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

change cars at Lock Gate. This would remain unresolved into 1910. The reality of balancing the books and examining the day to day operations, with all its less obvious costs was now of some concern, especially since the demands for more capacity increased. It was also an opportunity for the Council to show its appreciation of the extra burden which this transition had placed on its officers. During this year it was proposed to build an extension to the Ellison Street Depot on the tenement side, in order to accommodate the extra cars that the expanding network required. This work would not begin until 1912, but was incomplete at the outbreak of the Great War, only to be brought into use during 1919.) January At a meeting of the Electrical Sub-Committee the Chairman and the Tramway Manager were authorised to look into the provision of suitable snow ploughs to be fitted to a number of tramcars. The Borough Surveyor submitted plans for the construction of a paint shop at the Tramway depot which were slightly different to those originally submitted. These amended plans were then approved. The Chairman was then given permission to go ahead with the tenders for providing heating in this unit. It was further resolved to purchase apparatus which was previously owned by Thermit & Co. at a cost of £35, for the purpose of welding the rails when undertaking future repairs to the lines. It was then resolved to place advertisements in ‘Tramway World’ magazine and the local press, inviting tenders for the supply of stores and new uniforms which would be required over the next twelve months by the Tramway department. On the recommendation of the Tramway Manager it was resolved that a further set of Automatic Tramway Signals should be installed between the end of Moscow Mill Street and the Town Hall on the Oswaldtwistle Section. A letter was then received from the Board of Trade recommending the fitting of ‘speedometers’ on a number of tramcars to indicate at what speed they are travelling. It was resolved to inquire into what suitable apparatus for recording speed was available. Correspondence was then received from a firm of agents inquiring into the possibility of fixing advertisements onto the Accrington cars. The Town Clerk reported on a letter he had received from Haslingden Corporation on the subject of supplying electricity to their tramways, and that a deputation had been appointed by them to look into this subject and to settle terms with a deputation from Accrington. February At a meeting of the Electrical, Legal & Parliamentary Committee, the Chairman reported on a meeting with representatives from Haslingden Corporation to discuss supplying electricity for powering their tramways. An agreement was reached for a period of three years, to be determined thereafter at six monthly intervals. This required the feeder along Manchester Road to be extended to a meter at the boundary with Haslingden, with a connection to their mains at a convenient point on their tramway. The terms proposed were as follows - 1. The electricity for the purpose on energising their tramway to be supplied at the following rates - Up to 150,000 units per annum as metered at the Borough boundary @ 1·325 pence per unit, and for any quantity in excess of this figure @ 1·275 pence per unit. This price to vary with the price of local ‘steam coal’ delivered for generating at 0·025 pence for every 10% rise and fall below the price of 10 shillings per ton. 2. Haslingden Corporation would pay for the use of the tramcars and services rendered, at 4½ pence per mile run within their Borough, with Accrington Corporation having space in the John Street depot in Haslingden for the daily storage of 4 cars on payment of a rental at £50 per year. 3. At the termination of this agreement or any extensions thereof Haslingden to take over from Accrington the extra feeder cables to be provided by Accrington at their then market value. Also to take over the additional cars, (possibly 2), which would have to be obtained by Accrington in order to operate the service 4. Haslingden service, at a valuation after the given rate of depreciation has been taken into account. Each authority to source its own tickets, with mutual inspections and checks, with receipts for the carriage of parcels to be divided pro rata. 5. All third party accidents occurring in Haslingden to be settled by that Corporation as the present arrangement.

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