Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

which meant both lines were closed over the weekend, with Ribble again providing a shuttle this time in both directions. On Monday the line was reopened with a 5mph speed limit over the relaid section, this was raised to 10mph on Tuesday and 15mph on Wednesday. By Thursday normal running was restored and an investigation was underway as to the circumstances of the derailment. A train conveying Notts Forest players, officials and supporters, was stoned as it passed between Accrington and Huncoat en route to Burnley. An official stated “That this was an act by children who could not have known it was a football supporters’ special”. Over Easter, Burnley were also away at Blackpool and there were no half fares on the price of £1:20p on the special train. ( The police were commended for saving a man who was hanging by his fingertips from the Viaduct over Blackburn Road. The Viaduct was a place from which suicides had been attempted over the years, and would continue to be so. Whilst these incidents were ongoing, train services would have to be suspended of course, causing inconvenience to very many people .) On Saturday the 30 th , BR ran a special excursion to Barrow-in-Furness and Ravenglass, departing Accrington at 08:53 and Rishton at 09:00, arriving Barrow at 10:50 and Ravenglass at 11:31. It returned from Ravenglass at 17:30, Barrow 18:11, arriving Rishton at 20:09 and Accrington at 20:14. The return fares were for an adult to Barrow £1:50p and a child 90p, and to Ravenglass for an adult £1:75p and a child £1:00. The Secretary of the North East Lancs Development Association, (NELDA), had written to BR requesting an explanation of what were their intentions with regard to the large amount of derelict railway land, which was becoming something of an eyesore. Representatives from Hyndburn, Burnley and Calderdale had already met with representatives from BR to discuss this subject. In Accrington this problem would be overcome to a certain extent by the development of part of the Charter Street site for a housing estate. Although BR were sympathetic to this problem, they were under Government restrictions as to how much they could receive for any land put up for sale. Geoffrey Tattersall, the Secretary of the local Civic Society, wanted the erstwhile line between Accrington and Baxenden adjacent to Priestley Clough developed as a nature trail, as it had recently been the target for vandalism. May On the 3 rd , with rumours still rife about the closing of the East Lancs Line, MP Arthur Davidson was to contact the Divisional Manager of BR to discuss the future of the line even though he had received correspondence stating that there were no plans for closure. Much of the speculation had come from the local members of the National Union of Railwaymen, who were concerned about the future of their jobs. On Monday the 6 th , there was a return to Rothesay for £4:85p and £2:80p. Every Sunday from the 8 th to the 25 th of September, there would be half-day trips to Blackpool for £1:00 and 50p. These would depart at 12:53, arrive at North Station at 13:58 and return at 20:30. Every Thursday from the 12 th to September the 29 th , there was a special train to Birmingham New Street to join a coach for a tour through the Cotswold Hills, including Moreton-in-the-Marsh and Stratford-upon-Avon. Bookings had to be in by the Tuesday before the day of the trip and the fares were £4:25p and £2:85p respectively. There were various road tours from which to choose connected to the specials to Glasgow and the Trossachs, which began operating on Saturdays the 7 th to June 25 th , and again from August 6 th to October 1 st . They must have been very popular as they also ran from Tuesday the 24 th , and every Tuesday up to September the 20 th , (except June 7 th ). The fares were £8:50p for adults and £6 for children. On the 14 th , stations from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog were the destinations of a special, which departed at 07:04 (Rishton 07:11), arriving at 10:56. The return left at 17:55 arriving back in Rishton at 22:01 and Accrington at 22:08. Fares were £1:75p and £1:00 respectively. At a meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee, Councillor Doris Grant made a call for the people of the area to come out in numbers to support any meetings, which were convened in order to protest against any further reductions in train services on the East Lancs Line. Even though it was accepted that the line was heavily subsidised, she said that when people who worked in the industry such as the members of the NUR were concerned about their futures, the matter had to be taken seriously. They were already experiencing job losses, which would explain why the trains were so dirty. It was her view that someone at the head of BR had made a decision to run the line down to a point where it could be closed, and the public ought to be made acutely aware of the situation. They should follow the example of the people of Hapton, who had demonstrated when their station was under threat that the railway was of vital importance to them. It was resolved that the Chairman, Donald McNeil, would write to BR

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