Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

July The holidays saw a plethora of specials, with Blackpool of course at the head of the list. On Sunday the 2 nd , the first of these departures was 09:45, arriving at 10:52 and returning at 19:48 whilst on the 9 th , the timings were 10:36, 11:50 and 19:53 respectively. The fares on this pair were £1:82p and 91p. There were ‘Sunday Afternoon Specials’ every Sunday to September 24 th , departing at 12:53, arriving North at 13:57, returning at 20:30, back at 21:24, with fares at £1:10p and 55p. On Tuesday the 4 th , departing at 10:48 there was a trip to Southport, arriving at 12:05 and returning at 19:25, which would be repeated on Thursday the 13 th , with a departure at 10:32, arriving at 12:03 and returning at 19:13. Both had fares of £1:82p and 91p for a child. Morecambe was similarly treated with visits on Thursday the 6 th , and again on Tuesday the 11 th . The timings were departing Accrington at 10:48, arriving at 11:48 and returning at 19:20 on the 6 th , and 10:32, 11:35 and 19:35 on the 11 th . The fares were the same as those for Southport and Blackpool. On Mondays to Saturdays from July 3 rd , up to September 2 nd , it was possible to travel to either Morecambe or Grange-over-Sands for £2:08p return from Huncoat, £1:82p from Accrington and £1:76p from Church & Oswaldtwistle. Outward travel was by the 09:45 from Colne to Preston where a change of trains was necessary, but return was by any train. A Mystery Trip was off on Saturday the 5 th , to be followed by others on Thursday the 13 th , Monday the 17 th , and Tuesday the 25 th . All had fares of £3:90p for adults and £2:35p for accompanied children, except the one on the 25 th , where the fares were £4:30p and £2:50p respectively. On Sunday the 16 th , there was a repeat of the Chester and North Wales excursion calling at Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno. Grange-over-Sands, Cark (for Holker Hall) and Barrow, were the destinations of the special which ran on the 10 th . It departed at 11:02, calling in Grange at 12:36 (18:52), Cark 12:46 (18:45) and Barrow 13:15, returning at 18:20 and back for 20:14. The fares were £1:75p and £1:00 for a child. An added attraction was the Lakeland Rose Show, a short distance from Cark. Hereford and the Wye Valley were the destinations of the excursion on Thursday the 20 th , with the optional coach tour to Symonds Yat, Monmouth and Chepstow, at £1:65p extra with no concessions for children. The timings were departing Accrington at 07:34, Rishton 07:41, with an arrival in Hereford at 11:22. Return was at 18:00 to be back in Rishton at 21:19, Accrington 21:31. The following day the choices were York at £2:50p and £1:60p or Scarborough at £3:90p and £2:35p on the same train. On Monday the 24 th , there was an opportunity to ride over the Settle and Carlisle on an excursion bound for Edinburgh. The fares were £4:30p and £2:50p respectively. Every Tuesday from the 4 th to the 26 th of September, there was a rail/road tour covering Central Wales. This left Accrington at 06:56 arrived at Birmingham New Street at 10:07, where coaches were waiting to take passengers at 10:30 to Llandrindod Wells, where there was time for lunch (not included), Rhayader and the Elan Valley. Changes were necessary in both Preston and Crewe and the fares were £5:75p and £4:20p for a child. Each Tuesday, up to the 26 th of September, there was a rail/road tour to Ayr and Burns’ Country. The train departed Accrington at 07:44 and arrived in Glasgow Central at 11:53, where coaches would take passengers on to Ayr for a lunch stop, then on the Burns tour. Return was from Central at 17:30 and back at 20:50. The inclusive fares were £6:75p for an adult and £5:00 for a child. Every Wednesday to September 20 th , there were runs to Snowdonia for £4:50p and £3:15p, also to the Cotswolds up to the 12 th of October, at £4:75p and £3:20p. A coach tour from Penrith to visit Gowborrow Park, Aira Force Waterfalls and Windermere, for a visit to Sizergh Castle was included in the fares on the train which would operate from Preston on Thursdays, the 6 th and 20 th of July, the 10 th and 24 th , of August and the 7 th , of September. To take part the train was the 09:55 from Accrington arriving in Penrith at 11:47, and returning from Oxenholme at 18:40 to be back home at 20:06. Departing late in the evening of Thursday the 27 th , there was a special train to Largs where there was an opportunity to sail on the Clyde. This would include Rothesay, the Kyles of Bute, Tarbert and Loch Fynne. The fare for accompanied children was £4:85p and for adults £8:90p. Most of these trains would call at Rishton Station, and wherever possible light refreshments would be available. The area ‘Runabout Ticket’ was again on offer at £7:70p and £3:00 for a child. It was being advertised that there were still some places available on the Mini-Trip to Gothenburg on the August the 16 th departure, also on the one leaving on September 20 th , at fares from £38:00, whereas the excursion to Edinburgh Tattoo on September 8 th , was now fully booked.

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