Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

August Each Friday to September 8 th , the rail/road tour to visit the Roman Wall would run at fares of £4:65p and £2:50p for a child. There was a ‘Rambler’ to Whitehaven on Saturday the 12 th , with tickets at £2:00 and £1:15p. The timings were Accrington departing at 08:39, Rishton 08:45, calling at Green Road at 10:45 (19:14), Millom 10:50 (19:02), Silecroft 10:56 (19:00), Bootle 11:03 (18:55), Ravenglass 11:10 (18:49), Drigg 11:14 (18:42), St. Bees 11:30 (18:27) and Whitehaven at 11:40, returning at 18:15. There was a choice of rambles from several stations. At a meeting of the Highways & Transportation Committee, the Borough Engineer reported that BR that they intended to carry out works to the barriers at Huncoat Level Crossing during September. This would involve the replacing of the gates with lifting barriers, and this would necessitate the closing of the road to all vehicular traffic for a period of three weeks. He also reported that BR would apply to the Minister of State under Section 66 of the British Transport Commission’s Act, 1957, for an Order permitting them to carry out this work, but that the Council could in accordance with this Act make representation to the Minister within two months of this date if they felt it necessary to stop this work. It was resolved to make an application to the Minister of State against this Order. On the 19 th , there was a special to Southport for the Flower Show, with fares at £1:75p and £1:00 for a child. It departed town at 09:34, Rishton at 09:40 and arriving at 11:00. Return timings were 18:15, 19:45 and 19:50. York was the destination on Bank Holiday Monday, the 28 th , the fares were adults £2:50p and children £1:60p. It departed Rishton at 08:53, Accrington at 09:00 arriving in York at 10:45 and returning at 18:57 back at 19:57 and Rishton 20:04. The ‘circular’ trip to Morecambe via Grange over-Sands operated again on Monday the 28 th . From the 26 th up until September the 2 nd , the Motor Cycle Show was on at Earl’s Court, and included in the £9:30p/£4:70p fares were underground tickets and reduced entry. The one night ‘Mini Breaks’ to London were on offer until the 30 th of September, with the 1st Class de luxe package priced at £26:50p and the 2nd Class at £19:00. Children were half price if sharing a room with an adult. September The National Trust had arranged a tour of the Lake District on Thursday the 7 th , which involved the train to Penrith and coaches to Gowborrow Park, Aira Force Waterfalls, Kirkstone Pass and Windermere for Sizergh Castle, with a return by train from Oxenholme. This special departed Accrington at 09:55 and was back at 20:06 with changes in Preston both ways. The fares were £5:35p and £4:35p for a child. On the 10 th , the destination was Windermere, departing town at 10:01 and arriving at 12:25, returning at 17:34 and back at 19:58. The fares were £1:70p and £1:00 respectively, whilst on Monday and Tuesday, the 11th/12th, there were runs to Blackpool at 10:48 arriving at 11:42, returning at 19:30 back at 20:27 with the fare at £1:82p with children half price. Every Sunday up to the 24 th , Blackpool would be the destination of half-day trips, departing town at 12:53, arriving at 13:57, returning North at 20:30 and back for 21:25. The fares were £1:10p and 55p for a child. The destination of the ‘Rambler’, which ran on Saturday the 16 th, was Hexham. It departed Accrington at 07:45, Rishton 07:51, calling at Haltwhistle 10:51 (18:31), Bardon Mill 11:00 (18:22), Haydon Bridge 11:06 (18:13), arriving at 11:20 and returning at 18:00. It was back in Rishton at 21:52 and Accrington at 21:58. The ticket prices were £3:00 and £1:80p for a child. A signalman who had worked at boxes in Burnley, Rose Grove and Accrington, Alfred Ellington, of Ribblesdale Crescent in Accrington, retired after fifty years’ service on the railway. He had started work when he was fifteen years of age in this capacity at Blackburn whilst working for the LMS, and had ended his career in the ticket office at Accrington Station. Over the weekend of the September Holidays on Monday and Tuesday, the 18 th and 19 th , there were specials to Blackpool. They departed Accrington at 10:45, Rishton 10:51, arriving North at 11:47, returning at 19:30 and back at 20:22 and 20:27 respectively. The fares were £1:82p from Accrington and £1:70p from Rishton with children half price. The Land Committee met when the Planning Officer reported that the Council had leased land from BR’s Property Board, for use as a car park on Eagle Street. The entrance to this car park was also over land owned by BR. It had been previously reported BR had agreed to lease the land adjoining Eagle Street and Scaitcliffe Street, for the construction of a Skill Centre, and in order to secure the most satisfactory planning objectives the Planning Officer had initially agreed in principle to the access by vehicles should be the same as that to the car park, and to construct a new entrance to the car park further

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