Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

where the L & Y currently enjoyed a monopoly. Towns including Accrington, Bacup, Burnley, Colne, Brierfield, Nelson and Heywood were all petitioning the Midland to extend its operations. Mr Handley, acting for the executors of Colonel Hargreaves, moved that the Railway Company should move to Blackburn making it the railhead of their East Lancs operations instead of Colne. At a second interview with the directors, Accrington was represented by Alderman Entwistle, Councillor Smith from the Spring Hill Ward, Councillor Haythornthwaite and the Town Clerk, whilst the deputation from Clayton was made up of Messrs Appleby, Thomas Smith and Clerk James Smith, when the following resolution was passed - “The Midland Railway Company is requested to extend their system from Colne, either by exercising their running rights over the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway’s lines, or by the construction of a new line, as they may deem most expedient.” The figures for goods coming out of Clayton compiled for the benefit of the Midland, showed that it amounted to about 8,000 tons each month by road and canal. This was made up of 1,027 tons from cotton spinners at £321, cotton manufacturers finished goods 376 tons at £169, 375 tons from calico printers at £343, miscellaneous trade including from the East Lancs Soap Company 5,898 tons at £2,031, butchers 9 tons at £10, publicans 26 tons at £24 and traders, grocers and small businesses 60 tons at £91 for a total of almost £3,000. July On Thursday, the 12 th , a visit was made to Accrington’s Railway Station by the Chairman and Directors of the L & Y, Mr Pearson was accompanied by Mr Maddock and Mr Thornley. They met with a local deputation who stressed the need for a waiting room to be provided on the eastern side of the station. They also pointed out, “That the parcels office was one of the most miserable of dens to be found on any railway station, let alone one as important as Accrington’s, whilst the waiting room was so small it hardly merited the name!” The Company had been investing a large sum of money in re-roofing part of the Manchester platform, but this did not provide sufficient protection from the wind or driving rain, whilst it actually created an artificial draught. It was hoped that due to this visit the directors would take on board the views of the people who were on the spot, so to speak, and invest money to the benefit of the population and in turn the Company. It was announced that the L & Y was to suspend operating any excursions or school trips during the August Fair and this would also apply to any private charters. The reason given was that there was a shortage of rolling stock and they could not afford to have carriages tied up for a whole day, standing idle on the sidings of other railway companies for just out and back journeys. As can be imagined this decision caused a great deal of disappointment throughout the area. However, in September Lewis’s of Manchester had branched out into organising day trips on the L & Y and on the 1 st ran an excursion from Colne to Blackpool in the afternoon, giving the passengers a choice of one day or three days stay in the resort. After picking up through East Lancs the number of people taking advantage of this outing was 700, the only glitch being that it was advertised to arrive in Blackpool at 3:45pm, but the L & Y could not accommodate it at Talbot Road Station until 5:15. Coupons were handed out to passengers giving them discounts at several of the attractions and amusements by Mr Thompson, the Business Manager for the store in north-east Lancs. October On Friday, the 19 th , a 13 year old Messenger Boy, John Phillips, was hit by a train and killed whilst he was delivering a message from the telegraph office at Accrington Station to the engine sheds. On Monday, the 22 nd , at Mr Rawson’s Hope & Anchor Hotel, just around the corner from Marquis Street where the deceased lived with his widowed mother, the Coroner Mr Robinson opened an Inquest into the circumstances of his death. Samuel Crossley, the Station Master, and Mr Kay from the L & Y in Manchester were both in attendance. The driver of the 5:20pm Accrington to Rishton train said he was running at about 20mph when he saw the boy about 25 yards away walking along the line towards Church. He then gave a continuous blast upon the whistle and it was still sounding when the engine struck him. Richard Frankland, a signal fitter’s labourer, was making his way back from the sheds and having been alerted by the sounding of the locomotive’s whistle saw the whole thing unfold from about 60 yards away. He ran to him and saw he had sustained severe head injuries and was quite dead. Frankland had also shouted a warning to him, but the lad did not react. He added, “He was walking on the ends of the sleepers, when there was plenty of room for him to walk away from the tracks”. Mr Crossley confirmed when questioned, that the only way to convey telegraphed messages between the station and

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