Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

would leave at New Street for the coach to Dudley. Admission to the animal reserve was included in the £3:60p/£2:80p fares, but the railway ride was in addition to the £3:05p/£2:35p ticket price. August It was announced that the ‘day trips’ to Paris would be available daily up to September the 12 th , following roughly the same format as before. On Sunday the 15 th , there was an ‘Awayday’ special to Aberystwyth for the Vale of Rheidol Railway, the fares were £2:60p/£1:60p, with the ride to Devil’s Bridge an extra 80p/40p. Another Ramblers’ Excursion, also on the 15 th , revisited the Hope Valley and tickets were £1:30p and 75p respectively. BR stated, it would cost £1,100 to repair broken down fences where the railway passed by the Within Grove Estate, but this would be necessary on the grounds of safety. Accrington Viaduct would be the scene of a tragedy when a sixty-one year old man jumped 60 feet to his death. ( This would be the scene of other suicides in the future .) There was a special to Blackpool on Sunday the 29 th , whilst on Bank Holiday Monday the 30 th , the choices were York or Blackpool again and yet another Mystery excursion. September On Saturday the 4 th , there was an ‘open day’ at the Carlisle Kingmoor Traction Maintenance Depot, and BR was offering a reduced return fare of £2:50p for an adult and half price for a child from Accrington for those who wished to visit. Blackpool was the destination for a special on Sunday the 5 th , and again a week later, with another scheduled for Tuesday the 14 th , whilst the day before the special train was for Morecambe. Once again ‘London Savers’ were on offer from the 6 th , through to October the 2 nd , to be reintroduced from November the 8 th to December 18 th . These were available from Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays, and the fares were £6 and £3 2nd Class on weekdays, and £7 and £3:50p 1st Class on Saturdays only. Transport enthusiasts were also catered for on Saturday the 18 th , with a train departing Accrington at 08:19 (Rishton 08:26), arriving in Matlock at 11:44, where coaches would transfer passengers to the National Tramway Museum at Crich. The fare of £2:75p and £1:90p for a child would entitle them to admission and one return journey on one of the Museum’s trams. The return train left at 19:40, arriving back in Rishton at 22:46 and Accrington seven minutes later. For those not wishing to include the tramway museum this excursion also called at Matlock Bath en route at a reduced fare. On the same day there was a BR excursion to Berwick-upon-Tweed via Carlisle. En route this train also called at Haltwistle with fares at (£2:25p/£1:50p), Newcastle-upon-Tyne (£2:75p/£1:70p) and Berwick (£3:20p/£1:90p) respectively. There were organised rambles from Brampton, Bardon Mill, Haydon Bridge and Hexham, where the train also dropped off passengers. ( This train was fully booked.) On Monday the 20 th , there was another trip to North Wales, departing town at 08:52 (Rishton 08:59), calling at Chester at 10:20, Rhyl 11:14, Colwyn Bay 11:31 and Llandudno at 11:52. Return times were 18:30, 18:47, 19:01, 19:38 and it was back in Rishton at 21:14, Accrington at 21:21. Fares to Chester were £1:60p/£1 and to all the other resorts £2:30p and £1:50p. October With the Illuminations in full swing, there were ‘special’ returns available during the month to Blackpool at £2:08p/£1:04p, out on any train Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, back on any train Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of the same week. There was a Settle/Carlisle Centenary Circular Tour on Saturday the 9 th , going outward via Blackburn and Hellifield to Carlisle, then returning via Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with some time out in York. This train departed from Blackburn at 10:17 and was back for 20:10, with fares set at £3:75p for adults and £2:50p for children. York was visited by a special again on Saturday the 16 th , this time departing Accrington at 09:35 and arriving at 11:20, returning at 17:58 and back for 19:38, with tickets at £2/£1:35p. The Motor Show was being held at Olympia and there was a special excursion on Saturday the 23 rd . The fares were £4:60p and £2:60p, and the timings were Accrington 07:47 and arriving at Euston at 11:28. The return departed at 22:55 and ran through the night to arrive back at 03:39. Starting on the 21 st , the ‘London Saver’ ticket was again available, which was valid on specified services and cost £7:50p/£4:15p. Built in 1903 and originally named ‘The Gotherburk’, a dock shunting engine had been obtained by the local Volvo dealership of Hindle &Walker in exchange for a Volvo car. It would be kept at the Bury Transport Museum and was in running order. Les Hindle, a Director, stated “We were interested in swopping the locomotive from its Blackburn owner for a car, as it is a wonderful piece of engineering and

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