lad, who was normally an engine cleaner at Accrington sheds, was only on the footplate due to a shortage of firemen. He was told to jump out at Helmshore, as it was feared that if the train went into a siding and smashed into the buffer stop, the wagons would pile up over one another. However, the guard, Mr A. Fuller, of Ramsbottom, on realising that the heavily laden 21:50 from Rose Grove was gaining momentum, managed to stop the runaway beyond Summerseat using the brake in the guard’s van. There were no serious injuries and thankfully no other trains were due at the time, but the Ministry of Transport were also investigating this incident. The 4 - 6 - 2 tank engine, 42480 had only been allocated to Accrington in the previous year, and had been substituted for the usual 4 - 6 - 0 tender engine because residents had complained about the noise the larger locomotive made when shunting wagons late into the evening at Ramsbottom’s exchange sidings. The following day the unfortunate locomotive was returned slowly to Accrington sheds in order to have the flats on its driving wheels reprofiled on the wheel lathe. MP Harry Hynd speaking in the House of Commons said, “If there are no taxis waiting at the railway station, it should be the task of the staff to call one”. This was during the debate on the second reading of the Transport Commissioning Bill. He was quoting from the report published by the Central Transport Consultative Committee. This had also suggested that once a taxi had dropped off a passenger at a station, it should not be allowed to pick up another fare there if it was not licensed to use that station. But, if they became members of the T&GWU, they could pick up passengers at every visit. On the 25 th , mogul #46406 of Bury Shed came through Accrington, en route to Blackburn from Waterfoot on the Bacup Branch. Unusually on this occasion it was hauling a three coach ‘cinema unit’. On Saturday, the 28 th , Burnley were away at Aston Villa in a 6th Round FA Cup tie, and the fare on the special was 18/6d from both Huncoat and Accrington. March The Sunday trips continued to Millom, and also by diesel railcar to Llandudno on the 8 th , and on the 15 th to Doncaster.

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