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

the Tramway Company, so long as they fix and continue with the 1 penny stage on the Clayton-le-Moors route as suggested. 1889 (After only a relatively short period of time the infrastructure on which the tramway was constructed had begun to show signs of wear and tear, which seems to suggest that during construction the robustness of the specifications had either been underestimate, or not completed to a satisfactory standard. In either case it would further put a strain on the relationship between the Corporation and the Steam Tramway Company. With the benefit of some operating experience the Company was pressing for alterations to the layout, which would not always meet with the consent of the Corporation.) January The Borough Surveyor reported on the “state of disrepair” of the Tramway throughout the whole length of the system. The Town Clerk (Mr A. H. Aitken), was authorised to give notice to the Tramway Company to rectify this ‘without delay’, or in default, the Corporation would under the guidance of the Borough Surveyor, do the necessary repairs and charge them to the Tramway Company. The first recorded tramway fatality occurred on the 3 rd , on Manchester Road just to the south of the junction with Harcourt Road (Colliers Row), when the driver of a horse-drawn van was hit by a following steam engine. Having tried to mount the pavement in order to allow the car to pass, the cart swung around and the 22-year-old Adam Bridge, a resident of Rawtenstall, was thrown onto the ground where the wheels of the van loaded with furniture ran over his chest. One of the harness shafts, having snapped off then impaled him in the neck. The horse was also injured by a broken shaft and a heavy contact with the wall, but survived. These wounds proved fatal and despite being taken to Victoria Hospital by ambulance he was pronounced dead on arrival by a Dr Geddle. The engine involved was number 14 which sustained little damage, and the employer of the deceased, John Ashworth, of Cloughfold, escaped relatively unscathed even though he was on the cart at the time of the accident. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of ‘accidental death’ with a recommendation that tramway engines should be modified to give greater powers of braking. April A letter was received from the Secretary of the Tramway Company, to the effect that work to repair the lines at Clayton-le-Moors was proceeding “as quickly as was possible”. June The Town Clerk submitted correspondence from the Chairman and Directors of the Tramway Company (dated June 1 st & 3 rd ) calling attention to the ‘state of the Tramway’, and seeking an interview with the Mayor. Also requesting that the Corporation give them a quantity of old rails and sufficient ballast stored in the Corporation’s yard, which they could use to relay 400 yards of track. They later received a third letter (dated June 8 th ), requesting what proposals the Corporation had to make with regard to improving the permanent way. The Mayor reported that at the meeting with the Chairman of the Tramway Company, the Company wished the Corporation’s Borough Surveyor to act in the capacity of their engineer during the repair work. In response the Committee resolved not to allow the Borough Surveyor to act in the suggested capacity of engineer to the Tramway Company, as his whole time should be devoted to the work of the Corporation. The Borough Surveyor was however authorised to sell any rails or sleepers in the Corporation’s possession to the Tramway Company at a ‘reasonable’ price, but no ballast as the Corporation had its own use for this material. The Town Clerk presented a letter from the Tramway Company, with regard to the condition of the permanent way. He then read out the resolution which had been passed by the General Works Committee thereon. It was resolved that the ‘actions and proceedings’ of that Committee be approved and adopted, with regard to this subject. July A second letter was received from the Clayton-le-Moors Local Board, requesting the Corporation to put pressure on the Tramway Company to put on an early service of workmen’s cars. The Committee resolved that the Tramway Company be required to put into force Section 40 of the Accrington Corporation Tramways Act 1882, with regard to running early cars for the benefit of the ‘working classes’, and that such cars be run to and from the Load of Mischief termini of the lines at suitable times before 6 o’clock in the morning, so as to be of the greatest possible use. The Committee also received a letter (dated June 28 th ) from the Tramway Company, asking if the Corporation would be willing to undertake the repair of the Tramway in return for an increased rent. The Town Clerk was authorised to

38