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

May A London-based syndicate named the Blackburn Tramways Company Ltd had obtained in 1885, permission to open four steam tramway routes in the town. One of these was beyond Intack and over Redcap and through the West End of Oswaldtwistle to terminate at the Church Commercial, and this began operating in May of 1887. July This was the month in which the Accrington Steam Tramway Company signed a contract with a construction company for the work to lay a tramway through Haslingden to Rawtenstall for the all inclusive sum of £32,000 which equated to £320 per mile. This was less than the cost of the Accrington Corporation Tramways and less than half the average cost of tramways constructed by public companies in other parts of England at this time. The costs were itemised as follows - ITEM PRICE Building of Tramway £25,370 For 5 engines & 6 bogie cars £5,380 For the Tramway Depot £1,250 TOTAL £32,000 November On the 2 nd , there was a strike of tramway drivers and conductors whilst on the 17 th , 1887 Tramway drivers and conductors were fined for leaving their work without notice. December On December 16 th , 1887 the Accrington Tramways Company was summonsed at Church for allowing their engines to emit smoke. On the 28 th the General Purposes Committee accepted the minutes of the Legal & Parliamentary Committee from the 8 th and 14 th of December, where the Town Clerk explained the results of the meetings between a deputation from the Council and the Local Boards of Church and of Oswaldtwistle with a view to obtaining running powers over the proposed extension through Oswaldtwistle. Also a letter was heard from the Solicitor to the Tramway Company in reply to the resolution of the Legal & Parliamentary Committee of December 14 th . It was resolved unanimously that the proceedings of the Legal & Parliamentary Committee with respect to the ‘extra’ use of the tramway depot and the running powers over the Baxenden terminus of the Corporation’s tramways be approved and adopted. Also that the Legal & Parliamentary Committee take all steps to protect the interests of the Corporation whilst sanctioning this use of Ellison Street and through running, so as to secure ample terms and conditions for any extra use of the depot, other than those described in the lease of April 6 th ,1886, also in respect of the ‘extra’ facilities which the Tramway Company may exercise under the provisions of their recent Act of Parliament. It was resolved that the minutes and proceedings of the Legal & Parliamentary Committee and their deputation be approved. It was further resolved the Town Clerk prepare an ‘official’ press release so that no inaccurate report of these proceedings were published. The Town Clerk then submitted a copy of the Rossendale Valley Tramways Bill, whose promoters were Mr Cramp the Chairman, and one other Director of the Accrington Steam Tramways Company, in which certain clauses dealt with making connections to, and through running powers over the Corporation’s tramways. The General Purposes Committee discussed the contents of this Bill and it was resolved the Legal & Parliamentary Committee be empowered to note and take whatever steps necessary to protect the Corporation’s interests as they might deem advisable. 1888 (This was the year in which Accrington Corporation Council concluded a long running dispute with the Accrington Steam Tramways Company which had commenced the previous year. This came about when the operating company tried to expand the lines of the tramway into neighbouring boroughs to join with their other systems.) The Council minutes record these proceedings thus - After the banning of operations beyond the Borough boundary in Baxenden, which came into force on January 1 st , the Steam Tramway Company then sought arbitration under the ‘Railway Act of 1845’, but did not implement formal steps until March 28 th , when they served notice on the Corporation to appoint their representatives within fourteen days of this date. They then increased their offer of rent from £5 per annum to £25 for the year in order to settle this dispute. This increased offer was rejected by the Corporation, but it was the catalyst which sparked further informal discussions to take place. Following deliberations amongst the councillors and their advisors the Council was recommended to settle for a payment of £160 per annum for the first seven years of the Lease. The Council considered

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