Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

British Railways would be requested to provide secure fencing around all the properties belonging to them. June There was a half-day trip to Blackpool on the first day of the month. A special to Portsmouth left overnight on Friday the 1 st , with fares at £2:25p per adult and £1:50p per child no doubt reflecting the distance covered, whereas the fares were only £1:95p and £1:25p respectively on the Mystery one week later, Saturday the 9 th . There was a special to Stoke on Sunday the 10 th , at £1:65p and £1:10p respectively and this included a coach to and admission into Trentham Gardens. The General Purposes Committee met when the Town Clerk submitted correspondence from the Divisional Manager of British Railways, stating that with effect from July 2 nd , the ‘express’ rail parcels service would be transferred away from Accrington also Blackburn, to both Bolton and Oldham. He further presented a letter from the NE Lancs Development Committee, expressing concerns about the gradual erosion of the railway in East Lancashire, along with a copy of BR’s reply thereon. On Saturday the 16 th , the destinations were Bletchley for Woburn Abbey Animal Kingdom, with a coach tour through the animal reserve and included entry into the Abbey at £2:25p and for a child £1:50p. For the more adventurous, there was another Mini-Weekend in London over the 16 th and 17 th , with much the same arrangements in place. Also London-bound on the 24 th , was a ‘Sunday Saver’ at the knock-down price of £2 per adult and £1 for each accompanied child. The month concluded with a special to Towyn and Barmouth on Saturday the 23 rd , and a week later to Barrow and Ravenglass. Light refreshments were available on both these trips. At the end of the month it was advertised that Preston would be integrated into the ‘Inter-City’ network of express trains from July the 23 rd . July Mystery excursions were to feature again on Tuesday the 10 th and Thursday the 19 th , with fares on both at £2:25p for adults and £1:50p for children. The London and Windsor trip was repeated again on Thursday the 12 th , with those going on to Windsor cruising to Maidenhead with a packed tea on board. On Tuesday the 17 th , there was the choice of a day in Chester for £1/50p or going on either to Rhyl, Colwyn Bay or Llandudno for £1:25p an adult 75pfor a child. The train departed Accrington at 09:43 and was back in town at 21:31. For those staying at home during the Wakes Weeks, there was plenty of railway choice and unusually all the excursion trains were 1st Class accommodation throughout. These began on Monday the 23 rd , to Bristol with an optional coach tour to Wells and Cheddar. To Bristol the fares were £2:25p and £1:50p, with the tour at 50p for all classes. There was also the option of a tray meal on board at 75p per person. This train departed Accrington at 07:43 arrived at Temple Meads at 12:04, returned at 18:00 and was back for 22:47. Two days later the train went to Edinburgh, departing town at 08:12 arriving Waverley at 12:55, returning at 18:10 and back for 22:50. Fares were £3 and £2 for a child. The excursion to London with the option of Windsor would be repeated twice on Thursdays the 26 th and August 2 nd . On Friday the 27 th , a train departed at 07:25 and the destination was Ayr with an arrival at 11:52. The fares were £2:25p and £1:50p and the return departed at 17:50 to be back in Accrington at 22:30. Another Mystery Trip departed on Monday the 30 th , and must have covered a considerable distance as having left at 07:37 it did not arrive at the destination until 13:12. It was a long day as returning at 17:50 it did not get back until 23:23. July ended on the 31 st , with an excursion to Stirling for Blair Drummond Safari Park. Coaches were provided at Stirling for a tour including the Safari Park, Callander, the Trossachs, Aberfoyle and Lake Menteith. August The holiday had extended into a new month and on Wednesday the 1 st , there was a special to Gloucester with a coach tour to Berkeley Castle included in the fares of adults £2:80p and £1:95p for a child. On Friday the 3 rd , the holidays culminated with a special for York at £1:40p for an adult 70p for a child, or Scarborough at £1:95p for an adult £1:25p per child. Lincoln was the destination on Sunday the 12 th , leaving at 08:32 and arriving at the Cathedral City at 13:22, returning at 16:15 and back for 22:24. The fares were £1:75p and £1 respectively. The ‘Mini Weekend’ to London was repeated over Saturday and Sunday the 25 th and 26 th , from Preston at 09:30 returning from Euston at 17:30. During the month there were day and half excursions to Blackpool, and to Morecambe for the Illuminations, whilst on August Bank Holiday Monday there was another special at 09:42 to Chester

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