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

• Any person causing annoyance to other passengers. • Any person using abusive or obscene language. • Committing a nuisance against or upon a car. • Causing wilful damage to a car. 45.Conductors are only allowed to take a passenger into custody following a personal assault. 46.In poor weather the conductor should keep the doors of the car closed as much as is practical for the comfort of the passengers, and also by adjusting the ventilators. 47.Personal luggage, including the tools of artisans, which do not exceed 28lbs in weight, will be carried without charge. If in excess of this weight then it will be charged as excess luggage and a penny ticket issued. 48.Passengers must not be allowed to stand on the platforms when riding, but the conductor must insist that they go inside or on top of the car. 49.Should the driver be taken ill whilst the car is in motion, the conductor must knock out the canopy switch and stop the car using the handbrake. If he is in possession of a Driver’s Certificate he may then drive the car back to the central terminus. 50.In the event of a car running backwards when failing to ascend an incline, the conductor in addition to applying the slipper brake must operate the sand pedal and sound the alarm gong as a warning to other road users. In the case of a runaway car, it is the conductor’s duty to instruct the passengers to stand up with legs apart facing the direction of movement, whilst taking a firm hold on the handrails or hanging straps, and to remain in this position until the car has come to a halt. Outside passengers must be informed to sit still and hold fast whilst all passengers who may attempt to do so must be prevented from jumping from a runaway car. 51.As many passengers may be hard of hearing or do not understand English or who may appear to be ignoring the warning when the conductor asks “wait until the car stops”, he must, whenever possible, prevent them from attempting to alight. 52.Conductors are responsible for operating the lights in the car when conditions warrant it, with particular attention to switching them off when working early morning cars. When returning cars off service to the depot conductors must turn off all of the car’s lights with the exception of a single circuit when reaching the top of Ellison Street. 53.Conductors must see that all seats are occupied before allowing any standing passengers. 54.Passengers will not be permitted to eat fried fish or chipped potatoes, or drop fruit skins, nut shells or the like whilst on a car. By Order of H. Pilling, General Manager. November The Electrical & Tramway Committee met and authorised the acting engineer to obtain a number of replacement piston rings, and also patent tube cleaning apparatus from Mirrlees Watson & Co. of Glasgow, at a cost of £13. The Tramway Manager was authorised to obtain on the best terms possible a number of oilskins. The Borough Treasurer stated he had continued to pay half wages, (17/8d per week) to the widow of motorman Fawcett, who was killed in action on September 28 th , whilst requesting the Committee’s permission to continue paying this sum. He was instructed to continue to pay this sum for a another three months, after which it would be reduced by half to 8/10d per week for a further three months. It was then resolved that similar terms would apply with any subsequent losses of any member of the Corporation’s departments. December At a meeting of the Electrical & Tramway Committee, the Borough Treasurer reported he had been in contact with the Corporations of Darwen, Blackburn and Rawtenstall with the object of forming a combined fund for the whole of the system extending from Darwen to Bacup. He reported that both Darwen and Rawtenstall had expressed their willingness to participate in a meeting to this end, but Blackburn already had an agreement with an insurer, which would not expire until March, 1918, so there was no point in pursuing with this idea.

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