Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

to write to the Divisional Manager of BR, to draw his attention to this anomaly that existed at Rishton Station, with a request to rectify the problems that were being experienced. July It was announced that the 1st and 2nd Class one night ‘Mini-Breaks’ in London would continue to be available until October 31 st . The fares were now £36:00 and £28:00 respectively. The Scottish Savers would also continue up to October 3 rd , at £9:50 1st Class and £8:50p 2nd Class. BR had received a good deal of criticism after they had decided to lock the door to the waiting room at 15:00 on Saturday afternoons. Following a letter from the Council, after Town Clerk Nigel McGregor had complained about the plight of some elderly ladies who he found huddled on the footbridge steps, they had now relented and chosen to leave the waiting room open at weekends. Not only this, but LCC’s Chief Executive, Brian Hill, had written to Transport Secretary Norman Fowler, to ask for improved rolling stock for the East Lancs Line as he stated, “It is extremely difficult to retain passengers when the rolling stock is so obsolete, and the resulting decline in ridership is threatening the whole future of the line. The current proposal to single the line between Gannow Junction and Colne had people believing that this is the beginning of the end”. BR had however, promised trials of an ‘experimental’ new lightweight Class 140 DMU on the line. Over the town’s holidays there were a whole host of excursions and trips from which to choose, and these included on Sunday the 5 th , a sail to the Isle of Man. The fares were £9:95p and £4:00 for a child, and this included a free bottle of wine to each adult, and for the 15 to 17 year olds a £2 gift voucher to spend in the vessel’s shop. The train departed Accrington at 09:59, 10:05 from Rishton, and arrived at Heysham Harbour Station at 11:46. There were only 1½ hours in Douglas before the return, which connected with the 22:40 train from Heysham arriving back in Rishton at three minutes past midnight on Monday and Accrington five minutes later. Also on the same day there were two runs to Blackpool North at 10:49 and 12:54, arriving at 11:53 and 13:56 respectively. The returning trains left at 19:00 and 20:50 and were back for 19:57 and 21:45. Fares on each were £1:70p with children half price. On Tuesday the 7 th , departing at 10:25 and Rishton 10:32, there was a special to Southport arriving at 11:47. It returned at 18:59 and was back at 20:26 and 20:32. The fare from Accrington was £2:70p and from Rishton ten pence less. Morecambe was the destination on Wednesday the 8 th , departing town at 10:26, Rishton 10:32, and calling at Lancaster at 11:30 before arriving at 11:38. The fares were the same as those on the Southport trip and the return left at 19:10, Lancaster at 19:25 and was back for 20:15 and 20:21. The festivities continued on Thursday the 9 th , with the ever popular excursion along the North Wales coast to Llandudno with fares of £4:60p (£4:50p from Rishton). The timings were Accrington departing at 08:50, Rishton 08:57 (back at 20:59), and calling at Chester 10:08 (19:42), Rhyl 10:47 (19:07), Colwyn Bay 11:10 (18:53), arriving in Llandudno at 11:34 and returning at 18:35. On Friday the 10 th , there was a choice between a special to Scarborough at £4:60p and £2:30p, or a ‘Mystery’ excursion at £6:60p and £3:30p. Organised walks were arranged from the Rambler which ran on Sunday the 12 th , with fares at £3:20p and £1:60p. On the following day, the 13 th , the Morecambe trip was repeated as was the Southport excursion on Wednesday the 15 th . However, sandwiched in between was a special to Windsor at the same fares as the Mystery Trip. There were repeat excursions to Blackpool and Llandudno on Sunday the 19 th , and another Mystery Trip on Monday the 20 th . It departed at 08:03 arrived at the destination at 12:45, returned at 18:00 and was back at 22:27, the fares were the same as before. The week’s trips continued on the 21 st , with a return to Southport, to Blackpool on the 22 nd , with a special to Balloch for Loch Lomond on the same day. The fares on this Scottish special were £10:50p, children half fare. Departing Accrington at 09:19, Rishton 09:25, there was a trip to Buxton on Thursday the 23 rd , calling at Dove Holes at 11:36 and arriving at 11:43. The fares were £3:20p and £1:60p and the return left at 18:40, Dove Holes 18:48 and it was back for 20:53 and 20:59 respectively. Morecambe and Lancaster were again on the itinerary on Friday the 24 th . Also on the 24 th , there was a special to the Capital for the Royal Tournament at Earl’s Court. The fares were £11:00 and £5:50p (including discounted entry at 80p per person), and the times were departing town at 08:39, Rishton 08:45, arriving Euston at 12:26 returning at 18:44 and back for 22:13 and 22:21. There was a ‘Steam Gathering’ at Kendal on Sunday the 26 th , and a special departed at 10:01 arriving in Kendal at 12:04 before going on to Windermere for 12:25. The return was at 19:11 calling at

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