Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

With more disabled people in the area taking up the option of a Disabled Person’s Railcard, 5,711 in 2018, the facilities for access to one of the platforms at Church & Oswaldtwistle Station remain less than adequate according to MP Graham Jones and other campaigners, who met with Northern’s Regional Director, Chris Jackson, recently to examine this issue. The prospect of having to negotiate a long flight of steps to Platform 1 puts those with mobility problems off, having paid £20 for the card which gives them a discount of one third on standard fares. Similar problems exist at Rishton where the footbridge is the only way to reach the westbound platform. In Accrington there is a means of reaching the platform for eastbound trains, but this involves going around by Eagle Street, Blackburn Road and Paxton Street, almost ten minutes for anyone pushing a wheelchair, and even this still requires some effort up long ramps. Church & Oswaldtwistle Station benefits from the efforts of a dedicated group which enterprisingly provides floral displays and other eye-catching features to brighten up the travelling environment, as well as new shelters and a ticket dispensing machine. Having seen what is being done at other stations, Radyr in South Wales being an excellent example, to give lift access to all its platforms I have to hope that at some time in the future stations on the East Lancs Line might also benefit from similar improvements. Correspondence from Graham Jones MP has brought tidings of great disappointment. The much touted feasibility study on the reopening of the Colne to Skipton section of railway, has not been made public. The Department for Transport has declined to release it, but even if it did, I am told it has been adulterated with costings for other schemes rather than as a stand-alone project. This renders it useless as far as what was supposed to be the main objective is concerned. A change of Prime Minister has also meant a change of Transport Minister, which means Graham will have to attempt to reincarnate this venture with a successor, who may be more sympathetic and certainly cannot be more incompetent. Perhaps he would be better to liaise with the people attempting to promote this type of project in the name of the Northern Powerhouse. The second and third Sundays saw coaches replacing train services on the East Lancs Line, presumably because of engineering works as there were no trains operating. With weekend working for drivers voluntary and not compulsory it was possible that trains might not run due to a shortage of staff, but surely not all! During the third week 70:816 was again the engine in charge of the VTG tanker train. Just by chance I happened to be on the Whitewell Road Bridge over the railway on Thursday the 22 nd , when I saw Arriva Rail North’s 195:111 on a driver instruction working. Although not the first occasion I had seen the new units through the town, it was the first occasion I had been able to identify and photograph one. Not being in service meant of course they could appear at virtually any time during the day, so it was pot luck that I was in the right place at the right time. It was making good speed up the incline from town, was quieter and I had hardly time to grab my camera as it went east towards Huncoat Station. More repaints out of Northern’s livery into Arriva Rail North’s colours were 156:428 and 156:455. Seven of the much maligned ‘Nodding Donkey’ Pacer 142 units, had been taken out of service in mid August and stored by Angel Trains, the leasing company, they were 142:005/016/022/025/046/066. This left 72 of this class still available for service at the end of the month. At just about 14:40 on Saturday, the 24 th , the distinctive chime of a steam locomotive’s whistle gave notice that something very special was about to happen. Soon the thunderous pounding of the exhaust as it began the climb from the end of the Viaduct built to a crescendo as it began to accelerate its heavy rake of carriages up the incline from town. Soon the very impressive sight of Standard ‘ Britannia’ Pacific 70000 was speeding under the bridge by the cricket ground ahead of a special charter, which had started earlier in the day at Euston Station. It had travelled to Crewe where the steam engine had been attached for a round trip via the Farington Curve, Blackburn, Accrington, Copy Pit, Todmorden, Manchester and Warrington back to Crewe, where it would come off to be replaced with other motive power for the return to London. The tour was named ‘The Palatine’ in homage to a named express which was inaugurated in 1938 and connected St Pancras with Manchester Central via the Midland Main Line. The named train was revived again after the War in 1946. Britannia was fitted with a red headboard bearing this inscription, and pulling a set of coaches in crimson and cream, which included dining cars. Introduced in 1951 this was the first of a class of 7P 4 - 6 - 2 tender locomotives designed at Derby Works, and was first allocated to Stratford Shed in East London to work the expresses from Liverpool

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