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

system. If the underground method were to be adopted by Accrington, difficulties would arise in through-running from town to town, Blackburn, Haslingden and eventually Burnley for example. OVERHEAD LINES These would be supported on span wires across the highway at a distance of approximately 40 yards apart. In the parts of the town where spans are impractical, then one pole would suffice with a long arm stretching right across the street. Note, where two steel poles can be erected opposite one another this is the preferable situation, as it has greater flexibility and enables the wires to be suspended over the centre of the tracks. This minimises the strain of the trolley wheel on the wires, and also reduces the possibility of the trolley wheel with its boom jumping off. FEEDER CABLES To supply power from the generating works, these will be laid in solid bitumen, encased in earthenware troughs. This appears to be the most reliable and longest lasting method. These cables need not follow the tracks, but can be laid in back streets in order to avoid the disruption to main roads in the centre of the town. On the section between the railway arch on Blackburn Road and Peel Street and Abbey Street, no cable needs to be laid at all. TELEPHONE AND CLOCK SYSTEM A system of communication by telephone between the termini, the cars sheds and other important locations will be embodied into the construction of the tramway. Run along with the overhead, this could also be utilised in order to install a low cost, fire alarm system. One clock will be fixed overlooking each of the termini, (perhaps in a house window), with the time corresponding to that of a central clock. STYLE OF TRAMCAR This has been the subject of careful consideration, due to the restricted clearance at the Church Station railway bridge. It will be necessary to use single deck, saloon cars on this extension. On other routes there are no restrictions to the use of double deck cars. ( This was not strictly true as the railway bridge on Blackburn Road in Church, locally known as Blythe’s Bridge, would not allow a full height tramcar to pass beneath. When Accrington’s cars started working through to Blackburn, cars lower than the standard were employed. Blackburn already had obtained suitable low-height cars for working a service through to the Church Commercial .) Eighteen cars should be sufficient to begin with, all of which should be powerful enough to develop a good speed on the hilly sections. Automatic points and frogs have been included at three locations - the intersection of Whalley Road with Burnley Road, on Blackburn Road with Peel Street and at Blackburn Road with Market Street in Church. By using automatic points the driver can change them by using his controller, so that the conductor need not alight from his car. This mechanism has been tried and tested and found to be a reliable method of aiding the efficient operation of the tramway. THE RUNNING SHED This should, with a few modifications be made suitable for the new tramcars. New tools and equipment of all descriptions will have to be obtained however. WELDED TRACK A welded joint very rarely breaks and costs little more than a bolted joint. The smoothness of running is even more marked when the rails have been in use for some time. It also reduces wear and tear on the rolling stock, as it avoids the bad ‘hammering’ of a mechanical joint which often requires it to be ground down. After a couple of grindings the rail would require replacing in any case. GENERAL POINTS Contingency plans have been included for the possibility that the Burnley Road Section may be ‘considerably’ extended, and the feeders for this section have a greater capacity for this reason. Also provision has been made for the electric lights on Manchester Road to be supplied from the tramway feeder. If the work is to commence in March next, the tenders for the supply of materials for the infrastructure should be sought without delay. My estimates of the cost are hereby scheduled as follows –

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