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

The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee, considered bids for the redundant tramway rails and issued instructions for their disposal. It was then resolved to invite tenders from breakers for the redundant engines and cars taken over from the Steam Tramway Company. The Electrical Sub-Committee reported the Borough Surveyor he had received an advance upon the highest offer for the old rails, tie bars and fishplates etc. of £3 – 3s – 0d per ton and had accepted this price. He also reported that out of a number of offers he had received for the old engines and cars, he had accepted the price of T. W. Ward of Sheffield for the sum of £1,230. It was resolved his actions be accepted and approved. ( A temporary line was laid diagonally across Ellison’s Tenement to the corner of Fort Street with Hyndburn Road, for the purpose of dismantling and breaking the steam engines and trailer cars. However, there is photographic evidence that some cars and engines were stored off the tracks on Whalley Road at Oakleigh, on what was then spare ground almost opposite the Crown Public House. Presumably this was a holding measure whilst space was found on the Tenement, as there was no spur or turning loop on this section. At least three trailer cars and two engines occupied this tract of open grass, and children can be seen climbing the stairway on one of the balcony cars. This land has since been developed and now contains two large red brick properties.) June the 19 th , saw the appointment of a Car Shed Foreman at a wage of £2 -15s – 0d per week. Mr Harry Pilling took up this post. ( He would succeed Mr Wilson as Manager of the tramway and would have a career spanning thirty-nine years, until his retirement in 1946 .) The authorities of the New Jerusalem Church on Manchester Road requested that the tramway standard in front of the building be moved by a distance of 9 feet further to the north. Another letter from Clayton UDC was read out, asking for the standard referred to in previous correspondence to be removed altogether. The Town Clerk was authorised to reply informing them that the Corporation could not see their way to removing this standard, but would reposition it next to the wall as previously offered. It was then resolved to obtain quotations for a supply of ‘STOPPING PLACE’ notices. The Electrical Sub Committee met again to discuss the progress being made on the installation of the overhead equipment. The Town Clerk was authorised to contact the Brush Electrical Engineering Co. to urge them to push on with the work with sufficient staff and equipment to enable the Council to open the Accrington to Oswaldtwistle section on the date provisionally set. The Sub-Committee then discussed the adoption of a timetable for this service, deciding on the following for the Accrington Church Oswaldtwistle section. MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS. Accrington depart at 07:30 and then at 15-minute intervals up to 23:00. Depart Oswaldtwistle at 07:45 and then at every 15-minutes up to 23:15. TUESDAYS & SATURDAYS ( Market days ), Accrington depart at 07:30 and then at 10-minute intervals to 23:20. Depart Oswaldtwistle at 07:50 and then at every 10-minutes up to 23:40. SUNDAYS Accrington depart at 09:40 and then at 10-minute intervals up to 22:00. Depart Oswaldtwistle at 09:55 and then at every 10-minutes up to 22:15. WORKMEN’S CARS. An ‘adequate’ service of cars in both directions between 05:30 and 07:00. It was further resolved the Tramway Manager should order 350,000 tramway tickets @ 1 penny each, and 150,000 tramway tickets at 2 pence each, with a sufficient number of workmen’s and children’s tickets for use on the Accrington/Oswaldtwistle section at prices within the suggested limits. A local firm was enlisted to supply two dozen metal boxes for holding tickets, at a cost of 1 shilling and 4 pence each. At the change-over from steam to electric traction those staff who wished to stay on were offered jobs, and the motormen trained to drive the new cars. It was then resolved the manager should engage as required the following staff, 2 inspectors, 4 motormen, 4 conductors at the scale of pay prevailing in Blackburn and on other tramway systems as follows -

Capacity

Wage (for a 6 Day Week) between 28/- and 35/- between 28/- and 33/-

Hours per Day

Holiday entitlement

Chief Inspector

9 or 10 9 or 10

1 week with pay 1 week with pay

Ordinary

138