Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

we wanted to preserve it for the common good”. During the Great War, stevedores demanded what was to them a German-sounding name be removed, or they would refuse to work with it! November There was a choice of trips on the 6 th , of a ‘Mystery Mixture’ or a Ramblers’ Circular. First off was the Mystery, which departed Rishton at 06:52, (Accrington 06:55) and arriving at the destination at 12:42. It was a long day for the fares of £3:95p and £2:60p, as the return did not depart until 18:00 and was back at 23:31 and in Rishton at 23:36. The Rambler left at the more civilized time of 08:55, calling at Cuddington (10:31), Delamere (10:38), Mouldsworth (10:44), arriving in Chester at 11:00. This trip returned by a different route after departing at 18:00, picking up in Helsby (18:13) and Frodsham (18:20), and was back at 19:51, the walkers having left the train at some stations would rejoin it at others. The fares were £1:30p/75p respectively. Burnley were away at Bolton on Tuesday the 9 th , and the special cost £1:20p with no half fares. One night ‘Tartan Breaks’ in Glasgow or Edinburgh were available between November the 12 th and February 27 th , 1977, (Christmas & New Year excepted), at £11:90p with a child sharing at half price. The fare included 2nd Class travel and one night’s bed and breakfast in a British Transport Hotel. Travel was by any train on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and returning on any train the following day. ( I myself sampled one of these breaks in February ’77, and stayed at the famous North British Hotel on Princess Street, directly overlooking Waverley Station.) Over the weekend of the 27 th and 28 th , there was a stay in Llandrindod Wells, with the train leaving Preston at 11:39 on Saturday, arriving at the destination at 14:47. The return was on Sunday at 17:30 and was back in Preston at 20:46. The fares of £13:50p and £8:10p for a child sharing included one night’s dinner, bed and breakfast with ‘Welsh’ entertainment on Saturday evening and a coach tour on Sunday morning. There were connections to and from Accrington. ‘Winter East Lancs Awayday Returns’ were introduced from Accrington to Preston at £1:12p, Bolton at £1:21p and to Manchester at £1:68p, with children half price. There was also an ‘off-peak’ return to Manchester at £1:32p, on the 08:31 or any later train. A weekly season ticket to Preston cost £5:30p, to Bolton £5:75p and to Manchester £7:30p. December ‘London Savers’ on Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays, were back up to the 18 th , out on the 10:01 from Preston and back on the 18:05 from Euston. The fares were £6 2nd Class and £7 1st Class on Saturdays only. Daily from the 4 th , (excluding the 25 th and 26 th ), one night Mini-Breaks in London were available, with a de luxe package at £18:25p which included 1st Class travel and one night’s B & B in a luxury Grand Met ‘Glass’ Hotel. The ‘standard’ class package included 2nd Class travel and accommodation in a typical Grand Met Hotel, with a fare of £12:75p. In both instances children were half price. Travel was by any train after the 09:30 from Preston, the 08:25 ex-Carlisle or the 08:45 ex-Barrow, and return on any train the following day. Santa specials on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway were the focus of diesel excursions on Saturdays the 11 th and 18 th . The fares of £3 and £2 for a child included a ride on the preserved railway.

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