Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

was an option to take part in a ramble from Windermere on the train departing Accrington at 10:35, Church 10:40 and calling at Kendal en route at a fare of 10/-. The month ended on a busy Sunday, the 30 th , with a repeat railcar circular to Morecambe via Ingleton at 9/9d, Chesterfield now at 12/-, stations from Lancaster to Barrow at 13/3d and a trip to Ilkley at 6/-. May On Saturday, May 6 th , it was the Spurs v Leicester Cup Final, and a train left at 12 minutes past midnight to London for 48/6d, returning at 1am on Sunday the 7 th . Also on that same Saturday BR’s mobile information train was in town to answer all enquiries. The following day the circular railcar to Morecambe 2½ hours stay and Blackpool 3½ hours stay, left Accrington at 09:50, Church 09:54 for 9/6d and 9/3d respectively. Return was from Central at 19:20. Departing 23 minutes later than the circular, there was a ramblers’ train to Chester 9/6d, Wrexham 11/6d, Ruabon 12/3d and Llangollen 13/3d. There was a ‘special’ to Southport on Saturday, the 13 th , followed on Sunday by another visit to Barrow. At Whitsuntide there was a railcar trip to Fleetwood at 12:05, returning at 20:20 on Saturday, whilst on Sunday, the choices were Llandudno and North Wales’ resorts, and railcar excursions to Morecambe and Scarborough as well as one to Bridlington and Filey. ( All railcar trips were limited to a maximum number, and were booked on a first-come, first-served basis .) On Whit Monday there was a half day trip to Liverpool and/or New Brighton for 7/-, leaving at 13:15 and returning from Exchange at 21:00. The evening trips to Blackpool started on Saturday, the 27 th , leaving at 16:20 and returning from Central at 23:30. The east coast was well served on Sunday with Scarborough again the destination, departing at 08:40, returning at 19:18 at a fare of 26/-, whilst a second train containing a cafeteria car had departed 10 minutes earlier for Bridlington for 24/9d. This train would return at 20:45. Workington was also revisited on Sunday, the 28 th . Over the Bank Holiday weekend a total of 17 special trains had left for various destinations and all had been well patronised due to a spell of fine weather. “Bookings have certainly been up on the previous year”, stated Mr G. H. Fox, the Stationmaster at Accrington. “Of course, being able to offer the improved diesel services as well as the ‘ordinary’ trains has been a great advantage. On Saturday there were 5 specials each to Blackpool and Southport, with another 6 on Sunday, 2 to Blackpool and 1 each to Scarborough, Morecambe, Llandudno and Fleetwood. On Monday there had been 2 more to Blackpool, and one each to Southport, York, Liverpool and Morecambe”, he added. June The first trip of the month on Sunday, the 4 th , was to Ingleton at 7/-, calling at Giggleswick or Clapham at 6/-, with a ramble from the destination. Light refreshments were available on this train. Alternatives included the annual Amateur Photographers outing, which departed at 08:53 to Conway 17/3d, and Caernarfon 21/3d, a railcar excursion to Scarborough and the circular tour to Lakeside for 3 hours stay and Morecambe 4 hours. This departed at Accrington at 10 am and returned from Promenade Station at 20:50, the fare being 11/9d. There was a ramble from Giggleswick on the repeated Ingleton trip on the 11 th , with the alternatives another ride to Millom, a trip to Windermere, a visit to the north east and Newcastle or the circular to Morecambe, out via Ingleton, back via Preston. On Thursday, the 15 th , the overnight train departed at 23:37 to Fleetwood, for the sail to the Isle of Man for the TT Races. The fare was 30/- with 4/- extra for a berth on the boat. The return steamer would set sail from Douglas at 16:00 on Saturday, the 17 th . Monday and Thursday, from June 19 th , through to September 4 th , there would be sailings from Liverpool to Llandudno, with connections from Accrington off the 11:10 to the NWSS Steamers at a fare of 17/-, but with a change at Lostock Hall, or from Church off the 10:48 with a change in Preston. A circular ran out via Grange-over-Sands back via Penrith to Ravenglass on Sunday, the 18 th , for a fare of 21/3d, departing at 09:05, Church 09:09. There was time allowed for a ride on the narrow gauge railway at 4/6d extra plus a 2 hour stay in Keswick. On Sunday, the 25 th , Buxton was the railcar’s destination with an optional coach trip to Chatsworth House at 4/6d extra, on top of the 8/- fare. Seats on the coach had to be booked before 09:00 on Saturday, the 24 th . Seating was again limited and the return from Buxton was at 19:07. July From Saturday, the 1 st , holiday ‘Runabout’ tickets were available and this year the price was 30/-. On Sunday, the 2 nd , departing at 09:35 there was a railcar tour to Carlisle with a 2 hour stay, then on to Morecambe for 4½ hours, returning from Euston Road at 20:50 with a fare of 10/9d. Also on the 2 nd ,

250