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

accepted. These were subject to ‘certain’ amendments concerning wrought-iron pole fittings, the timing of delivery and completion being satisfactory. On December 24 th , at a meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee the Chairman reported on the findings of the Sub-Committee with regard to the supply of the overhead equipment and tramcars. He then submitted those from Messrs Dick Kerr & Co. Ltd of Preston along with those from Brush for final consideration. It was resolved the Sub-Committee should be empowered to negotiate the best possible contract with these firms for the ‘combined’ supply of cars and overhead equipment, or to split the contract into two separate sections, and to award one to each company as they thought fit. On the same day the Electrical Sub-Committee met with representatives from Brush Electrical Engineering and from Dick Kerr, in order to ascertain the net lowest price for a ‘combined’ contract each firm would agree to. It was ultimately resolved that a ‘combined’ contract would be awarded to Brush Electrical Engineering of Loughborough, over the slightly higher tender from Dick Kerr, at a price of £19,450 subject to the settlement of some ‘small’ details in the construction and the delivery of the cars with a ‘penalty’ clause for late delivery. This was in all respects subject to the approval of the General Purposes Committee. P. L. Wimby, a London-based firm, was chosen to supply the chairs to anchor the rails at 5/6d each. In addition to a new boiler, switch gear, motor generator set, two 5-Kilowatt dynamos and two Bellis & Morcom Engines with condensers were required at an additional cost of £4,949. All this new plant was to be ready for use as early as June, 1907. The General Purposes Committee also met to consider tenders for the supply of concrete for use in the reconstruction of the tramway. The Legal & Parliamentary Committee met and it was resolved to accept the tender of Brush Electrical Engineering, subject to the execution of a contract which would contain all the ‘usual’ clauses. These would include clauses referring to the ‘standard’ rates of wages and an observance of the hours and conditions for labouring which at the time prevailed in this district.

---------------------

CHAPTER 5

THE YEAR OF TRANSITION 1907 (With the termination of the Accrington Steam Tramways lease growing ever closer it was agreed to start work on the Oswaldtwistle extension, whilst simultaneously keeping a service on the steam hauled sections operating so as to inconvenience the travelling public as little as possible. The recruitment of Mr Harry Pilling would prove to be a milestone in the transport history of the town.) The Ellison Street tramsheds survived more or less in the original form up until 1907, when it was extended by the addition of four more roads on the Tenement side in preparation for the changeover to electric propulsion. Needless to say this extension was not completed in time for the delivery of the first cars, and they had to be housed to one side of the building whilst it was still under construction. January At a meeting of the Electrical & Parliamentary Committee it was resolved to refer to the General Works Committee the prospect of creating a footpath on the westerly side of Manchester Road, between the lower and upper gates of Oak Hill Park during the reconstruction of the tramway. In connection of the

130