Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

There were trains to Southport on Mondays to Saturdays from May 24 th to September 27 th , from Accrington at 09:08, Rishton at 09:10, arriving at 11:07 (11:44 on Saturdays), with changes required at both Blackburn and Bolton. ( Two changes for the first time indicating that the ‘direct’ line from Preston to Southport via Banks was no longer in use with the route now via Wigan Wallgate and Burscough Bridge. This was a longer journey not only by mileage but also in time. ) Adult fares were from Accrington £2:32p and £2:24p from Rishton. There were also ‘Midday Savers’ from Accrington to Blackburn at 51p, Burnley Central at 62p, Nelson at 83p and Preston at £1:25p. These were also available from Church and Rishton stations. June On Sunday the 15 th , there was a ‘Rambler’ to Llandudno Junction, departing town at 10:04, Rishton 10:11, calling at Colwyn Bay at 12:57 and Llandudno Junction at 13:06. Following organised walks the return train started at Bangor at 19:10, picking up at Llanfairfechan at 19:22, Penmaenmawr 19:30, Llandudno Junction 19:46 and Colwyn Bay at 19:56. The fares were £3:50p and £2:10p for a child and it was back for 22:18 and 22:23 respectively. July The holiday month began with a trip to Blackpool on Sunday the 6 th , and the timings were departing Accrington at 09:56, arriving at 11:04, returning at 20:10 and back at 21:11. On Thursday the 10 th , the destination was Morecambe, leaving Accrington at 10:53, Rishton 11:00, arriving at 12:00, returning at 18:40 and back for 19:36 and 19:41. The following day the special was for Southport, departing at 10:54, Rishton 11:00, arriving at 12:13, returning at 19:50, back for 21:13 and 21:19. Blackpool was revisited on Sunday the 13 th , departing at 11:24, Rishton 11:30, arriving at 12:30, returning at 19:50, back for 20:40 and 20:46, with Southport on the next day departing at 10:24, Rishton 10:30, arriving at 11:53, returning at 19:55, back for 21:03 and 21:09. The fares on all of these trips were from Accrington £2:32p and £1:16p for a child, and from Rishton £2:24p and £1:12p. For a change on Wednesday the 16 th , the destination was Chester, departing Accrington at 08:25, Rishton 08:31, arriving at 09:53, returning at 18:04 and back for 19:17 and 19:23, and the fares from both stations were £2:75p and £1:75p for a child. Morecambe was the destination on Friday the 18 th , with the same fares as the Blackpool trips. The train departed Accrington at 10:24, Rishton 10:30, calling at Lancaster at 11:24 and arriving at 11:36. The return train left at 19:35, Lancaster at 19:47, and was back for 20:38 and 20:43. Two days later Grange-over-Sands was visited, departing town at 09:45 and calling at Arnside at 11:10 arriving at 11:17. The return from Grange was at 18:00, Arnside at 18:07 and back in Accrington at 19:28. The fares this time were £2:10p and £1:05p for a child. On the same day Blackpool was again on the specials board, leaving town at 10:50, Rishton at 10:56 and arriving at North Station at 11:56. The return departed at 19:51 and was back in Rishton at 20:43 and Accrington six minutes later. For the next two days it was a case of ‘let’s go east’ as on Monday the 21 st , York was the destination at £2:70p and £1:60p for a child. The train left Rishton at 09:51, Accrington 09:57 arriving at 12:05. Having returned from York at 17:58, the train called in at Rose Grove, before depositing its passengers in Accrington at 19:47 and Rishton at 19:53. The following day Scarborough was the objective with a departure from Rishton at 08:41 and Accrington at 09:48 arriving at 12:21. The fares were £4:00 and £2:40p and the return left at 17:58 and was back for 20:45 and 20:52 respectively. Also on the 22 nd , Morecambe was revisited and the timings were departing town at 10:00, Rishton 10:06, arriving at 11:13, returning at 18:50, and back at 19:52 and 19:57. On Wednesday the 23 rd , Southport was on the menu again at fares identical to those for Blackpool. The special departed Accrington at 10:00, Rishton 10:06, arriving at 11:19, returning at 18:05 and back for 19:20 and 19:26. To round things off on Thursday the 24 th , the special train was for Llandudno departing town at 08:55, Rishton 09:01, and calling at Rhyl at 11:00 (19:28) and Colwyn Bay at 11:16 (19:13). Having arrived at 11:32 it returned at 18:58, and was back at 21:43 and 21:48. The fares were £4:00 for an adult and children were half price. Rovers were away at Blackpool on Wednesday the 30 th , departing at 18:02, Rishton 18:07 and arriving at Blackpool South at 19:00. The return left at 21:45 and was back at 22:48 and 22:53. August The month started off on Friday the 1 st , with another Mystery excursion, with fares at £6:60p and £3:30p for a child. Rovers were again away on Saturday the 2 nd , this time to Preston North End and the timings were Accrington 13:00, Rishton 13:06, Preston 13:34, returning at 17:27, and back for 17:51 and 17:57 respectively. Both these games were in the Anglo-Scottish Cup. Mr Leonard Coultard, the Assistant Supervisor at Accrington Station, retired after 37 years’ service on the railways. Carlisle born, Mr Coultard, a resident of Countess Street, was honoured in a meal

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