Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

which was the northern approach to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Clayton, which was why when the Accrington system was electrified, it stopped just yards short on the southern approach. The dip into and out of the road at Cock Bridge, would have been another obstacle to be overcome by the engineers. Perhaps all these factors would have made the cost of construction too great a risk, and it became another ‘might have been’. 1886 ( The year 1886 would be taken up with detailed alterations to the lines and other matters, which came to light whilst operations on the new tramway settled in. It was during this year however, the first signs of an uneasy and at times acrimonious relationship began to emerge between Accrington Corporation and the Tramway Company. Differences which would persist throughout the full term of the twenty-one year lease at various times. The lease was signed between Accrington Corporation and the Accrington Steam Tramways Company, to operate the engines and trailer cars also for the lines and the depot.) According to the covenant granting operating powers to the Tramway Company, the main roads on which the tracks were laid would be their responsibility to maintain. This accounted for approximately one third of the main roads in the Borough. The supervision of the period leading up to and covering the early years of operation, would be the responsibility of the General Works Committee of Accrington Corporation and the following are mainly extracts from the minutes of this committee’s meetings. January 12 th . A letter ( dated January 6 th ), was received by the General Works Committee from the Solicitor of the Tramway Company, Mr Edward Chubb, informing his clients had ordered the necessary engines and trailer cars, and that their side of the agreement would be progressed. January 19 th . The Borough Surveyor was authorised by the General Works Committee to ascertain the terms and conditions for borrowing an engine and trailer car, for the purposes of an inspection of the tramlines. The Town Clerk presented two letters to the Committee (both dated January 14 th ), one each from the solicitor acting for the Accrington Steam Tramway Company and one from a Mr R. L. Cosh, asking the Council to grant the lease to operate the tramway to the Company. The Town Clerk was authorised to reply as “he may deem desirable”. January 26 th . The Town Clerk submitted the Certificate of Registration of the Tramway Company to the Committee, along with copies of the Memorandum of Association and the agreement with Mr R. L. Cosh and the Company. It was further unanimously resolved by the General Works Committee, that the Borough Surveyor and Councillor Whittaker would visit the works of Thomas Green & Son of Leeds, to check on the progress being made on the supply of tramway engines, whilst Alderman Hindle should go to the works of George F. Milnes, on Cleveland Street in Birkenhead, to see what was being done to provide the trailer cars. ( Thomas Green’s premises were the Smithfield Iron Works in Leeds, although they had a factory on Blackfriars Road in the south east of London called the Surrey Works. It should be noted that all steam tramway engines had by law to condense their own steam, usually through a series of roof-mounted tubes. Also their moving parts had to be covered practically down to the surface of the roadways . This was so as not to startle horses, which were still responsible for hauling the majority of goods on the roads. Milnes were the successors to the Starbuck Waggon & Car Company. ) The Town Clerk received a letter from Mr Blunt the Secretary of the Accrington Corporation Steam Tramway Company, informing the Council that one engine from Greens would be delivered in about three weeks, with the remainder to follow within a short period of time. He had also asked permission for the workmen to have access to the Ellison Street premises to begin the process of furnishing the offices and installing the necessary equipment. The Town Clerk also reported a draft of the lease had been returned from the solicitors acting for the Company approved by them with just a few minor amendments. They had inserted the title of the Company in place of that of Mr Cosh, who had given an undertaking that he would now sell his interest to the Company. The Town Clerk confirmed that the company had been properly incorporated and registered at Company’s House. It was agreed the Company’s workmen could have access to the depot, that a copy of the lease should be deposited in the Council’s offices and that an application should be made to the Local Government Board for their approval of this lease.

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