Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

would be given to promote this concession. Then the Town Clerk submitted the following correspondence relating to BR’s proposals which, if put into effect would have consequences for the East Lancs Line - (1) A letter from the Chief Executive/Clerk of Lancashire County Council, enclosing a letter from the Divisional Manager of BR drawing attention to these plans. (2) A letter from the Town Clerk to the Hon Secretary of NELDA (North East Lancs Development Association), in which he expressed concerns at the possible implications of these proposals. (3) A letter from NELDA in response to the Town Clerk’s letter. Following a general report on all these, the Town Clerk recommended that the opposition to BR’s proposals should be channelled through the North East Lancs Development Association. It was resolved to accept and approve the Town Clerk’s actions and to adopt this recommended course of action. A special to London operated on Saturday the 28 th , departing at 07:19 arriving Euston at 11:40, returning at 18:20 and back for 21:59, with fares of £11:00p and £5:50p for a child. April On Saturday the 4 th , there was a ‘DalesRail’ special to Carlisle, departing Accrington at 09:03 with a change in Blackburn for a run up the Ribble Valley to Hellifield to access the Settle and Carlisle line. There were bus links to take walkers on various rambles, and the fares were £4:50p and £2:25p. Commencing on Sunday the 4 th , and going through every Sunday to May 31 st , there was a trip to Blackpool departing at 12:48 arriving North at 13:54, returning 20:30 and back for 21:23, with the fares of £1:70p and 85p. On Friday the 10 th to Sunday the 12 th , there was a weekend at the Grand Hotel in Scarborough. The fares were £35:50p for an adult, £27:70p for a child sharing, (no under 8s), which included all rail fares, dinner on the day of arrival, full board on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday, before a return at 14:30. ( Bookings for this trip had actually closed on March 10 th .) There were regular runs to the coastal resorts over Easter, starting on Good Friday the 17 th , to Southport, departing 10:25, Rishton 10:33 arriving at 11:55, returning at 19:06 and back for 20:21 and 20:26 respectively. Fares were £2:60p and £1:30p from Rishton and £2:70p and £1:35p from Accrington. The following day the special was for Blackpool, with fares of £2:62p and £1:31p from Rishton and £2:72p and £1:36p from Accrington. The train left town at 10:49, Rishton at 10:57, arriving in North at 11:47, returning at 18:55 and back for 19:49 and 19:56 respectively. However, the excursion to Blackpool on Easter Sunday did not call at Rishton, departing Accrington at 12:48 arriving at 13:54 returning at 20:30 and back for 21:23. The fares were £1:70p and 85p for a child. On Easter Monday, Blackpool was again on the menu and this time including Rishton, whilst as an alternative there was a trip to Morecambe. The timings were departing Accrington at 10:25, Rishton 10:33, arriving at 11:48, returning from Euston Road at 19:15 and back for 20:26 and 20:31, with fares of £2:70p and £1:35p from Accrington and £2:60p and £1:30p from Rishton. Buxton was the ultimate destination for the ‘Rambler’ on Monday the 19 th . It departed Accrington at 08:00, calling at Disley at 10:36 (18:44), New Mills 10:40 (18:39), Whaley Bridge 10:45 (18:34), Chapel-en-le-Frith 10:54 (18:27), Dove Holes 11:00 (18:23) and Buxton 11:07. The fares were £3:20p and £1:60p and the train returned at 18:15, after the walkers had finished their rambles to deposit them back at 20:46. It was confirmed that a full Government Grant of £355,000 would be made available for the landscaping of the 62 acres of land, associated with the Accrington to Baxenden redundant railway line. Once the line had been purchased from BR all lineside buildings would be demolished and landscaping would begin. LCC had also given their approval for this scheme to commence. There was a special excursion to Rhyl and Llandudno on Sunday the 19 th , with fares at £4:60p and £2:30p for a child. The timings were departing town at 08:49, Rishton 08:55, Rhyl 11:10 arriving in Llandudno at 11:34. The return left at 18:17, calling at Rhyl at 18:41, and back in Rishton at 20:49, additionally stopping in Church & Oswaldtwistle at 20:53 and Accrington at 20:57. The following day there was a special to York and Scarborough, with the fares to the former £4:20p and £2:10p for a child, and to the latter £4:60p and £2:30p. The timings were departing Accrington at 09:07, arriving York 11:08, Scarborough 11:59 from where the return left at 17:48, York at 18:39 and back for 20:28. The ‘Mini-Breaks’ to London would be available up to October 31 st , with the exception of May 1 st /2 nd /22 nd /23 rd , and July 27 th /28 th /29 th . Fares were £36:00 1st Class and £28:00 2nd Class, whilst the (4) A copy of a report that would be considered by NELDA.

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