Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

IOM boat. A train from Great Harwood for Fleetwood would leave at 22:00. On Saturday, the 15 th , the train for Skegness would leave Blackburn at 08:44 with connections from Accrington. Departing Accrington at 06:45 and from Church at 06:49 on the 17 th , there was a repeat of the excursion to Caernarfon with a 2 hour stay, then on via Criccieth and Portmadoc to Barmouth with a 5½ hour sojourn before returning via Dolgellau and Llangollen. The fare was 26/6d with packed lunches available at 5/- each extra, which had to be ordered by Friday, the 14 th . On Tuesday and Thursday, the 18 th & 20 th , there would be a special to Morecambe leaving at 10:20 with a fare of 7/6d, which would be repeated again on Monday, the 24 th , but this time with a 09:00 departure. The repeat choices on Sunday the 30 th , were a ramblers’ excursion to Grassington, the ‘all stations’ Lancaster to Barrow or a railcar excursion to Chesterfield. John Clegg, a diesel railcar driver from Accrington, was called to give evidence following an accident at Weeton that occurred on July 16 th , when the Isle-of-Man boat train on which he was travelling as a passenger, collided at speed with a stationary ballast train resulting in the deaths of six people. He stated he was in the fifth carriage of the train when he heard the brakes go on and the screeching as they locked going over the rails, and very shortly afterwards the impact which threw everybody in the compartment onto the floor. The Inspector in charge of the enquiry stated he was requesting tests be carried out on diesel trains similar to that involved in this crash, along with further inquiries he had yet to make before presenting them to the Minister of Transport. The month came to a close with repeats of the Grassington ‘rambler’, the all-stations from Lancaster to Barrow, and a railcar outing to Chesterfield. August The first special of the month was a ‘circular’ to Buxton with a 2 hour stay, then on to Matlock for a 2½ hour stop, going out via Ashbourne and returning via Chinley with a fare of 14/-. This departed at 09:58 and returned from Matlock at 19:10. Another circular left at 10:29 to Morecambe for 3½ hours, and then onto Blackpool for another 4½ hours before leaving Central at 20:00, with a fare of 9/6d. Every Sunday to the 30 th , there was a trip to Douglas via Fleetwood at 27/9d. Advanced notice was given of a combined rail and steamer excursion to Argyll, which would run on Friday night, September 1 st . The itinerary would be leaving Accrington at 00:03 with a change at Preston to Glasgow or Gourock, then by steamer/coach to Argyll, Ardrishaig, the Kyles of Bute, Rothesay and Dunoon. The return from Glasgow Central was at 22:15, again with a change in Preston. The fare was 62/- with a limited number of sleeping berths at 14/- extra. In addition to a railcar special to Southport on the 20 th , leaving at 10:48 and returning at 18:40, there were trains to coincide with the annual Flower Show on the 23 rd , 24 th & 25 th , all at 5/3d. On Sunday, the 27 th , there was a repeat of the railcar excursion to Scarborough, and the ramblers’ excursion to Parsley Hay 9/-, Hartington 9/6d, Tissington 10/9d, Thorpe Cloud 11/- and Ashbourne 11/3d. On the 30 th , there was a railcar excursion to York. ( It was then announced that Accrington’s fortnightly annual holidays would commence on June 23 rd , in 1962. ) September A repeat of the railcar excursion to Bridlington and Filey, or one to Barmouth for 21/9d leaving at 10:00, returning at 19:00, started the month off on Sunday, the 3 rd . There would also be regular trips to Blackpool Illuminations whilst they were on, both full and half day, for 4/3d return. Diesel railcars were now more or less the normal traction, and on the 17 th , one went to Scarborough, another to Llandudno and a third to Barrow, on the 24 th , to Bridlington and/or Filey and also to Ravenglass. Period returns to resorts on the Fylde Coast resorts were on offer during the September Holidays at a price of 7/3d. On September the 30 th 1961 Gresley Pacific 60022 ‘Mallard’, the world speed holder for a steam locomotive passed through Accrington. It was working a special charter for the Norther Rubber Company from Retford to Blackpool North. The Chairman of this company was none other than Alan Pegler, who would later go on to purchase 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’. The train included the former Devon Belle Observation Car at the rear. Mallard had to run around this consist on the Poulton-le-Fylde Triangle in order to be at the front end for the return journey. This came along the East Lancs Line during the early hours piloted as far as Wakefield by preserved Midland Railway Compound 4-4-0 #1000.

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