Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

in their campaign to keep Helmshore Station open, and Councillor W. B. Fisher, who had been the first to recognise the threat stated, “The annual receipts at Helmshore amounted to more than £7,000 so how can it be claimed that it is uneconomical”. A working party had been set up to monitor how many passengers used the trains to Bury at each of the stations along the line. Haslingden Corporation had already set up an Action Group to oppose the closure of Helmshore Station. Having been lobbied by MP Harry Hynd, Ernest Marples, Minister of Transport, had stated, “All the factors will be taken into consideration on the subject of this closure”. The Health Committee met when the Town Clerk reported that in the main provisions of the Shops & Railway Premises Act 1963, it was designed to improve standards of safety and working conditions in (amongst others) railway premises, so as to promote the health, safety and welfare of all employees. It was resolved that the Chief Public Health Inspector would administer and implement the provisions contained in this Act, along with those of the Factories Act 1961. 1 964 ( It was announced at the start of the year, that the unions and major employers would be reverting back to the ‘traditional’ July Wakes Weeks holidays during 1964. There was no doubt that even BR were looking at ways to keep the Accrington to Bury section operational, but it was becoming increasingly clear that there was a determination higher up that it should close. Even the line to the Fylde Coast from East Lancashire was under some scrutiny as a ‘seasonal’ service only. ) January The Saturday trips to Southport, Sunday outings to Lancaster and Morecambe, also the runs to Blackpool, would continue into the New Year, along with the London and Belfast day trips. The first excursion of the month was to Skipton on Sunday, the 26 th , with walks from Burnley, Nelson and Skipton. February Stations from Lancaster to Barrow was the first trip of the month on Sunday, the 2 nd , and this would be repeated two weeks later. March On Good Friday, there were specials to Blackpool, Fleetwood, Southport, Millom and Scarborough, on Saturday a day trip to Southport and day and half-day trips to Blackpool. On Sunday, trains to Blackpool once again, along with a circular to Grange-over-Sands and then Morecambe. Easter Monday the specials returned to Blackpool, Southport and Morecambe. On Saturdays, until May 10 th , with the exception of March 28 th , you could go by train to Blackpool on the 11:00, 12:00, 13:03, 13:45 & 14:10 for 5/9d return, coming back on any train. Whilst you could go to Southport on these same dates for 5/6d on the 11:52 or the 13:03, again returning on any train. The Observer & Times reported an incident which occurred on Thursday, the 12 th , as follows - The leading car of a two-car Diesel Multiple Unit was completely engulfed in flames at Shoe Md ei pl l aor nt e dt hAe c Bc raixnegnt odne nS tiantci loi nn ea ta t2 02:14:23,5A. lTa hn eYedor imv earn so, f otfhRe i c1h9m: 5o8n dS kRi po taodn, At oc cMr i na ng tcohne,s wt ear,s wa lheircthe dh abdy oC nr aevoe fn tsh ceatrwr ioa gyeo, uwn gh imc ha lheapda as sl reenagdeyr sb oe en nb oh aa rl tde, dt hdaut es mt oo tkhee wf aa isl uc roemoi fn go nf reo omf ut hned et wr toh ee nf lgoi no re so. f Tt hh ee torfa Ki ni nwg aGs eqourigcek’ lsy Pelvaayci nu ga t Fe di e ladss t hb ye ft ihr ee sGpuraeradd, , J aa nmde st hCe atl wl a og hpaans, s oe fn gDeurns nwy es hr eo pe sAc vo er tneude ,t oA ct hc rei ns ga tf eo tny, wsuhmomtohnened.continued down to Accrington South Signal Box, from where the fire brigade was In the meantime, Mr Yeomans detached the Motor Brake 2nd number M51745 from the bt hl ae z hi nagn do nber, aakned, sbaevcianugs ev ai tl uwa ab sl eo mn aa inl si nacnl idn ep ahrec ewl sa.s Ha eb l tehteon awl l oe wn t i tf ot rowraorl ld c tl eo ahr abl et fao rter api na r tkrianvge il tl i on ng tTohwe a rf idrse t hb er i bg audr ne i nhga dc a rb ea ennd ws ui tmh mt hoenfei rde ae tx t 2i n1g: u4 i5s haenr ds f rwoemr eb of ot hr cterda i nt os attat ek me pt ht eedi rt os uq pu pe ll li et sh ef rf iorme . WB uotoidt nwoaosk t Wo oa tl ea rt ,e wt oh iacvho ri da nt ht eh rcoaur gbhe Pi nr gi e cs ot lme yp lCel toeul yg hb, usruncthowu ta. sTthheey i nr eamc caei snsei db i il int ya tot fe nt hdea nl oc cea ut inotni l. 0c a2n: 0c 0e l l taht ieo nf ool lfo twhien g2 2m: 2o2r nt ri na ign, twohMe na nBc Rh e ws t ae sr farbo lme At oc crrei nc ogvt oe nr , twh ei t hr epma sasi ne ns .g eTrhsi sh af vi rien gc at ou sfei ndd t ahne alternative route. A spokesperson for British Railways stated, “Our engineers are investigating this incident, but as

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