Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

held in Goosnargh where the Divisional Civil Engineer of BR, Mr Alan King, presented Leonard with a cheque. During his career he had also worked at Whalley, Lango, Wilpshire and Padiham stations. On Sunday the 10 th , there was a Rambler excursion to Barrow, departing at 09:45, Rishton 09:51, calling at Carnforth 10:59 (19:16), Silverdale 11:07 (19:06), Arnside 11:13 (18:54), Grange 11:24 (19:05), Kents Bank 11:28 (18:50), Cark 11:34 (18:54), Ulverston 11:42 (18:45), Dalton 11:53 (18:36), Roose 11:58 (18:29), arriving Barrow 12:04 from where it returned at 18:25. There were organised walks from several stations. Having previously threatened to cancel the last train of the day between Colne and Blackburn in June, BR was again proposing to axe this service. The decision was brought on due to an assault on a train conductor by youths who had boarded a train in Nelson. Further incidents had escalated and with insufficient resources it had been decided to withdraw the last train from Colne, leaving the 21:46 the final one to Accrington where it arrived at 22:15. Southport Flower Show was the magnet for a special on Friday the 22 nd , with fares at £2:10p/£1:05p. It departed at 13:24, Rishton at 13:30, arriving at 14:52, returning at 19:50 and back for 21:17 and 21:23. On Monday the 25 th , there was a special to Morecambe, and the timings were departing Accrington at 10:55, Rishton 11:01, calling at Lancaster 11:54 and Morecambe at 12:04. The return left Euston Road at 20:06, Lancaster at 20:18, and was back for 21:14 and 21:20 respectively. The fares were £2:32p and £1:16p from Accrington, £2:24p and £1:12p from Rishton, which were the same fares on the special to Blackpool on the same day. The timings on this one were departing at 11:21, Rishton 11:28, arriving at North 12:36, returning at 20:02 back for 20:54 and 20:59. Over the weekend of the 30 th and 31 st , it was the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo and for £10:50p for an adult and £7:00 for a child, spectators could travel out on a train which left Nelson at 08:00 on Saturday, see the 22:30 performance before returning on the 01:00 from Waverley. The fares included admission. There were bargain day returns to Morecambe and Grange on Mondays to Saturdays until September the 20 th . These allowed for a break of journey in Lancaster on the outward journey, with a bus to make the transfer for a visit to Hornsea Pottery. However, senior citizens bus passes were not valid on this promotion. Fares from Accrington were £2:32p, from Church & Oswaldtwistle £2:24p with children half price. The timings were departing town at 09:03, Church & Oswaldtwistle 09:05 and Rishton 09:10. September From the 1 st to October the 24 th , there were mid-week special returns to Blackpool for the Illuminations from Accrington, Church & Oswaldtwistle and Rishton, with prices at £3:13p and £1:57p for each child. Travel outward was by any train on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, returning by any train on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays. On Saturday the 13 th , there was a Rambler to Llandrindod Wells. Fares were for adults £3:50p and children £2:10p. Work was now well underway in the construction of a Skills Centre on the land between Scaitcliffe Street and Eagle Street, which had formed the avoiding curve to the south of the platforms at the railway station, along with many of the goods handling facilities. The Illuminations were attracting special trips and the first ran on Friday the 26 th , departing town at 16:23, Rishton 16:29, arriving at North at 17:21 and returning at 21:38 to be back for 22:32 and 22:37. A second train, operating on Monday the 29 th , departed Accrington at 17:35, Rishton 17:40, to be in at North at 18:31 returning at 22:00 and back for 23:06 and 23:12 respectively. The fares on both of these trips were £1:50p and 75p. Bargain ‘Midday Savers’ were again on offer to all stations on the East Lancs Line, which allowed a day return for the single fare. Outward travel had to be after 09:30, and back on any train except those operating between 16:30 and 18:00. October Another Illuminations special ran on Friday the 3 rd , and the timings were Accrington departing at 17:48, Rishton 17:55, arriving at North at 18:51, returning at 22:00 back at 22:53 and 22:59. Departing at 08:45, Rishton 08:56, the Mystery Trip on Saturday the 4 th , had a choice of two destinations for a fare of £6:60p and £3:30p for a child. Arrival at destination one was at 12:45 and at destination two at 13:20. Return from two was at 18:20, from one at 18:57, and it was back at 22:49 in Rishton and 22:59 in Accrington. Once again there was advanced notice of the ‘Two-Night Break in Aviemore’ in chalet accommodation. The dates were Saturday the 22 nd , to Monday the 24 th , and the prices included return rail

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