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

surplus’ for the year ended March 31 st , 1907, as against a predicted loss of £450 which the Corporation had provided for. The Electrical Sub-Committee met to discuss the appointment of a Car Shed Foreman, and the Chairman was authorised to interview a list of men whose names had been put forward. They then discussed the proposed frequencies on the routes of the new tramway, before adjourning any further discussions thereon. In the meantime the Town Clerk was authorised to write to Blackburn Corporation to ascertain their views on running a through service between the two towns. At another meeting of the Electrical Sub-Committee a letter was received from the National Telephone Company proposing that the Corporation should bear all the cost of placing underground all their telephone lines where they crossed the tramway’s overhead cables. It was resolved the Town Clerk would reply to the effect that the Corporation would not accede to this suggestion, but the Corporation would agree to pay for the wires to be raised above the level of the trolley wires where there was a conflict between the two. Another communication, this time from the General Post Office was read out. It contained a schedule of their wires and poles which would have to be altered due to the construction of the new tramway. The cost of this work was estimated at £195. It was resolved to ask the GPO to proceed with this work, the cost of which would be paid by the Corporation. It was also pointed out by the Electrical Engineer, that some alterations would be necessary to a number of ‘private’ lines owned by Oswaldtwistle District Council. He was authorised to contact their officials to have this work done. The Chairman then reported on the minute authorising him to appoint a ‘suitable’ person to attend the Brush Engineering’s works in Loughborough, in order to inspect the construction and equipping of Accrington’s cars. He had engaged a person qualified to carry out this task. He was Mr H. Pilling of Bacup, who would receive £3 – 10s – 0d per week plus hotel expenses of £1 – 5s – 0d per week. This Committee then discussed the advisability of proceeding with the construction of the new lines on the section of tramway between Church and Accrington, immediately after the Oswaldtwistle section had been completed. This came on the assurance from the Borough Engineer that everything would be ready for supplying the power for working these two sections by July 21 st next. It was resolved to accept these recommendations. At a meeting of the Electrical Sub-Committee the Mayor reported that he had been in communication with a number of men who had been thought suitable for the position of Tram Shed Foreman, and he read out some of the responses they had made to questions he had put to them with regard to this post. It was ultimately resolved that Mr Harry Pilling, who was currently in attendance at the Brush Works in Loughborough acting on behalf of the Corporation would be appointed to the post at a wage of £2 – 15s – 0d per week, subject to a month’s notice by either party. This action was approved. ( Harry Pilling would rise through the ranks to become General Manager of the Transport Department, a position in which he would stay until his retirement .) It was further resolved that the Electrical Engineer and the Traffic Manager should take charge of the arrangements for lighting the tram sheds on Ellison Street. This Sub-Committee then discussed at length the services to be operated by the new tramway when it was completed. These were adjourned for further considerations. The Traffic Manager, Mr James Wilson, was requested in the meantime to make a note of their suggestions and incorporate them into a revised scheme for resubmission. They then received correspondence from the Brush Engineering Company on the progress being made on the construction of the Accrington cars. July There had been some delays with the construction of the overhead power lines, even though the track work was on schedule. As late as the 12 th , the Corporation was in correspondence with Brush asking for more labour to be taken on, in order to have it ready for the August the 2 nd opening. In order to alleviate any problems caused by lateness, it was proposed to open the Oswaldtwistle Section first, but even this was not without its difficulties. Other matters, which had not been attended to until late in the day included the provision of uniforms and the collection of fares. Even after the constructions completion the Corporation was in dispute with Brush over the poor positioning of the curves on the span wire pull-offs whilst the other, more serious issue, was the standard of the paintwork of the overhead standards. This paint had already begun to peel only a few short weeks after it had been applied. So the sub-contractors were obliged, at their own expense, to repaint them all with better quality paint.

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