Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

10:28 or the 14:44, and the return journey could be on any train within a ten day period. The L & Y would not however accept any responsibility for luggage. December On Tuesday, the 15 th , a heavily loaded goods train left Patricroft for Church with driver Richard Riding and fireman Thomas Gough on the footplate, and guard Walworth in the rear van. At Baxenden the train stopped and the brakes on seven of the seventeen wagons were pinned down. However, not far down the bank the train began to run away and despite the efforts of the crew on the newly built engine they were unable to regain control. Just outside the station a pointsman noticed that the train was out of control and turned the train off the line on which a locomotive was standing into the yard. The runaway hit a rake of wagons that were sent backwards with considerable force, whilst the engine was lifted over the end one losing its funnel in the process. These wagons then entered the goods shed smashing into another van which was on the central wagon turntable, which in turn was hurled against a supporting roof pillar. This was broken off at the base and this then brought the roof down burying five men and two horses in the process. There were a total of twenty-two porters and other workers in the shed at the time and they immediately went to the aid of their colleagues, three of whom were goods porters, John Boulter, George Smith, and James Suthers, whilst the other man William Johnson was a carter and resident of Annie Street. However, the body of 31 year old Edward Henerty was later recovered from beneath the wreckage. A resident of Orange Street he had only been an employee of the L & Y for a short time. The two horses were also released alive. One of the warehousemen, on realising what was about to occur, had tried to grab hold of the deceased who was on the tracks to lift him clear, but had been unable to do so in time to save him. Several of the Company’s officials were in Accrington at the time including Mr Foden, the District Goods Supervisor, and Mr Priestley, Chief of the L & Y’s Detectives. Later Mr Whittaker, the Passenger Superintendent and Mr Swindon, the Chief Engineer of the Permanent Way, also arrived on the scene of the devastation. Much damage had been sustained to the rolling stock, goods building and the tracks. Wagons had been smashed to pieces, frames and axles bent and broken and merchandise scattered all around. Recovery was not an easy task, made more difficult because several tanks had been ruptured and the yard was awash with oil. The driver who stayed on the footplate was extremely fortunate to avoid serious injury as the locomotive ended up at an angle over the wagons. The pointsman was commended for his quick thinking as had he not acted in the manner he did, the runaway would have collided with the engine on the Manchester platform on which several passengers were waiting. The locomotive a Barton Wright 0-6-0 number 1118, from Accrington shed, had only been introduced into traffic during the previous month, so was in sound mechanical condition. It was repaired and remained in traffic allocated to Aintree sheds until September, 1957, when it had become British Railways number 52136. The repairs to the warehouse cost £690. 1893 December The Town Clerk submitted to the General Works Committee of Accrington Council, the Parliamentary Plans of the L & Y for powers to purchase and to enclose a “large quantity of the Spring Hill Estate”. This would involve the serious diversion of several of the principle new streets across the estate involve the removal of the main sewer recently installed for the benefit of the dwellings on the westerly side of Willows Lane. It was resolved that a deputation from the Committee would meet with the officials of the Railway Company, with a view to having them modify their proposals. On December 26 th the Chairman of the General Works Committee and the Town Clerk, were appointed to meet with the managers of the L & Y to discuss the widening of the Scaitcliffe Street bridge, after seeking the Committee’s guidance on this matter. The question of better access to the Railway Station was also discussed at length, and the deputation was authorised to place their findings before the Railway Company’s officials. 1894 January The Chairman reported to the General Works Committee, on the meeting with the L & Y’s Solicitor and Engineer, he had along with the Town Clerk and the Assistant Surveyor, to discuss the widening of the span of the bridge over Scaitcliffe Street, the proposed new siding in the Spring Hill district and the new approaches to the Railway Station. The Engineer requested a copy of the Council’s plans for the new approaches to the station, which he could then place before his Directors for their consideration. The Borough Surveyor then submitted to the Committee a plan showing the proposed footbridge linking Scaitcliffe Street with the passenger platforms and the planned approach from Paxton

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