Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

should write to the L & Y to furnish them with an estimate for building a bridge over the railway at Meadow Top. Later in the month the Nuisance Inspector reported to the Health Committee that he had made an inspection of the toilets at the L & Y’s engine sheds on Charter Street, where he found them to be inadequate and the source of bad odours, especially in hot weather. He had spoken with the Shed Foreman, a Mr Mills, who had informed him the Company had an intention to enlarge these facilities, when the present water closets would be replaced. It was resolved the Town Clerk should write to the L & Y asking just what they proposed to do with regard to this matter? August A letter was received from the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants requesting the General Works Committee reconsider the L & Y’s proposals for widening the bridge over Scaitcliffe Street. The Town Clark was authorised to refer the ASRS directly to the L & Y on this matter as the plans would have an effect on public rights and suggesting that if this work was so important, the L & Y should have sought for Parliamentary powers in a more thorough manner several years earlier. This meeting also heard a letter from the L & Y which contained an estimate for £342 for replacing the Meadow Top crossing with a footbridge. It was resolved the Corporation would accede to the L & Y’s offer to construct this bridge if they were to contribute half of the cost. It was agreed to pay the Railway Company £170 on completion of this work or, one half the cost of construction if it was less than their estimate. September At a meeting of the Technical Instruction Committee of Accrington Corporation, it was resolved to ask the Town Clerk to write to the L & Y requesting that the 08:35 train from Blackburn put in an ‘extra’ stop at Rishton Station for the benefit of students. On October 8 th , yet another letter was received from the ASRS with regard to the Scaitcliffe Street bridge from the General Works Committee agreeing to accept an offer from the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway to build a footbridge at Meadow Top, if the Corporation would pay half of the costs of its construction and support their application to close the level crossing. He wanted to know if this meant an end to the walkway at this point. The Town Clerk said that the Railway Company would not agree widening. Again the Town Clerk was authorised to acknowledge this correspondence, by stating the Corporation would only deal directly with the L & Y. At the September meeting of the Town Council, Councillor John Duckworth referred to a minute to build a bridge if the footway remained open, as this was the root cause of the fatalities which had occurred there. Councillor Duckworth then asked, “How then are we to get coals and commodities to the communities above the level crossing”? The Town Clerk answered by saying, “They are only proposing to shut the footway and not the cart road, which would then be locked with only those entitled to take goods across holding keys”. “But is there not as great a potential danger by leaving the cart road open as there is to leaving the footway open”? Cllr Duckworth stated, “I believe we ought to look after our footways jealousy”. The Mayor then asked him, “Do you wish to refer this minute back?” He replied, “No, but aren’t the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway having us dance to their tune”? The Town Clerk advised that if the footway was left open then the public would take that option rather than using a bridge, and the dangers would continue. Councillor Higham said it was his view that this minute should be referred back, if it wasn’t clearly established that the way across was not always accessible to carts, but felt however, that it was a reasonable solution. Councillor Devanney said that this would absolve the L & Y of any liability if any further accidents occurred on the level crossing. The Town Clerk said it could not be guaranteed that the public would use the bridge instead of the cart way. The Mayor added, “After the footbridge was made, anyone going across the lines by the cart road would be doing so entirely at their own risk, and as to the locking of the cart road this would be a matter for the Railway Company to decide upon”. The Town Clerk added, “I doubt very much whether this is classified as a public road, and I think it belongs to the landowners”. In his summing up the Mayor said he felt this was the best possible solution to this problem as the footbridge would lessen the possibility of further loss of life. The minute was duly passed. October On Tuesday, the 18 th , at just before 6am, a freight train which had been marshalled in the goods yard at Accrington Station, had just commenced to go up Baxenden Bank when the twelve wagons at the rear of the train broke away and started to run back down. Having picked up speed they ran into a siding where a fish van was stabled. Three of the wagons at the rear were smashed into ‘matchwood’ but no one was hurt or the running lines damaged in any way.

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