Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

for a child under 14. Light refreshments were available, as would be the case on all of this type of excursion, and because tickets were limited early booking was recommended. May The first Mystery Trip must have been a great success for a second was on its way on Saturday the 9 th . This time the tickets were 30/- for an adult and 20/- for a child, and the same on-train facilities and warnings about the limited number of tickets applied again. ( This second one went to Weston-super Mare .) The first of two derailments occurred when a diesel locomotive came off the rails at Whitebirk Junction on Thursday the 21 st , closing the line for four hours during which time passengers were ferried between Rishton and Blackburn by bus. There was more disruption to services on Saturday the 23 rd , when a van on the 05:55 parcels train to Colne came off the rails whilst crossing the points leading onto the viaduct at Accrington Station. Buses transferred passengers between Accrington and Huncoat, whilst a gang using jacks returned it to the rails. Services returned to normal just after midday. Mystery Trip fever was in full swing as on Saturday the 23 rd , another was departing Accrington at 08:45 with an arrival at the destination at 12:30. All the same requirements and facilities were included in the ticket price of 30/- for an adult and 20/- for a child, and the return train was at 17:30. June The East Lancs Railway Preservation Society were the organisers of the special to Edinburgh on Saturday the 6 th , no doubt to help raise more money for the group’s ambitious schemes. Adults would pay 57/6d for the ride whilst the fare for a child under 13 was 35/-. There were free buses from Helmshore and Haslingden to Accrington, and there were the options of a coach tour of the city at 2/6d extra and a meal on the train at 9/-. Tickets could not be obtained from BR, but direct from an address in Bolton. Three weeks later on Saturday the 27 th , there was another BR trip, departing at 07:44 and arriving at the ‘Mystery’ destination at midday. The fares seemed to have standardised at 30/- for an adult and 20/- for a child, and the return was at 18:34. ( One of the pastimes on these marvellous excursions was to try to guess as early as was possible on the journey where the ultimate destination would be. As various options came and went, the possible endpoints were whittled down until it became obvious where the free time would be spent. Although only made possible through diesel, or a combination of diesel and electric traction, much of the pleasure was gained from just riding on a train. They began to attract a core of regulars, not just train enthusiasts and often acquaintances became friendships due to their regularity. ) There was free travel for a child if accompanied by an adult on the specials to Morecambe on Saturdays, the 14 th and 28 th , the adult fare being 15/-. Departure was from Accrington at 10:56, with an arrival in Morecambe at 12:18. Return was from Euston Road at 18:35. A similar offer was available on the excursion to Blackpool on Sunday the 21 st , departing at 10:58 arriving at Blackpool North at 12:10 and returning at 18:50. The adult fare was 12/6d. July On Sunday the 5 th , departing Accrington at 09:12 another Mystery Trip was off, with an arrival at the destination at 13:36 and the return time at 18:10. The fare was again 30/- for an adult and 20/- for a child, and booking early was now essential to ensure a ticket. The whole process was repeated again on July 20 th , with a departure at 08:14, with an arrival at the destination at 12:45 and the return time at 18:10. July holidays were completed by a third Mystery Trip, departing at 09:08 with an arrival at the destination at 12:20 and a return at 18:00. The same fares applied and facilities were available. August Modifications were to be made to the Paxton Street approaches to the entrance at the Railway Station, after BR conceded that the access was challenging for the elderly. MP Arthur Davidson had written to Mr R. L. E. Lawrence, Chair and General Manager of BR, to point out how difficult it was and how dangerous it could be in bad weather. So arrangements were made for Mr Davidson to meet with Mr Downes, the Preston District Manager on Saturday the 8 th , in order to discuss this problem. Mr Downes was very helpful and had agreed for a flight of steps to be installed from the Paxton Street car park to the top of the slope. Although he had conceded that the Paxton Street side was less accessible to a large proportion of the population, he could not give assurances that the Eagle Street side would be opened up again, but at least agreed to look into the possibility at some time in the future on the grounds that the main car parking facilities were on the Eagle Street side. However, on the question of providing toilets, he said that this was “out of the question”, as toilet facilities were now provided on all trains, but agreed that a telephone could now be provided where now there was none.

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