Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

arriving at midday, returning at 19:50, back for 20:43, and also a half-day trip departing at 12:53, arriving at 13:57, returning at 20:30 and back for 21:24. The fares for the half-day trip were £1:20p and 60p respectively. Two days later the destination was Morecambe, departing town at 10:48, Rishton 10:53, arriving at 10:48 and returning at 19:40. It was back at 20:34 and 20:39 respectively. On Thursday Southport was the choice, departing Accrington at 10:48, Rishton 10:53, arriving at 12:14, returning at 19:10 and back for 20:26 and 20:31. The fares on these two trips from Rishton were slightly cheaper at £1:89p and 95p. The Open Golf Championship was being held on the Fylde Coast over the period Wednesday the 18 th to Sunday the 21 st , and a special ticket was on offer on Wednesday and Thursday at £6:50p and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at £7:50p with no half fares. The package included 2nd Class fare to Kirkham, with a bus transfer to the course and admission, then a bus to Blackpool North for return on any train. Grange and Barrow were visited on Sunday the 22 nd , with the adult fare at £1:90p and for a child £1:10p. The special departed town at 09:36, calling at Arnside at 11:10 (18:56), Grange-over-Sands 11:17 (18:49), Cark 11:24 (18:40) and Barrow 11:56 with a return at 18:15 and back in town 20:10. On the following day the excursion departed at 08:01 picking up in Rishton 08:08, and calling at Rhyl at 10:05 (19:08), Colwyn Bay 10:20 (18:53) and Llandudno at 10:40. The return departed at 18:40 and was back at 21:34 and 21:45 respectively. The fares were £2:95p and £1:95p for a child. Knaresborough and York were visited by a special on Wednesday the 25 th , with the train departing Rishton at 08:37, Accrington 08:47, arriving in Knaresborough at 11:20 and York at 11:52. The return times were 17:58, 18:29, 20:49 and 21:00 respectively, and the fares were £2:75p and £1:75p for a child. Another special visited Morecambe on Wednesday the 25 th , and a return to Southport was operated on Thursday the 26 th . There would be an item of additional interest at the destination of the ‘Mystery Extra’ which operated on Sunday the 29 th . The train left Accrington at 07:42, Rishton at 07:58, arriving at 11:43. The return times were 18:45 and back for 22:02 and 22:09. The fares, including the surprise, were £5:20p and £3:25p for a child. Bookings were strictly limited and would close 30 days before the weekend trip to Ostend, to be operated from Friday the 21 st of September to Sunday the 23 rd . The fares were £39:95p for adults and £33:00 for accompanied children sharing a room. Included was 2nd Class rail travel to and from Dover, transfers to and from Ostend Quay to the hotel by coach and one night’s half board accommodation. Passengers would depart for the return journey after breakfast on Sunday. August Every Sunday during the month there were half-day runs to Blackpool departing at 12:53 arriving North at 13:57, returning at 20:30 and back for 21:24. A change in Preston both ways was required for an evening in Blackpool for the Illuminations, which would operate every Saturday up to October the 27 th . The timings were Accrington depart at 16:15, and arrive at 17:47, returning the same night at 21:20. The closing date was August the 17 th , for a place on the ‘Jersey Night Flyer’ which would operate on both Tuesdays, September the 11 th and the 18 th , and in order to participate the passengers had all to be 18 or over, as the itinerary explained. The £29:75p fare included scheduled rail travel to and from Weymouth connecting with the 23:55 sailing, which would arrive on the island at 06:00. A coach tour and lunch was included in the 14-hour stay, before returning on the 21:55 sailing, back in Weymouth at 06:00. Included in the package was a litre bottle of either whisky or gin and a voucher to the value of £2:50p to spend on the boat. No passports were required on this excursion. The Motor Cycle Show was on at Earl’s Court between August 25 th and September 1 st , and special fares were in place from Monday the 27 th to Friday the 31 st , for those who wished to visit. Travel was by specified trains and the tickets at £10:23p and £5:26d included the underground and reduced admission. Meeting again, the Development Services Committee received the Borough Planning Officer’s report, stating that the Planning Officer from Lancashire County Council was now reviewing the County’s Five-Year Derelict Land Reclamation Programme, and Hyndburn had been asked to forward its observations thereon. It was resolved to request that the County Planning Officer included the former BR Accrington to Baxenden Railway Line in the ‘rolling programme’ for the period 1979 to 1985. Also the County Council would be recommended to include “as a matter of the highest priority” those schemes scheduled for 1979/80 but not implemented in the schedule for 1980/81, which would include the former railway cutting in Great Harwood.

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