Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

(11:47), Rhyl (12:23), Colwyn Bay (12:45) and Llandudno (13:05), returning at 18:05 and back in Accrington at 21:13. Fares to Chester were 75p and 40p whilst to all the other stations £1 and 60p. September On Saturday the 1 st , the Edinburgh Tattoo was the focus of the train departing Accrington at 08:35 arriving in ‘Auld Reekie’ at 12:54. Including in the fares of £3:95p and £2:75p were seats at the spectacular event, and the return was in the early hours of Sunday at 01:30 to be back in Accrington at 06:05. A now tattoo-less Edinburgh would be visited again for the day on Thursday the 20 th . There would be no less than four Mystery Trips during the month, on Saturday the 8 th , Tuesday the 11 th , Saturday the 15 th and Wednesday the 19 th , all at the same fare, £1:95p per adult and £1:25p per child. The popular Chester and North Wales excursion ran again on Thursday the 13 th , as did an equally popular return to London and Windsor on Tuesday the 18 th . An advertisement in the Observer stated that on Saturday the 22 nd , two “well known” steam engines would be operating a special service between Carnforth and Ravenglass, and there would be connections from East Lancs. The ride would cost £3:50p and interested parties had to apply for tickets to the LNER Society at an address in Barrow-in-Furness. Unfortunately the BR excursion to Barrow and Ravenglass did not operate until one week later, Saturday the 29 th . October The month began with another Mystery Trip on Saturday the 6 th , leaving Accrington at 07:57, (Rishton 08:03), and arriving at the destination at 12:28. The return left at 18:00 arriving at Rishton at 21:31 and Accrington seven minutes later. After an absence the excursion on Saturday the 14 th , made a return to Birmingham and Coventry. London was the destination of a day trip on Saturday the 27 th , and for those getting to Preston there was the opportunity of a Mini-Weekend break to visit the Motor Show for the inclusive price of adults £7:75p and children £5:50p, including one night’s B&B at the Penta Hotel. November A Mystery was on offer again on Saturday the 3 rd , and the times were Accrington 07:37, arrival 12:30, return at 18:05 back in town at 22:47. Over Saturday and Sunday the 17 th and 18 th , the ‘Mini-Weekend’ to Torquay ran again, departing from Preston at midnight on Friday the 16 th , with connecting trains from East Lancashire. The fares were £7:95p for adults, children £4:85p and £2:85p for under threes sharing. This time the coach tour included in the price visit to Teignmouth, Dawlish and Newton Abbot. December On Saturday the 1 st , and Sunday the 2 nd , the popular Mini-Weekend in London was repeated, the fares being £7:50p and £4:50p for a child. A ‘Christmas Shopping’ special to London operated on Saturday the 15 th , from Accrington (07:57) and Rishton (08:07). It arrived in Euston at 11:49, returned at 17:55 and was home at 22:12 and 22:18 respectively. The Policy & Resources Committee of Hyndburn Council were invited to be represented at a meeting held in Preston’s Guild Hall on Tuesday the 16 th , in order to discuss the future of public passenger transport including that of the railways. This was thought prudent in order to prepare authorities for their new roles from 1974 onwards. For those who fancied Christmas in the Capital there was a ‘Stardust Christmas’ on offer at £25 per adult and £18 per child. The price included outward by any train operating on the 23 rd , and returning on any train on Boxing Day, three nights’ stay bed and breakfast in the Kennedy Hotel near Euston, Christmas lunch and dinner, with a £2 supplement for 1st Class travel. BR offered the Accrington’s local authority the opportunity to purchase the disused railway trackbed between Accrington and Baxenden, which amounted to in excess of 30 acres of land. The snags as far as the Council was concerned were, apart from the asking price, afterwards it would be responsible for the maintenance of the viaducts, bridges, culverts, piers and fencing. The Borough was soon to be reorganised and the Chief Executive, Nigel MacGregor, who would be the Chief Executive of the ‘new’ Hyndburn Authority, pointed out that there it would entail large scale landscaping and planting in order to create a valuable amenity. But he was also cautious that if nothing was done it would become a magnet for fly-tipping unless, as had been the case in Great Harwood, the problems had been resolved by turning it into a beauty spot. ( The girder bridge over Platt Mill Lodge had been removed, so was not included in this offer. )

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