Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

on Friday, June 8 th , and the fare for these tours was £30:00, with no reductions for children. Early booking was essential. March The month started with an excursion to London on Saturday the 3 rd , at £6:20p and £3:70p for a child. The timings were Accrington departing at 07:51, Rishton 07:56 arriving Euston at 11:33, returning 18:45 and back at 22:10 and 22:15 respectively. The Development Services Committee met, when further to a previous minute the Borough Engineer reported upon proposals for improvements in the area of the disused railway cutting in Great Harwood, together with estimates for the cost of this work. He pointed out that funds for this had not been included in the Capital Programme for 1979/80. However, if this Committee was of the opinion that this work could not be postponed until 1980/81, then they should refer this matter to be reconsidered for inclusion in the Vacant Site Treatment Programme for 1979/80. The Committee resolved to follow this course of action. The Grand Hotel in Scarborough was the venue of an advertised weekend stay from Friday the 20 th of April, to Sunday the 22 nd . The cost was £25:50p for an adult and £10:50p for a child between the ages of 8 and 14. The train would depart late on Friday afternoon and return at approximately 15:00 on Sunday. Bookings were required before March 22 nd . There was a ‘Rambler’ to Ludlow on Saturday the 17 th , departing Accrington at 08:21, Rishton 08:28, calling at Shrewsbury at 10:55 (18:51), Church Stretton 11:17 (18:34), Craven Arms 11:30 (18:16) arriving in Ludlow at 11:45 and returning at 18:00. The fares were £2:20p and £1:25p for children and conducted walks were organised from selected stations. April At another meeting of the Development Services Committee, the Borough Engineer reported that at the last meeting of the Recreation & Amenities Committee, the Borough Treasurer had pointed out that finance had not been allocated in the 1979/80 Capital Programme for the implementation of the works involved at the Great Harwood railway cutting. The Borough Treasurer stated that the Locally Determined Schemes’ allocation for work to derelict sites was in 1979/80 £25,000, and if the scheme for the railway cutting was to be progressed, the programme previously agreed would have to be significantly reduced. It was resolved - A. That if any slippage occurred in the 1979/80 Vacant Site Treatment Programme and was reported to this Committee, they would then reconsider the Programme as a whole and not just the inclusion of this scheme involving the railway cutting. B. That the Railway Cutting Scheme which had already been included in the Vacant Site Treatment Programme, would be scheduled as one of the sites for treatment on 1980/81, subject to the availability of finances. Over Easter there were specials to Blackpool on Good Friday the 13 th , and again on Sunday the 15 th . On Monday the 16 th , the destination was Morecambe, departing Accrington at 10:49 and calling at Lancaster at 11:35 and Morecambe Euston Road at 11:46, returning at 19:15, Lancaster 19:28, and back for 20:25. On Easter Sunday there was another ‘Rambler’ this time to Windermere, departing town at 08:54, calling at Oxenholme at 10:50 (18:57), Kendal 10:56 (18:45), Burneside 11:01 (18:50), Staveley 11:10 and Windermere 11:17, returning at 19:15. The fares were £1:95p and £1:00 for a child and there were organised walks from several stations. Also on Easter Monday there was a special visiting York departing Rishton at 09:10, Accrington 09:15, arriving at 11:03, returning 18:10 and back for 19:50 and 19:56 respectively, with fares at £2:75p and £1:75p for a child. At a time when the rowdyism of football fans was prevalent, BR were still prepared to put on a train to convey Burnley fans to Blackburn for their away game on Saturday the 14 th . The fare was 60p from Accrington with no half fares. It departed at 14:01 arriving at Mill Hill at 14:13, returning at 17:15 and back for 17:28. In order to promote travel by rail, BR was holding an ‘East Lancs Rail Night’ at the Cat’s Whiskers, on Centenary Way in Burnley, on Tuesday the 24 th . Admission was by ticket only, although they were free to any applicants. Travel by train to this event was from Rishton on the 18:04, Church & Oswaldtwistle 18:07, Accrington 18:10, arriving at Burnley Central at 18:27. Return was either on the 21:59, 22:45 or the 23:29. An excursion to three destinations ran on Saturday the 28 th , at a bargain fare of £2:00 for an adult and just £1:00 for a child. The timings were Accrington 09:29, Rishton 09:35, arriving in Arnside

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