Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

During the year there were special evening return trips to Manchester on Saturdays, for 3/-, departing on either the 16:22 or the 17:22 from Accrington, and returning from Manchester Victoria at 21:20 or 22:20. There were also daily return fares to Blackpool for 5/9d and Morecambe for 7/-, by specified services. March On the 6 th , the second regularly timetabled service operated by diesel railcars began. This connected Skipton with Manchester Victoria, via Burnley, Accrington, Ramsbottom and Bury. On Sunday, the 20 th , railcar excursions ran to St Annes/Blackpool and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, followed by a sport-filled weekend. On Saturday, the 26 th , a special ran to Manchester for the Rovers versus Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup semi-final, departing Church (only) at 12:08, and returning from Victoria at 18:12 for 4/2d return, whilst a cafeteria car train was off to Aintree for the Grand National at 7/- return. On Sunday, the 27 th , there were repeat trips to Chesterfield, Ripon and Workington. April Millom was revisited on Sunday, the 3 rd , along with the ‘circular’ to Morecambe via Ingleton which cost 7/6d. This was followed a week later by a return to Llandudno. On Good Friday, the 24 th , it would cost 15/- on a special to Scarborough, and 5/3d to Fleetwood, whilst Ilkley was another alternative. On Easter Sunday, the Morecambe via Ingleton was repeated, along with trips to Grassington and York. On Monday Belle Vue was the destination. All this was on top of regular trains to Blackpool for 5/9d return which operated on Friday, departing at 09:10 returning at 18:35, on Saturday departing 09:50 returning 18:48, Sunday departing at 09:10, returning 18:52 and on Monday, departing 09:42 and returning at 18:40. The month was rounded off on the 24 th , with another visit to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and a run along the Hope Valley calling at Chinley for 6/6d, Edale 7/-, Hope 7/6d, Bamford 7/9d, Hathersage 8/6d and Grindleford 8/6d, with organised rambles from Hope and Grindleford. May The circular trip to Morecambe via Ingleton must have been popular, as it ran again on Sunday, May 1 st , along with another visit to Lancaster and all stations to Barrow. Between May 3 rd and October 27 th , midweek tickets were available for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to destinations over 100 miles away at a saving of up to 5/- in the pound, (25%). Cup Final day, Saturday, May 7 th , was a very busy day for special trains to London, with no less than four excursions for the Rovers v Wolves game. The first of these departed Accrington at 00:18 to go overnight, whilst there were trains at 06:25 and 06:59. Church & Oswaldtwistle had its own train at 06:07. These trains would return in order at 01:10 from Euston on Sunday, at 18:40 from Wembley Central, or 17:30 from Wembley Hill, whilst the Church train would also leave from Wembley Hill at 18:40. The return fares on all these trains was 43/-. The 06:59 from Accrington would have the additional option of lunch on the outward journey and dinner on the return, in the dining car for a supplement of 24/3d per adult and 13/2d per child, but these had to be ordered in advance. On Sunday, the 8 th , the double Morecambe/Blackpool railcar trip ran again, whilst on Sunday, the 15 th , railcar excursions visited Fleetwood and also Morecambe via the ‘direct’ route, and specials ran to Barrow, Ilkley and Llangollen. On Whit Saturday departing at 11:35 there was a buffet car train to Windermere for 10/3d returning at 20:05, and on Sunday trips to Scarborough at 15/-, Appleby 11/6d, Coventry 17/3d and Llandudno via the North Wales resorts. The month ended with a return to Newcastle upon-Tyne for 18/-. June The trips began with a railcar excursion to Knaresborough on Sunday, the 12 th , at 8/6d, or to Workington again. On Friday, the 17 th , the fare to Douglas via Heysham for the Isle of Man TT Races was 28/-, departing the previous evening at 23:38, with the option of a berth on the boat at an extra 4/-. On Sunday, the 19 th , there was a special with a difference. Departing Accrington at 10:40, Church at 10:44, this train would call at Carnforth 7/-, Grange-over-Sands 8/6d, Ulverston 10/- and Barrow 17/6d, and included a crossing on foot of Morecambe Bay from Hest Bank to Grange-over-Sands. On Friday, the 24 th , the Buxton circular excursion was repeated as was the outing to Llandudno by steamer from Liverpool for 24/9d, or on to Menai Bridge for 27/9d. Advanced notice was given of ‘rail plus steamer’ tours to the Kyles of Bute on Mondays, July 11 th and 25 th . The journey would be via Kilmarnock to Largs with a 1½ hour stay, then by steamer to Rothesay via the Kyles for a 2 hour stay with the return train from Largs. The basic fare was 46/6d, but a limited number of packed lunches ordered in advance would be available at 5/- extra. Another repeat special would go north on Friday night, September the 2 nd , to Staffa & Iona at a fare of 78/-.

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