Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Saturday the 29 th , with fares at £2:50p and £1:50p. From this point on most (if not all), Mystery excursions would only call at Rose Grove on their return journeys. On Sunday the 30 th , there was a Ramblers’ Excursion to Shrewsbury, calling at Chester for £1/50p, Ruabon and Chirk, £1:25p/60p. Timings were departing Accrington at 09:33, arriving in Chester at 11:05, Ruabon 11:31, Chirk 11:39 and Shrewsbury 12:05, returning at 17:50, 18:17, 18:25 and 18:50 respectively with an arrival back in Accrington at 20:23. A leaflet was distributed on the outward run, giving details of the walks available. On Easter Monday the 31 st , there was the option of a full day in Blackpool, from town at 10:40, arriving at 11:45, returning at 19:58, and back for 21:03. The fares were for 88p for an adult and 44p for a child. There was also a trip to Barrow or Ravenglass. This special would depart at 08:57 (Rishton 09:05), arrive in Barrow at 10:46 and Ravenglass at 11:30 to connect with a special run on the ‘Ratty’. The return would depart at 18:50 calling at Barrow at 19:31, back at 21:25 and 21:31 respectively. The fares to Barrow were £1 and 55p, to Ravenglass £1:20p/80p, with the ride on the narrow gauge not included. The third of the options was a day out to York for £1:50p and children at 75p, from Accrington at 09:44, arriving at 11:30, returning at 18:00 and back in town at 19:45. April From April 1 st , through to May 29 th , there were ‘Awayday Specials’, which were bargain fares for ladies to London. For £6:50p two women, or one woman and up to two children, could have a day return on any Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. A similar ticket was available to either Glasgow or Edinburgh with the fare this time set at £5:50p. These were valid on any trains out and back. A cheap half-day trip ran to Blackpool on Sunday the 4 th , with fares at 60p and 30p. Every Thursday starting on the 8 th , and continuing through to September 25 th , there were special services to Birmingham New Street, where passengers would transfer to coaches for a seven hour tour. This would visit the Cotswolds via Warwick, Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Stow-in-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water and Stratford-upon-Avon. This was all inclusive of a fare of £3 for adults and £1:75p for children. Departing Accrington at 08:48 on Saturday the 8 th , the excursion to Llandudno operated again, calling at Rishton at 08:56, Chester 10:24, Rhyl 10:56, Colwyn Bay 11:11 and arriving in Llandudno at 11:31. The return left at 18:15, calling at Colwyn Bay 18:33, Rhyl 18:48 and Chester at 19:22 and back home for 21:12 and 21:19 respectively. The fares to Chester were £1:25p/80p and for the other resorts £1:60p and £1. A football special ran to Manchester Victoria on Saturday the 19 th , for the Manchester City v Burnley game, with no reductions on the 75p fare. There were conducted rambles off the special to Windermere on Sunday the 20 th , departing 09:45, arriving 12:01, returning 18:15 and back at 19:57. On Monday the 26 th , there was an excursion to Gourock, where passengers would transfer to a vessel for a cruise along the Kyles of Bute. The fares were £4:75p and £3:75p respectively. On the final day of the month the excursion to Barrow and Ravenglass was repeated. Although not widely advertised, a notice was published stating there were still some tickets left on a special excursion to Jersey. May Admission was free by ticket to the ‘Rail Night’ held at the Golden Palms in Blackburn, on the evening of Thursday the 8 th . Over the Bank Holiday weekend Blackpool would be revisited on Saturday/Sunday/Monday the 24 th /25 th /26 th , and Southport on the 25 th and 26 th . Barrow and Ravenglass were again the choices on the 31 st . June The Mystery excursion which ran on Saturday the 14 th , would return from its destination overnight. The fares were £2:75p and £1:75p respectively. A ‘bargain’ fare on a special to Blackpool of 60p and 30p per child was rapidly booked up for Sunday the 22 nd . July The Policy & Resources Committee met when the Borough Treasurer reported, that British Railways had tabled proposals that they were to close their Divisional Headquarters in Preston and combine it with the Headquarters in Manchester. It was resolved that the Council would support the salaried staffs in their endeavours to keep the office in Preston open, on the grounds that it could cause a decline in the railway services in North East Lancashire and on the Fylde. A Mystery Trip ran on Tuesday the 8 th , as did the ‘Holiday Express’ to London with the optional tour to Runnymede and Windsor. Fares to London were £4:30p and £2:50pfor a child, and for the entire package £7:65p/£5:50p. Edinburgh was the destination of a special on Tuesday the 15 th , with another Mystery Trip on Thursday the 17 th , at adults £2:90p and children £1:80p.

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