Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

 The Sundays 4pm Accrington to Todmorden was withdrawn, as was the 8:05 Todmorden to Accrington.  The Sundays Accrington to Blackpool via Preston and Lytham was another loss.

 As was the Sundays only 2:25pm Accrington to Blackburn.

On the 27 th , members of the Great Harwood Local Board met with the Directors of the L & Y at Hunts Bank, to discuss the opening of the Harwood Loop Line. Messrs Haydock the Chairman, R. Chippendale the Clerk, and Mr T. Wansley who appeared on behalf of the Lord of the Manor along with various dignitaries and businessmen, were courteously received and their views heard. November It was agreed, that because Mr Higginson QC had accepted no fee for his professional services on behalf of the Haslingden Union in its recent case against the L & Y, held at the Quarter Sessions, it was resolved to make a gift to him from the Guardians of the Union. The Church Local Board were in discussions with Mr Thornley, the L & Y’s Engineer, as to the siting of a new siding. Mr Sandeman was elected to enter into discussions with Mr Lloyd, the owner of the land in question, as to what price he was prepared to accept. However, later this was rejected by the Board of the L & Y as being too high. December Included in the L & Y’s Railway Bill, which was to go before Parliament in the next Session was the purchase of the Crown Hotel on Blackburn Road, the adjacent Crawshaw’s Public Hall and properties along King Street including the Craven Heifer beer-house. As a result of this, the Local Board of Health for Accrington, had requested an interview with the Chief Engineer of the Railway Company. It was reported that after several years and numerous delays the Harwood Loop Line was now open throughout for goods traffic. This would relieve congestion at Accrington’s Station as freight could now pass between Blackburn and Burnley without touching the town’s junction. The line had been engineered by Mr Sturgess Meek, the Chief Engineer of the L & Y. On the 30 th , engine driver Briggs was in charge of a luggage train coming down Baxenden Bank, when he stepped down from the footplate whilst the train was still moving slowly in order to check the brakes. He slipped and fell and a wheel passed over his leg, which was so badly injured it had to be amputated later. ( In the railway boom both Great Harwood, with a population of about 6,000 and Padiham with a population of around 8,000 in 1870, had both missed out on being connected to the railway system, and the result was a new line .) THE HARWOOD LOOP LINE (Extracts from the Parliamentary Bill authorising the construction of this line.) Whereas it is expedient that the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company should be authorised to construct an additional line of railway between Blackburn and Padiham, and whereas Plans & Sections showing the line and levels of the proposed railway, and also a Book of Reference containing the Names and the Owners of Lessees, and of the Occupiers of the lands required, or which may be taken for the purposes thereof have been deposited (under the Title of ‘Lancashire & Yorkshire, North Lancashire Loop Line, Astley Bridge Branch’), with the Clerk of the Peace for the County Palatine of Lancaster - and whereas the Proposed aforesaid cannot be effected without the authority of Parliament. May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted by, and be it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, and by and with the consent of the Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by authority of the same as follows - This Act may be cited for all purposes as the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company (Blackburn & Padiham) Act 1866 - “The Lands & Clauses Consolidation Act 1845”. “The Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1860”, and Part 1 of the “The Railway Clauses Consolidation Act 1863” (relating to the construction of a railway), and the Clauses and Provisions of the “Company Clauses Consolidation Act 1845.” And also Parts I and II of the “Companies Clauses Act 1863”, relating respectively to Cancellation or Surrender of Shares and to Additional Capital, are - (except when expressly varied by this Act), incorporated with and from part of this Act. Gave power to make a Railway according to the Plans as deposited - “A railway Six Miles and approximately Six Furlongs in Length, commencing by a Junction with the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway in the Township of Little Harwood in the Parish of Blackburn, near to the spot where this Railway crosses the River Blackwater, passing through Little Harwood, Rishton, Tottleworth and Great Harwood

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