Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Late into the night of the 24 th , the track measuring train was through operating between Wigan and Doncaster, topped and tailed by a pair of Colas Rail’s Class 37 locos. On Friday the 25 th , Colas’s tanker train ran with 70:810 in charge. On Bank Holiday Saturday once again rail services were suspended due to further industrial action by members of the RMT Union. This action affected the majority of rail operating company’s including ‘operator of last resort’ Northern. This long-running dispute does not appear to be any nearer to a satisfactory conclusion. On Tuesday the 29 th , there was a light engine move between Nottingham Eastcroft and Carlisle North Yard. The locomotive involved was Colas Rail’s 56:113. September Friday the 1 st was another day with no trains as ASLEF were out on the picket lines again. This industrial action would spill over into Saturday the 2 nd , when a ban on overtime working by the train drivers and a walkout by members of the RMT would cause more cancellations. The 1 st was also the day that the public consultation on the closing of manned ticket offices was due to end. There had been strong opposition to this move across the board, but especially from those championing the cause of the disabled and elderly. Whether this will cause the government to abandon this scheme is doubtful, as they are determined to cut the amount of money they pay to subsidise the rail services. Many feel that the pledge to have staff out on the platforms to assist travellers is only a temporary concession, to be withdrawn surreptitiously at a future date. If you can believe this pledge, why not have them available to dispense tickets in the age-old way? Many of the ticket dispensing machines do not contain a full list of possible destinations and will not accept cash, which again adds to the difficulties that many would encounter should they push it through. Advanced notice has been given that on Monday the 11 th , a meeting of this pressure group will be held in the Crown Hotel Colne at 7pm. It will be addressed by Miranda Baker OBE, the Chief Executive of Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. She has given her backing to have the Colne ↔ Skipton Line reopened to through traffic between West Yorkshire and North East Lancs. The groups stated aims are to have hourly train services connecting these two conurbations, with connections on to wider destinations, with a new station put back in Earby (for Barnoldswick). Earlier this year the sum of £298millions was earmarked for this project, including £80millions to cover ‘all possible risks’. This out of a total budget of £29billions to improve the region’s network over the next twenty-five years, none of which, according to Chairman Peter Bryson, is to be spent in East Lancashire. He contends that this is not consistent with assurances given by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, when they visited the region earlier in the year. There are some major players backing the reinstatement including Peel Ports, the Skipton Building Society and the power generator Drax. Several politicians from both sides of the Pennines have also thrown their weight behind this campaign, including Graham Jones the prospective Labour Candidate for this constituency, who was the driving force behind the reinstatement of the Todmorden Curve. Since the scheme for the missing 11½ mile connection began, the cost has almost trebled, with as yet no resolution in sight. Despite the absence of any service trains Accrington was at least treated to the passing of another of West Coast Railways’ ‘specials’. On this occasion it had originated in Kingston-upon-Hull and travelled via York and the Copy Pit, en route to Carlisle via the West Coast Mainline. The locomotives were from the pool of regular engines available, 57:313 ‘ Scarborough Castle ’ and 57:601 ‘ Windsor Castle ’, both in versions of the maroon and cream livery of the tour operator. In Carlisle the train would go down the Settle & Carlisle to Hellifield behind a West Country Bullied Pacific, before arriving in Blackburn from the Ribble Valley Line, where diesel traction would bring in back through Accrington on its return journey. New in July 1965 to Tinsley Sheds in Sheffield as D1890, 57:313 had previously carried TOPS number 47:371 and had latterly been one of Virgin Trains Thunderbird engines named ‘ Tracey Island ’. Formerly with First Great Western, 57:601 was new in August 1964 also to Tinsley as D1759, it had previously carried TOPS numbers 47:165, 47:590 and 47:825. Prior to being a West Coast loco it had carried the name of ‘ Thomas Telford ’. The tickets for the full tour experience, including meals and drinks was £450 per person with a £90 supplement for a table seating two.

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