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

( It is interesting to note that in 1901 authorisation was given to a company called the A. L. R. & T. Company to build an electrified tramway connecting Blackburn with Whalley and Padiham, where it would have connected with the Burnley system. It would have taken the line of the A678 through Rishton to Simonstone by crossing Whalley Road at the Hare & Hounds where it would have connected with Accrington’s lines, thus opening up East Lancashire’s tramways to an even greater extent. This line would have added an extra 14 route miles to the system and was to have adopted the 4 feet gauge, which would have been compatible with that of Accrington. It would have provided a link all the way to Colne in Padiham, thus resolving the issue that the Burnley Road section should have been extended through Hapton Crossroads to meet the Burnley, Colne and Nelson lines end on at Rose Grove .) The Baxenden, Haslingden, Rawtenstall (and Bacup route). The BAXENDEN SECTION was made up of - Double track Single track Total length 724 yards 2 miles - 284 yards 2 miles – 1008 yards Opened to Borough boundary on June 12 th , 1886 , and extended from Baxenden to Haslingden on August 27 th , 1887 . ( Electrified as far as Baxenden on January 1 st , 1908 and extended to the Commercial Hotel, Haslingden, on September 28 th , 1908 , and further extended to the Rawtenstall Borough boundary at Lock Gate on October 28 th , 1908 . April 1 st , 1910 saw the through running between Accrington and Bacup via Rawtenstall. This was a joint service operated by Accrington and Rawtenstall Corporation trams. ) The length of the HASLINGDEN & RAWTENSTALL EXTENSION when opened was 4 miles – 1,364 yards. By virtue of the ACCRINGTON CORPORATION STEAM TRAMWAYS ACT of 1887 , it was possible to extend the lines to Haslingden and then to Rawtenstall. The cost of this extension was - Item Price in £-s-d. Lines £27,086 – 18s – 9d. Land & depot £5,056 – 9s – 5d. Plant at depot £1,776 – 10s - 10½d. Parliamenta ry £2, 231 – 0s – 0d. Total £36,150 - 19s - 0½d. Capital for the extension was raised by shares issue as follows - Shares Price Numbe r Total Preference @ £10 3,000 £30,00 0 Ordinary @ £10 2,268 £22,68 0 Combined @ £10 5,268 £52,68 0 Unissued ordinary @ £10 - 732 - £7,320 Total - - £45,36 0 Actual cost of lines and depot - - £36,29 2

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