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

an undertaking to replace the crossings if required to do so by the Council. It was resolved by the Committee that subject to the Tramway Company giving an undertaking to replace the points and make good the work, their apology would be accepted. July The Borough Surveyor reported he had recently inspected the Ellison Street depot, and found that besides ventilators in need of repairs with various other faults, it required painting. It was resolved that the Tramway Company’s attention be directed towards these defects, with a requirement that they be made good under the term specified in the lease. August A letter from the Directors of the Tramway Company was received, stating instructions had been given that the request for the repairs to the defects highlighted by the Borough’s Surveyor was to be carried out. September A horse belonging to the Corporation was injured when a tram engine hit the keeper’s cart, requiring the attendance of a veterinarian. The horse was knocked over and hurt a leg which excluded it from work for a week. The Committee resolved to claim the amount lost by the Corporation along with the vet’s fees from the Tramway Company. November The Tramway Company offered £2 compensation to the Corporation for the loss of work due to the injuries sustained by the horse plus the fees of the veterinarian who attended the stricken animal. This offer was subsequently accepted in settlement by the Stables & Labour Committee. December A letter ( dated December 21 st ) was received from the Tramway Committee asking to be excused the payment of £24 - 1s - 6d, the bill for ‘Macadam’ put down on Whalley Road at Dyke Nook in order to lift up the Tramway rails at that location. The Committee resolved because this had also improved the road surface at this location the matter would be settled as requested. 1892 (This was the first year in which an alternative to steam traction was first considered. Now the rolling stock and engines were also giving rise to concerns about their standard of construction.) January A letter was received from the Tramway Company ( dated December 28 th 1891 ), asking the Corporation to consider using electric tramcars on the Church section. It was resolved that before proceeding further, the Company be requested to submit full particulars for the construction of overhead wiring and the means of supplying the electrical power required, also an estimate of the cost of adopting this mode of transport. The Borough Surveyor was authorised to inspect the state of the highway near to the coal staithes in Baxenden, where large quantities of water accumulates on the tram lines, also to take whatever steps he thought necessary in order to have it drained away. February A letter was read out to the Committee from the Accrington Steam Tramway Company, containing estimates for the electrification of the Tramway between Accrington and Church. This also contained a printed description of the electric tramway system in Leeds. It was resolved the Town Clerk reply pointing out the Leeds system had only recently been opened and therefore was still very much at an experimental stage. Under the circumstances the Committee was not prepared to recommend the Council adopt this system of traction at the present time. May The Legal & Parliamentary Committee resolved the Town Clerk write to the Tramway Company, with regard to complaints about smoke, steam and sparks being emitted from their engines, requiring they be stopped, and warning that the Board of Trade would be informed with a view to investigating the construction of the Thomas Green engines. July The Committee received a petition containing numerous signatures requesting that the Corporation put pressure on the Tramway Company, to start an early morning service of ‘workmen’s cars’ between Accrington and Haslingden. It was resolved the Town Clerk write to the Company requiring them to comply with this request. September The Borough Surveyor was instructed to have the main road co-extensive with the Tramway crossing opposite Steiner’s Park paved with granite similar to that used by the Tramway Company. The Committee heard complaints from Mr Robert Slinger of Hindle Street, that water from the tramsheds was making its way into his adjoining house. It was resolved the Committee would visit this dwelling and make a report. December The Borough Surveyor was charged with overseeing the paving of a small section of land in the tram depot yard on Ellison Street, which adjoins a house on Hindle Street, with the addition of a short drain.

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