Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

leaving at 10:14 and returning at 20:35 for a fare of 18/6d, to Blackpool for 5/9d or to Morecambe at 7/-. Scarborough was again a destination on the 22 nd , this time on its own whilst there were other specials to Lakeside, Southport (which would run again on the 29 th ), to Millom, and to Prestatyn for 14/- or Rhyl for 14/6d. On Monday, the 23 rd , there was another visit to Ravenglass then Keswick, and to Morecambe, which would be repeated on the 25 th and again on the 29 th , which was also the date of another Grassington rambler. A trip to Southport would be repeated again on August 5 th . The Kyles of Bute overnight special ran as advertised on Monday, the 30 th , whilst on the following day Llandudno was revisited. According to Mr J. Searson, the Stationmaster, the traffic for what had been the traditional Wakes Weeks had been “unimpressive”. He said, “There could be no doubt that the majority had gone away in June and the trains had been lightly loaded, with some going to Blackburn to catch their holiday specials”. ( Due to confusion caused by schools not closing until mid-July, there was now a movement to revert to the ‘old’ holiday weeks in the district, whilst textile workers were debating to have only one set of holiday weeks and not two. ) Mr E. Jones, the Secretary & Agent of the Accrington Trades & Labour Party, had issued a resolution calling upon all sections of the public to make “vigorous protests” to the Ministry of Transport, Members of Parliament and even Dr Beeching himself, regarding the closure of railway facilities. He stated, “This was not just an issue involving railwaymen, but one concerning the whole of the community and nation”. August The first specials of the month on Wednesday, the 1 st , were to Blackpool, along with Lakeside for Bowness or Ambleside, and Blackpool was on the itinerary again on Sunday, the 5 th , for a 4 hour stay on the second leg of a trip which first visited Morecambe for a 3 hour stay. By now the pattern of specials had become standardised with some new ones inserted into the programme every now and then. Southport was the destination on Saturday, the 18 th , Sunday, the 19 th and Saturday, the 25 th . On Sunday, the 26 th , Tebay or Buxton, both with rambles were the choices with the option of a coach tour of the Peak District from Buxton for an all-inclusive fare of 15/6d. If these did not tempt, then Scarborough was a third option. The Staffa & Iona special ran as advertised on the 31 st . Reduced rate period returns were available to stations between St Annes and Blackpool from Accrington at 8/-, between August 31 st and September 5 th , valid for a return within 16 days. The withdrawal of the through coaches from Accrington to London had been announced and would take place from September the 10 th . However, this was not officially viewed as the precursor to the closing of the Accrington to Manchester ‘direct’ line. At this time only Helmshore and Summerseat were the two operational stations still open between Accrington and Ramsbottom, and Haslingden Town Council had already discussed how to object to any proposals to closing the line. Stationmaster Searson in Accrington said, “That over the long term it will be quicker to get to London via Preston, even though passengers would be inconvenienced when the reconstruction of Euston Station starts in the autumn”. He went on to say, “The 08:30 and the 12:31, which hitherto had through coaches attached, would be withdrawn. He also pointed out that on the 08:30 the arrival time in London was 14:17, but it would now be possible to catch the 08:00 to Preston, change onto the 08:50 and be in London at 13:05, more than one hour earlier. In a similar manner the 12:31 arrived in Euston at 18:09, and by taking the 12:10 from Accrington and changing onto the 12:58, arrival in Euston would be 17:30. Also the 17:03 to Preston will provide a service to Euston arriving at 21:53”. The 09:50 from Euston to Accrington, which arrived at 15:27, would also be withdrawn, along with the 18:25, which arrived in Accrington at 00:11. The trains that would replace the East Lancs services were the 10:35 to Preston, with a change arriving in Accrington at 16:22 and the 17:05 from Euston to Preston arriving at 21:45 and changing onto the 22:08 from Preston to be back in Accrington at 22:52. Another alternative would be the 18:00 from Euston, the ‘Mancunian’, with a change of stations in Manchester. Mr Searson also predicted the services to London would be speeded up considerably when the electrification of the line south of Crewe was completed and this was currently “well underway”. September On the 1 st , an additional excursion was run on the Saturday to Blackpool, and the Illumination specials to both Blackpool and Morecambe began and would continue through to the end of October. On Sunday, the 2 nd , Fleetwood was one destination and Scarborough the other, with a repeat to the east coast resort once again one week later. On Saturday, the 8 th , the Railwaymen’s Carnival was on at Belle Vue

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