Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

arrived back two hours late after rumours of a tragedy had been circulating across the town, and caused a large crowd to gather on the platform. On arrival those with minor injuries were seen by Dr Russell before being allowed home. July On the Friday the 1 st , an excursion was run from Accrington to Lytham, and complaints were made to the L & Y, that the posters advertising this trip were only displayed on the afternoon of the day before. As a result of this only dozens of passengers were carried, instead of the hundreds who would have availed themselves of the opportunity to take a cheap day out by train. Despite being petitioned by officials representing Sunday schools, Mr Blackmore, Superintendent of the East Lancs Section of the L & Y, would not grant concessionary fares to Sunday school trips on the railway. There was also much discontent about the level of fares which the L & Y were charging for their excursions, from Accrington to what were described as the “coastal watering holes”. Several influential people had organised a petition to be sent to the directors of the London & North Western Railway, imploring them to make an application for running powers over the L & Y’s metals from Blackburn to Accrington. This petition was lodged at the offices of the Accrington Times, for those who supported the cause to add their names. ( At this time the L&NWR were involved in a joint venture to link Blackburn with Wigan by a direct line through Chorley, which under the name of the Lancashire United Line would give it powers to run into the main station in Blackburn. ) The petition claimed that between 1851 and 1861, the population of Accrington had doubled to 30,000, whilst within a radius of two miles from the station this figure was approximately 50,000. Within this area there were 130 cotton mills, several large foundries, heavy engineering works and calico printing works amounting to in excess of 150 manufacturing establishments. On the 30 th , it was announced that the wooden viaduct across the Aspen Valley was to undergo extensive repairs, as complaints had been made about its safety to the extent that some people would not travel across it by train. A person had to be stationed there all the time to extinguish any fires which might ignite the structure from coals ejected from the locomotives passing over it. August At the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the L & Y was held at Hunts Bank in Manchester and the Chairman said that in future any compensation awarded to passengers should be limited. For 1st Class the maximum would be £1,000, for 2nd Class passengers £500 and £300 for those travelling 3rd Class. He also recommended that passengers should take out insurance at the following rates - £3,000 for 1st Class, £2,000 for 2nd Class and £900 for 3rd Class passengers. October On the 12 th , Thomas Killian, of Higher Audley, Blackburn, was killed on the Aspen Valley Viaduct as he was unloading sleepers from a wagon with four of his workmates. A signal was given for the engine to move further up the line for a short distance, and whilst it was in motion Killian lost his balance and fell onto the lines. Before the train could be stopped a wagon had run him over across his back. Despite the efforts of Dr Russell, Killian died shortly afterwards. 1871 January Two members of the local Board of Health, Messrs Booth and Walmsley, met with officials of the L & Y with a view to obtaining better facilities for the handling and conveyance of goods between Accrington Railway Station and the Market Hall. It was stated that the L & Y would carry goods between Preston and Accrington at the same rates as between Preston and Blackburn. March On Wednesday the 22 nd , there was a collision between a passenger train and some luggage vans at Accrington Station. On arriving on the Scaitcliffe Bridge, the locomotive and three carriages had been uncoupled from the rest of the train and had gone forward towards the Viaduct as usual. But the points on this occasion had not been correctly set and the train was diverted onto a siding containing four luggage vans. These were struck with some force, telescoping one van over the others whilst smashing the buffer beam of the engine. Although shaken, none of the forty people on board were hurt and were able to continue on with their journeys. One of the passengers was Mrs Dugdale of Lowerhouse in Burnley, who was the sister-in-law to the Chairman of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company. April Speaking in the House of Commons, Richard Walker of the Bury Local Board expressed his opposition to the proposed amalgamation of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway with the London & North Western Railway. A statistical analysis of the two companies taken on the four weeks up to April 28 th , showed that since the introduction of 3rd Class fares, ( with the exception of the L & Y’s 1st Class only Club Trains ), the finances of the two companies had increased as follows –

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