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

The Town Clerk was then authorised to sign an agreement with the Telephone Company for the installation of a connection with the Tramway’s parcels office in the Market Hall at a rental at £6 per annum for 500 calls. The Committee saw the finances of the Tramway undertaking for the year 1907/8. It was resolved the Borough Treasurer transfers from the Net Revenue account to the Depreciation & Renewals account 1 penny per car mile of the total run between August 2 nd , 1907 and 31 st of March 1908, equalling £992 – 2s – 5d and to carry a balance of £122 – 12s – 2d forward. The Tramways sinking fund for 1908/9 stood at £2,186, whilst the loans fund stood at £332 – 3s – 0d. November A ‘Special’ Main Roads Committee met when the Borough Surveyor and the Borough Treasurer reported on the extra portions of the main roads which had been covered during the tramway’s widening and extension. It was resolved to charge against the tramways permanent way £345 per annum, as its share of the cost of granite paving on those parts of the main roads covered by the tramway extensions. The relief from the cost of ‘macadamising’ Burnley Road was set at £84 per year. The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee referred to a minute from the Sub-Committee with regard to the roofing over the tramway depot yard. The Borough Surveyor’s assistant submitted the plans and an estimate for the proposed work and alterations which stood at £1,345. This would provide accommodation for at least four more cars, the provision of a paint shop and the installation of heating apparatus. It was resolved to approve plans and to have them carried out ‘as soon as possible’. The Tramway Manager was authorised to obtain extra uniforms from Messrs J. Smith & Co. of Derby, for drivers and conductors engaged in the service extension to Lock Gate in Haslingden. He was also authorised to obtain 18 pairs of leather gloves from each of the two samples submitted at a cost of 5/6d per pair. It was then resolved the Borough Treasurer should charge against the Tramway’s revenue Account the sum of £345 in respect of the maintenance of the main roads. He then reported on an application from the shedmen for holidays with pay, which he accompanied with information he had received from other boroughs. It was resolved that following twelve months of ‘satisfactory’ service, the tramway employees not already covered, would be granted three days annual holidays with pay. December The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee met when it was resolved to obtain 5 Chamberlain & Hookman 500 volt tramcar meters at £3 – 5s – 0d each. It was then resolved in order to meet the requirements of the Sunday traffic, an extra car would be despatched to the Baxenden terminus to depart there at 10am for Accrington, and that an additional ‘request’ stop should be located near the junction of Rock Street on Manchester Road. It was finally resolved to obtain 6 mackintosh capes for drivers from Messrs Smith & Co. of Derby, at the price they had previously quoted. At a meeting of the Town Council, it was decided to refer back the question relating to the proposal to grant three days paid holiday to certain staff employed by the Tramway Department. The Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee decided to refer back to the Full Council the proposal to grant three days paid leave to the shedmen, also to refer back to the Sub-Committee the matter of providing accommodation for storing the Tower Wagon. They then discussed the tenders submitted for the roof and girder works required for extension to the tramway depot. It was resolved to accept the price of Messrs Edwards & Co. of Salford at £145, as this was the lowest one submitted. It was further resolved to accept the tenders of H. E. Lupton & Son, Scaitcliffe Works, Accrington, of 6½d per pound of scrap brass, and that of Stringer & Sons, for scrap steel at £2 – 10s – 0d per ton from the tramway depot. The Tramway Manager submitted his report on the trial of through running between Huncoat and Oswaldtwistle, together with a statement of accounts for the receipts for the past seven weeks. He suggested that this system of operation might continue for at least the next twelve months. This suggestion was agreed. A letter was read out from Haslingden Corporation on the subject of workmen’s return tickets between the two towns. A decision on this was deferred pending the receipt of further information from Haslingden. (During 1908 due to a few very minor incidents involving trams both being in the same single line sections at the same time, a system of signal lights was installed to indicate to an approaching driver whether or not the section of single line was occupied, or if it was safe to proceed.) 1909 ( With the system now established, neighbouring authorities sought to connect up with the electric tramway to the mutual advantage of all concerned. A dispute had arisen between the corporations of Accrington and Rawtenstall, when Accrington had offered to contribute five cars to Rawtenstall’s one to operate this service. That was rejected by Rawtenstall and this facilitated through passengers having to

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