Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

any decision is made, and I will bear in mind all the points you have brought to my attention. Yours respectfully, Tom Watson. March Over the Easter period there would be special trains to Morecambe on Saturday and Sunday, to Blackpool on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with an excursion going to Rhyl on Sunday calling at Chester and Prestatyn, or a ‘rambler’ calling at Skipton en route to Grassington. Advanced notice was given of a repeat of the rail/steamer excursion to Staffa & Iona over the 4 th and 5 th , of June, with a fare of 90/6d and departing at 21:20. Over the weekend two extra trains ran to Blackpool on Saturday and Easter Monday, but due to ‘poor’ weather bookings were not so heavy. April Passengers were being informed on notices that the Sunday services north of Preston to Carlisle would be disrupted due to BR’s ‘Modernisation Plan’ and the electrification of the West Coast Main Line. This could be part of the reason why BR were advertising in the Observer for skilled electricians, wiremen, electrical inspectors and fault finders, with applications to Doncaster Works. The General Purposes Committee met when the Town Clerk submitted correspondence from his counterpart in Blackburn, including an invitation to attend a meeting to be held in the town on April 5 th . On the agenda would be the subject of the services provided by British Railways in the area, with particular reference to the ‘main line’ services connecting East Lancashire with the rest of the network. It was resolved that Alderman Wallwork, Councillor Walsh and the Town Clerk would represent Accrington at this meeting. June There were plenty of excursions over the Whitsuntide period, with three extras to Blackpool on Saturday, the 5 th , and on Sunday to Southport and Windermere, with one to Grange-over-Sands, calling at Lancaster and Carnforth. There was even more choice on Whit Monday with excursions to Lakeside at 14/- for Bowness or Ambleside by steamer, York for 15/6d, calling at Ilkley 7/3d, Otley 8/6d, Harrogate 11/- and Knaresborough 12/-, Liverpool, Southport, Morecambe and Blackpool again. Due to a spell of fine and sunny weather all of the special trains were reasonably full. On the 13 th , the destinations were Rhyl leaving at 09:26 returning at 19:48, also calling at Prestatyn, for 22/9d and 21/9d respectively, or Morecambe departing at 09:52 for 11/6d coming back at 20:12. On the final Sunday of the month a special departed at 09:40 to Chester for 13/-, Prestatyn 18/6d, Rhyl 19/3d, Colwyn Bay 21/3d, Llandudno Junction 22/3d and Llandudno 22/9d. The return train would depart the resort at 18:54. July Starting on the 4 th , there were extra trains to Southport for 8/6d and Blackpool at 9/-, departing Accrington at 10:25 and 11:14 respectively. It was also announced that a period return valid for one month would be available to Blackpool at 13/6d, and Morecambe at 17/3d, making a saving of 25% on the normal price. On the 11 th , there was a trip to Blackpool for 9/- leaving at 11:17 returning at 22:20, and one to Morecambe a minute later (which would not call at Church on its return), for 11/6d. For the summer season the six-day ‘Town Runabout Ticket’ would again be available at 37/6d. Now that the controversy about the holiday weeks had been resolved, the normal pattern of holiday trains resumed, and there were a total of 21 specials booked to cope with the holiday traffic, starting on Friday night the 16 th , with departures to Bristol & Newquay at 19:20, for 105/- and 172/-, to Bournemouth at 19:52 for 146/-, to Norwich & Great Yarmouth at 21:35 for 120/- and 128/-, to Torquay and Paignton at 21:45 for 144/- and 146/- and at 21:52 for Douglas IOM via Liverpool at 79/6d. There was a train for Belfast via Heysham at 20:00 and an overnight train to London leaving at 22:12 for 112/-. On Saturday, the 17 th , the Skegness train left at 08:20 for 86/6d, another at 10:40 for Caernarfon (Butlin’s) 67/6d, and at 10:22 for Bridlington 58/6d or Scarborough 61/-. The special for Rhyl for 47/- and Llandudno 56/6d had left earlier at 08:00, whilst other early departures were second trains to Douglas at 07:27 and London at 07:40. There was a train to Morecambe at 11:10 for 17/3d and three extras to Blackpool at 11:05, 12:30 and 13:35 for 13/6d. All the prices quoted for these period returns would be valid for up to sixteen days. It was reported that there were crowds on Accrington Station on both Friday evening and Saturday for the 21 special trains put on by BR for the holidays. A spokesman at the Station confirmed that all the

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