Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

On Sunday the 10 th , there was a meeting of the L & Y’s drivers and guards in Salford, with a deputation from Accrington in attendance along with a delegation from the employees of the L&NWR. This was to present a 600 name petition for a reduction in the working hours to Mr Lawn of the L & Y. It was the general feeling that if these requests were not met in their ‘entirety’ there would be sufficient support for a strike. On the evening of Monday the 11 th , Mr Hall met with the Local Board of Great Harwood to promote support in favour of a merger between the L & Y and the L&NWR, as he had previously done in Oswaldtwistle who, along with Clayton-le-Moors, had pledged their support to this petition. Mr W. Birtwistle said he thought the servants of the L&NWR were “more civil” than those of the L & Y, and that the former was also more readily inclined when dealing with any complaints. A proposition in support of the amalgamation was unanimously passed. The Chairman asked Mr Hall, “Are you to make your bread and butter from this matter?” To which he replied, “It involves a sum of 19 million pounds, and I would not mind a share of that!” ( To great laughter. ) May The ground to the west of Willows Lane was being prepared for the construction of a new engine shed during, whilst at the north end of Accrington Railway Station, new ladies and gentlemen’s waiting rooms for 2nd and 3rd Class passengers were being built. At this time only the 1st Class accommodation was considered to be adequate. On Friday the 17 th , an inquest was held at the Royal Hotel on Blackburn Road, on a railway guard from Accrington, Mr Richard Dewhurst aged 30, of Paxton Street. The circumstances of his death were reported by William Gardener, a lorry driver for the L & Y, who stated he saw the deceased attempting to uncouple some wagons from a train in the yard at Blackburn Station. The coupling on a van belonging to the Great Northern Railway would not come loose, and whilst he was struggling with it, the locomotive some 15 wagons away started back, trapping him between the drawbars of the two vehicles. His body was immediately recovered and put on a train to Accrington. Simon Dewhurst, a Pointsman at Accrington and the uncle of the deceased, said he had passed away just minutes after being carried to his home. He added, that there were very few external marks on the outside of his body so the injuries must have been internal. It was stated in evidence that he would have been safe if the buffers on these vans had been made of wood, but they were metal ones which were sprung and compressed together closing the gap between the two drawbars. It was stated that the engine had moved slowly back when the driver had received a signal to do so by the deceased. A verdict of accidental death was recorded. His interment was given a special dispensation to take place on a Sunday, so that 40 or so of his colleagues from the railway could attend, as they would normally have been at work. He had been a guard on the L & Y for fourteen years. September Due to a host of complaints, workmen were laying new setts on the approach to Accrington Station in order to avoid the problems caused by dirt and ice during the previous winter. October At a meeting of the Haslingden Union, a reassessment of the L & Y’s rates in the townships of old and new Accrington was being made. These were to be increased by £2,000 per annum, which would benefit the Accrington Local Board by about £400. November A meeting of delegates of the L & Y was held at the North Union Hotel on Fishergate, in Preston, and attended by representatives of railway employees from Accrington. After over three hours of intense debate, it was unanimously resolved to petition the L & Y for the formation of a fund to be called the ‘Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company’s Servants’ Superannuation Fund’. Each employee was to subscribe to this fund, and after 15 years’ service receive half of his salary, and two-thirds of his salary after 20 years’ service as a pension. It was also stated that members accruing these benefits would be allowed to subscribe up until retirement. The scale of the contributions by members would be - 1. For those employees earning less than £1 per week - 1 penny per week. 2. For those employees earning up to £1 - 10s - 1½d per week - 1½ pence per week. 3. For those employees earning between £1 – 10s – 0d and £2 per week - 2 pence per week. Mr Hough was chosen to be the Fund’s Secretary. There was a strong desire for the Company to manage this scheme and for those leaving the employment of the L & Y, to receive an amount proportional to their contributions, this to be decided by arbitration if necessary.

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