Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

fallen and incurred injury or death then my Company would no doubt have been held responsible in the minds of the public”. He pleaded guilty and was fined 40 shillings plus costs. At Blackburn Quarter Sessions the L & Y was ordered to pay its rates for the lines and properties under the jurisdiction of the Rishton Local Board of Health. The Poor Rates had been 2 x £202 – 2s in 1874 as they were in January 1875. In January 1876 these rates were £151 – 11s – 6d and in June £252 – 12s – 6d. The Company had previously paid the sum of £850 on account which left £161 – 10s outstanding whilst they had appealed against the last assessment. The Chairman noted that the L & Y had 400 other townships to administer, so deferred any warrants for seven days to allow the Company to attend to the deficit. February A Sub-Committee was formed in order to mount a watching brief and petition against the L & Y’s proposed extensions in Accrington. There was much debate as to whether they should go to the expense of employing legal counsel, as this could incur great expense. It was stated that the Company’s Bill would first go through the Committee Stage before being put before the Commons. Mr Benjamin Hargreaves asked at what stage the Local Board should employ counsel, as he did not see in what other way they could object to the extending of the viaduct on the Blackburn Road side as was the Company’s intention. He reminded them that Mr Boothman had got up a petition against the amalgamation of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway with the London & North Western, and his success had proved to be a great mistake. He was reminded by the Chairman that they were only concerned with the effects this extension would have on Blackburn Road and the owners of the private properties and this was a matter for them. Mr Holgate was at pains to disagree, saying that this widening of the arm of the viaduct over Blackburn Road had been forced upon the Railway Company, because of the constant tirade of complaints by the public, and the continuation of bad reports by officers of the Board of Trade due to inquiries into accidents which had occurred there. “If this widening of the archway proved to be of some benefit to the town, I think we should give it our full support”, he continued. There were some arguments as to whether or not the plans submitted by the L & Y showed a new layout with the platforms set in the middle of the triangle of lines. But the Town Clerk agreed with Mr Holgate that it did not. It was then revealed that the Accrington Local Board had already purchased the stone recess on Blackburn Road as a precautionary measure. Mr Hargreaves said, “There would then be two separate arches over Blackburn Road, which would allow some natural light to penetrate through onto the road”. Councillor Higham reminded the Sub-Committee, that notice of opposition had to be launched within ten days of the first reading of the Bill, and the Town Clerk was authorised to write to a Mr Maden Holt, informing him of their views. It was then resolved to refer this matter to an extraordinary meeting of the Board. On Monday, the 12 th , another accident occurred at Accrington Railway Station. The Blackburn, Preston and Liverpool train due out at 10:5am was reversing out of the Blackburn siding onto the Manchester line past the signal box, when it started to come back down the incline. Usually the engine which reverses the train back then comes off, and the train is held on the incline with its brakes before it is taken forward by a new locomotive. But the guard was unaware of this method of working, and the carriages began to roll down the slope just as the second engine was coming up to couple onto it. This driver brought his engine to a stand, but before he could wind it into reverse the collision occurred. The impact did much damage to the lead carriage and the loco’s tender. Most of the passengers were thrown off their seats. Some were taken to the Crown Hotel, where doctors Greenwood, Booth and Ewart were called to attend to them. This accident was reported as “Caused by another shunting movement due to the inadequate arrangements at Accrington’s Railway Station”. An Extraordinary Meeting of the Local Board was held to study the findings of the Sub Committee’s report on the L & Y’s proposed extensions to the railway in Accrington. Present were W. Green in the Chair, Benjamin & Robert Hargreaves, Messrs Hindle, Maden, Holgate, Broughton, Kenyon, Ormerod, Carter, Entwistle and Higham. The Sub-Committee had met but had received scant information into the L & Y’s plans for this extension. The Clerk had corresponded with Mr Sturgess Meek, but to date had received no reply. What they did know was the plan was to build a second archway over Blackburn Road. The Board had explored the idea of having the new platforms in the centre of the triangle of lines, with access through subway tunnels. Mr Hargreaves asked if the Board had any control over this matter, to be told “not as yet”. He was informed it was the duty of the Board to secure the safest, best and most

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