Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

interest to the L & Y, or would they agree to operate it as an independent undertaking. Mr Baker replied this was a difficult question that he could not speculate upon, but the Bill which had gone forward did not include a prohibition clause. If the authorities wished it, they could have a totally independent railway, as the decision would rest with them. At this moment the line had sufficient resources to enable it to stand by itself, but it could be integrated into the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway if they so wished it. But then again the L & Y might not want to have it! Mr Baker ended by saying, “I know of several other small independent lines which were operating at a profit”. It was then resolved to form a Committee with powers to increase its membership, in order to liaise and co-operate with the other communities involved in order to promote the Bill through Parliament, and to raise subscriptions for the parliamentary expenses. The following gentlemen were then appointed to this Committee, - The Mayor, Alderman Smith, Aldermen Rhodes and Clayton, Councillors A. Maden, J. W. Walmsley, Mr Haythornthwaite, Thomas Whittaker, Messrs Lee and Herald, Crossley (of Broad Oak) and James Kerr from the Globe Works, finally Mr J. Wormwell a local ironmonger. In reply to a question concerning subscriptions, Mr Baker said they could either be in the form of a £10 donation or taken as one share adding “Most gentlemen prefer to take the share option whilst there are those who wish to make it a gift”. ( Note Great Harwood’s rejection .) March On the 3 rd , the Great Harwood Local Board decided to oppose the proposed railway connecting Accrington and Clitheroe unless there was an undertaking given by its promoters to bring the line through Great Harwood Railway Station. This proposed Railway was incorporated during 1886, as follows – WHEREAS it is expedient that the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company be empowered to enter into and carry into effect Working and Traffic Agreements as hereinafter provided, this railway is described as - (1) A Railway N o 1 , 3 miles and 2 furlongs in length commencing in the Township of Old Accrington, in the Parish of Whalley, by a junction with the East Lancashire Lines of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company, at, or near to, the eastern side of the bridge which carries the railway over the main public road leading from Accrington to Clayton-le-Moors, and terminating in the Parish or Township of Great Harwood in the Parish of Blackburn, by a junction with the North Lancashire Loop Line at, or near to the point where that line crosses the south side of the road known as Mill Lane. (2) A Railway N o 2 , 3 miles & 5 furlongs and 2 chains in length, commencing in the Township of Read in the Parish of Whalley, by a junction with the North Lancashire Loop Line of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Company at, or near to, the level crossing by that line of the road on the eastern boundary of Bridge-Hey Wood, and termination in the extra-parochial place of Standen and Standen Hey, in the Township of Pendleton, by a junction with the Blackburn and Hellifield Railway of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway at a point 70 yards, or thereabouts, measuring along that railway in a southerly direction from the Distance Post indication 32 miles from Manchester. (3) A Railway N o 3, 2 furlongs in length, wholly within the Township of Read and Parish of Whalley, commencing by a junction with the said North Lancashire Loop Line at a point 110 yards or thereabouts measured in a north-easterly direction along that line from the northern Bank of the River Calder, and terminating in a junction with Railway N o 2 , as before described. (4) A Railway N o 4 , 2 miles & 5 furlongs in length, commencing with a junction with Railway N o 3 , at the termination thereof before described, and terminating in the Township of Read and Parish of Whalley, at a point 15 yards or thereabouts measured in a northerly direction from the northernmost corner of the block of cottages at or near to the Town of Sabden, which is marked on the Ordnance Survey Maps as “Edmonson Barn”. (5) The Capital of the Company shall be £300,000 in shares of £10 each. (6) There will be five Directors of this Company, the first two of which are named as - James Gildred BAMBER and Daniel Fitzgerald GABBETT. The Bill gives powers to cross a road (turnpike) on the level in the Township of Clayton-le-Moors by a single line, from double track approaches, and for a bridge in Wiswell, whose approaches by road must not exceed an incline of 1:175 on either side of the bridge, or a bridge to carry the lines over the road in Wiswell with a height of 15 feet and a span of 20 feet. If the Railway is not completed within five years from the passing of this Act, “Then on the expiration of this period the powers granted under this

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