Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

fares. For 4 people sharing the cost was £35:00/£26:00, for 3 people £37:00/£28:00 and for 2 people £40:00/£31:00. Travel was on the 08:52 from Preston with a change in Glasgow onto the 11:45. The return from Aviemore was on the 11:26 on Monday. Available once more were the ‘Scottish Savers’, on Mondays to Saturdays from October 20 th to December the 13 th , then from January 5 th , 1981 up until May the 9 th . The nominated service outwards was by the 07:44 from Accrington changing at Preston, and returning on the 17:50 or the 18:23 from Glasgow Central and the 17:35 or the 18:08 from Edinburgh Waverley. Fares were £9:50p 1st Class and £8:50p 2nd Class. The Motor Show was on at the NEC in Birmingham between Saturday the 18 th and Sunday the 26 th , and a 2nd Class day return with admission on Mondays to Fridays was priced at £11:52p and £6:76p for a child. On Saturdays and Sundays the fares were £8:50p and £5:00 respectively. On Mondays to Saturdays departure was from Accrington at 09:02, to connect with the 09:55 from Preston, on Sundays from Preston at 08:10. Through return trains to Preston departed from Birmingham International at 16:10, 17:34 and 18:54. A toddler was cut by flying glass after hooligans stoned an excursion from Hull to Blackpool, as it was passing under the bridge connecting Whitewell Road with Highams Playing Fields. Police were investigating the incident. November Walking tours of the city were arranged from the ‘Rambler’ to Edinburgh on Saturday the 1 st . The fares were £5:10p and £3:00 for a child. The ‘Capital Fare’ was again available from the 1 st on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until December 13 th , and again from December the 27 th to May 30 th , 1981. The fares were £14:00 1st Class and £13:00 2nd Class, and travel was on nominated services. There was a ‘Rambler’ to Lincoln on Saturday the 8 th , for £3:50p and £2:10p, and one week later to York at £2:70p and £1:60p. This would depart at 09:00 from Rishton, Accrington at 09:06, calling at Weeton at 10:49 (19:56), Pannal 10:56 (19:50), Harrogate 11:07 (19:43), Knaresborough 11:20 (19:33) before arriving in York at 11:50, returning at 19:05, and back for 21:39 and 21:45. It was Mystery excursion time again on Saturday the 22 nd , with fares of £6:60p and £3:30p. Available any day from November 15 th to April 11 th , 1981 (with the exception of December 24 th /25 th /26 th /31 st and January 1 st ), there were ‘Mini-Breaks’ in London. Travel was by any train on Mondays to Thursdays after the 06:56 returning on any train the following day. The de luxe package of 1st Class travel and one night’s stay in Grand Met’s top hotel with breakfast was £34:00 and the 2nd Class package was £24:00. Advanced booking was essential. Also available was the ‘Capital Fare’ deals at £14:00 1st Class, £13:00 2nd Class. These were available on Tuesdays to Thursdays and Saturdays to December the 13 th and then again from December the 27 th to May 30 th , 1981 (January 1 st , excepted). December Over the weekend the 5 th to the 7 th , there was a ‘Mini-Weekend’ in Torquay for £28:00 and for a child 5 to 15 sharing £19:00. Accommodation was at the Derwent Hotel, including full board on Saturday, breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Outward the train would run overnight on Friday and the return would depart at 15:00 on Sunday. At a meeting of the Land Committee, the Borough Planning Officer drew the attention of the Members to the preparation of a reclamation scheme for the Accrington to Baxenden redundant railway line. He stated that in liaison with Lancashire County Council, Hyndburn had been requested to carry out soil surveys. He reported that a number of these surveys would be required, and that following consultations with the Chairman and Vice-Chair, he had given permission for these surveys to be carried out. It was resolved to accept and approve the actions of the Planning Officer in this matter. There was a special excursion to Sheffield on Saturday the 6 th , with fares at £3:00 and £1:80p for a child. Timings were departing Accrington at 09:03, arriving Midland at 10:48, returning at 17:01 and back for 19:01. The month ended with a special to London on Saturday the 20 th . The train departed town at 07:51, Rishton at 07:57, arriving in Euston at 11:29, returning at 18:45 and back at 22:09 and 22:14. There were light refreshments on this excursion and the fares were £9:00 and £5:50p for a child. 1981 ( With an ageing fleet of first generation diesel multiple units now coming to a useful and reasonably reliable end, an extensive replacement programme was about to begin and the East Lancs Line would be one of the areas on which this new concept in lightweight railcars would be tried out. BR’s top man would visit early in the year, and pressure would be put on him not to sanction any further

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