Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

The demand for Mystery Trips had become so great that on Saturday the 29 th , two would operate on the same day. They would call at Nelson, Burnley Central, Accrington, Blackburn, Bamber Bridge and Leyland on their outward journeys. June Further to a previous minute at a meeting of the General Purposes Committee, the Town Clerk submitted further correspondence from the Passenger Manager of British Railways - London Midland Region, on the question of introducing earlier and later calls at Huncoat Station, along with the re opening of the station’s facilities on Sundays. He next submitted a letter from the Sales Superintendent of Post Office Telephones, stating that British Railways were about to start work on developing the Railway Station site on Eagle Street, and that this would involve the removal of the telephone kiosk there. It was resolved that the Town Clerk would communicate with the Post Office and British Railways in order to still have a kiosk located on Eagle Street. On Sundays the 13 th , 20 th & 27 th , BR were operating ‘Super Half-day Excursions’ by train to Blackpool. The fare was only 30p for an adult and 15p for a child under 14. These would depart Accrington at 12:55 and arrive at North Station at 14:00, returning at 19:50. July London and Hampton Court were the destinations for BR’s ‘Holiday Express Train’ on Thursday the 8 th . Departure from Accrington was at 07:38, arrival at Euston at 11:40 where there was the option of a coach tour to Hampton Court Palace, with a cruise on the Thames to Runnymede and a picnic tea. The price of the all-inclusive day was £5:75p per adult and £3:95p per child, whilst the London-only option was £2:75p and £1:35p respectively. The return would depart Euston at 19:20. There were two Mystery Trips from which to choose during the holidays. The first departed town on Thursday the 15 th , at 07:58 arriving at the destination ( Largs ) at 12:54 and returning at 17:55. The second on Tuesday the 20 th , left at 08:15 and arrived at 12:02, returning from ( Whitby ) at 18:02. The fares were the same on both these trains, £1:75p for an adult and £1 for a child under 13. Light refreshments were also provided. The London/Hampton Court excursion was proving extremely popular as it was repeated again a fortnight later, the only differences being the timings, from Accrington departing at 06:57, in Euston at 11:01 and returning as before at 19:20. All these specials and the overnight holiday trains were fully booked, with the Isle of Man proving popular again, as were the six-day ‘Runabout Tickets’. August BR introduced a ‘Super Saver Ticket’ to Southport on Sundays the 1 st , 8 th , 15 th and 29 th , for 30p an adult and 15p for a child. The specials on which these tickets were valid departed Accrington at 12:44, arriving at the resort at 14:09 and returning at 20:10. At a meeting of the General Purposes Committee and further to a previous minute, the Town Clerk submitted more correspondence from the Divisional Manager of British Railways, stating that the telephone kiosk, which had been situated at the entrance to Accrington Railway Station, had been resited to a position immediately adjacent to the station entrance gates on Eagle Street. Edinburgh for the Tattoo was the aim of the special which departed town on Saturday the 21 st at 07:56, arriving at Waverley Station at 13:30. For those wishing to see the military spectacle the all inclusive ticket was for an adult £2:75p and a child £2. For those just wanting to visit the Capital the tickets were £2 and £1:25p respectively. The return was overnight on Sunday at 01:30. Bookings for this trip would have to be made no later than Saturday the 14 th , and patrons were reminded that should any of the performances not take place for any reason there could be no refund or transfers. There would be light refreshments available on both legs. On Sunday the 29 th , BR ran a day trip to the Isle of Man allowing 3½ hours on the island. The train left Accrington at 08:43 to go to Blackpool North, where passengers would transfer onto buses for the journey to Fleetwood*, at no extra cost. The fare was for an adult £2:95p and a child half-fare, and the return from Douglas was at 17:00. (* The passenger services on the Poulton-le-Fylde to Fleetwood section of line had closed on Saturday May 30 th , 1970 .) September A ‘Super Saver’ half-day excursion ticket to Blackpool Illuminations was available on Sunday the 5 th , at 30p for an adult and 15p for a child. The train departed town at 13:35, returning from Blackpool North at 21:20. There was a repeat of the Isle of Man trip on Sunday the 12 th , departing Accrington at 08:34 returning from Douglas at 17:00, whilst on the Saturday of the holiday weekend there was an extra train to Blackpool.

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