Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Rail’s 37:116 with the Driver Trailer number 9701 at the rear end. At 23:31 it came through again on its return journey to Derby. The final week of the month witnessed more industrial action by members of ASLEF, who have banned all overtime working and stage a one-day strike on Wednesday the 31 st . February Following the strike on the last day of the month, Northern Rail's services were running 'as normal' on Thursday the 1 st on Accrington's Railway Station on the morning of the 2 nd included – 156:418 on the Blackburn to Headbolt Lane service and 150:136 on the Colne to Preston with a blank plate covering the area where the experimental safety equipment had been installed. The Blackpool North was in the hands of 195:125, whilst the opposite working was operated by 195:128. Although scheduled to run Colas Rail's VTG tanker train did not materialise in the morning but returned in the afternoon behind 70:817. On Sunday the 3 rd there was a spate of railway cancellations due to a ban on overtime working by members of ASLEF, and these seemed to affect the Preston  Colne service in the majority of instances. On Monday the 5 th an early morning freight passed through Accrington from Tuebrook Sidings to Todmorden behind GB Railfreight's 60:095, a Toton-based locomotive. On Wednesday the 7 th the VTG tanker train ran to the Colas Rail terminal at Haverton behind 70:817. It was considerably late departing from Preston Docks and was still some 17 minutes behind schedule through Accrington with a full rake of fifteen bogie tank wagons. It is unusual for the locomotive that is rostered to operate Colas Rail's tanker train when it runs, to be one that works it for the rest of the entire week. However, on Thursday the 15 th the engine in charge was 70:816, whereas earlier in the week it had been 70:804. It had departed some 30 minutes late from Preston Docks, and was still half an hour down when it came through Accrington. It was closely followed by Network Rail's 'Stone-blowing' Track Machine also en route from Preston Docks to Guide Bridge sidings. On Friday the 16 th Accrington was treated to the passing of 'Black Five' 4-6-0 #44871, on a working from the preserved East Lancs Railway in Bury to Steamtown in Carnforth. It was hauling a 'support coach' for the staff who would be serving the customers on one of West Coast's specials due to operate on the following day. This engine was constructed at Crewe Works and was delivered into service in March 1945. It was first allocated to Longsight Sheds in Manchester, then Stoke, Crewe South and Stockport Edgeley before withdrawal for preservation in 1968. It now carries a 65A shed-plate for St Rollox Works in Glasgow, and is one of the locos rostered to operate the seasonal Glasgow to Fort William 'Jacobite' in the summer. During the final week of the month Colas Rail's tanks were being hauled by 70:817, the highest numbered of this class. The 800-tonne train was 23-minutes early on Thursday the 29 th . March On a cold first day of metrological spring, Friday the 1 st , ASLEF were on a 24-hour strike which meant there were no Northern passenger trains through Accrington, the only freight the early morning stone train empties behind GB Rail freight's 66:727 named ' Maritime One' in a special livery . However, the Colas tanks were not operating. On Sunday the 3 rd , rail fares were increased by on average 5%, which makes them one of the highest in Europe. It is claimed that this is justified by being in line with the rate of inflation for the last twelve months. On Monday the 4 th and Wednesday the 6 th, Colas Rail's 70:810 was in charge of the Preston Docks to Haverton on Teeside tanks with nine bogies in tow. For some time now the destination has exclusively been to the North East, and it appears that the Lindsey Oil Terminus is no longer in operation. Recently the East Lancs Line has witnessed the passing of no less than four HST Class 43 diesel locomotives. Late on Thursday evening of the 7 th , Colas Rail's Track Measuring Train came through en route from York to Wigan, made up of departmental stock with 43:257 leading and 43:277 at the rear. Of these #277 is named ' Safety Task Force '. On Saturday the 9 th , the Blue Pullman set was on its way from Barrow-in-Furness to Whitby, running some 58 minutes behind schedule having set off a full 76 minutes late. This special was marketed by Locomotive Services Ltd as the 'Whitby Jet'. The locos 43:055 and 43:049 and carriages were all liveried in the Nanking Blue of the original Midland Pullman, #049 was also carrying the name ' Neville Hill '. By the time it reached its ultimate destination it was only 16 minutes behind time. This gave the passengers it had picked up in Blackburn and at Burnley – Manchester Road

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