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

OPERATIONS In the light of the estimates of income generated by traffic on the existing tramway, which have been carefully prepared within ‘cautious limits’, also based on the actual experience obtained from other tramway undertakings, this Sub-Committee recommends the Corporation should operate and maintain the new system directly using their own staff in reference to leasing it to another operator. The Borough Engineer’s Report - ( a synopsis ) Sirs, I submit for your consideration the following suggestions. I have personally inspected various tramways to enquire on the latest, and best, methods of construction, with special reference to the relaying of the permanent way. I discovered that the great majority of this work is being carried out by the respective authorities own workmen. This is the most advantageous from the Corporation’s point of view. Inspections have been conducted by your Sub-Committee, Mr Gray, myself, and the Secretary and Manager of the Tramway Company, Mr Wilson and Mr Whittaker. They kindly accompanied us with special reference to the operation of the cars, the arrangement of traffic in general with specific regard to the provision of passing places as at present laid out. The Sub-Committee is anxious to keep the amount of double lines to the minimum so as to keep down the capital expenditure but with due regard to the safety of the public. It is therefore recommended that the lines are laid out in accordance with the Parliamentary plans, with one or two unimportant modifications. THE LENGTHS OF TRAMWAY IN SECTIONS - the Blackburn Road Section a. Market Place to the Commercial Hotel, Church = 1 mile + 176 yards. b. Commercial Hotel to the Black Dog terminus, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle = 1 mile + 66 yards. c. Market Place to the Black Dog terminus, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle terminus = 2 miles + 242 yards. The Baxenden Section d. Market Place to the Borough boundary on Manchester Road = 2 miles + 66 yards. The Clayton-le-Moors Section e. Market Place to the Clayton terminus at the Load of Mischief on Whalley Road = 1 mile + 1,320 yards. The Huncoat Section f. Market Place to Hillock Vale terminus on Burnley Road = 1,672 yards. g. Market Place to the Griffin’s Head Hotel, Highergate Road = 1 mile + 1,056 yards. ( This extra yardage was not built .) h. The Abbey Street loop. Blackburn Road to Peel Street = 205 yards. A GENERAL SUMMARY Reconstruction from single to double lines = 1 mile + 697 yards. Relaid single lines = 3 miles + 95 yards. Relaid double lines = 1,333 yards. New single line extensions = 1 mile + 981 yards. New double lines extensions = 1,553 yards. Total length of single line = 4 miles + 1,076 yards. Total length of double lines = 3 miles + 218 yards. Expressed as total single line = 10 miles + 1,151 yards. Length of roadway covered = 7 miles + 1,294 yards. The railway arches are all of sufficient height to allow the passage of double deck cars, with the exception of the bridge over Market Street in Church, which is only 14 feet and 11 inches at its lowest point. This will necessitate the use of single deck cars only to operate the Oswaldtwistle extension, unless of course the roadway is lowered. We have reason to believe that this would NOT be allowed to take place. It will be necessary to relay the entire system with new rails, as the existing rails are so worn as to render them virtually useless. It is hoped the concrete bed will be in a satisfactory condition, but certain repairs and alterations will still be required in areas where patching up has occurred and it would be advisable to remove and thoroughly replace it. Some of the setts have been in place since the tramway was first constructed and are of varying sizes from three inches upwards. In some instances where there is a large amount of camber on the road, there

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