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

Steam Engines a. Every engine shall be equipped with such mechanical devices capable of bringing the engine and any such carriage drawn to a stand, as is passed as sufficient by the Board of Trade. b. Every engine shall have its number shown in a conspicuous position on its body. c. Every engine shall be fitted with an accurate indicator of speed. d. Every engine shall be fitted with a suitable fender to push aside any obstructions. e. Every engine shall be fitted with a bell or other apparatus capable of sounding a warning. f. Every engine shall be fitted with a seat for the driver in a position which affords the best possible view of the road before him. g. Every engine shall be free of noise produced by blast or clatter, and all machinery above 4 inches from the rail shall be concealed from view, with all fires completed covered out of view. Carriages h. Every carriage shall be so constructed as to provide for the safety of the passengers. For their safe entry and exit, and for their protection from all moving machinery or any engine used to propel the carriage. General i. The Board of Trade shall, on application to the Corporation, or on any complaint from a person, from time to time inspect any engine of carriage used on the Tramway. j. The Board of Trade may prohibit the use on the Tramway of any engine or carriage, which in its opinion would not be safe for use. k. The speed at which the engines and carriages may be driven on the Tramways shall not exceed 10 miles per hour. l. The speed at which the engines and carriages may be driven through moveable points shall not exceed 4 miles per hour. ( During the years 1883 and 1884 and the build-up to the building of the Tramway in Accrington the main roads over which the Tramway would operate were “purposely allowed to fall into disrepair”, so that during the construction of the same, some of the gradients could be eased and a thoroughly good job made of the main roads repairs. As a result the Council’s expenditure on road maintenance was comparatively much less than in 1882 and 1885. Much of the business of the latter half of 1885 was taken up with the tenders for the lease of the new tramway, negotiations with the various contractors and the Board of Trade. On the 25 th of January 1885 a proposal was put forward for an extension of the steam tramways to Blackburn. Much of the business of the latter half of 1885 was taken up with the tenders for the lease of the new tramway, negotiations with the various contractors and the Board of Trade. The majority of the entries for this particular year and subsequent years used the minutes of the meetings of the General Works Committee of Accrington Corporation as their source. ) The era of construction was not straightforward by any manner of means. In May and again in July 1884, one of the main suppliers, J. J. Lee of Cheetham in Manchester, had the misfortune of supplying the main contractors, Messrs Green & Burleigh of Battersea and Southampton, granite sets to the amount of £521 which remained unpaid. He was therefore forced to pursue them through the High Court when they went into receivership. High Court of Justice Court proceedings of 1884. (N o 998). J. J. Lee’s Accounts Versus Burleigh & Plowden in Bankruptcy. Re; Samuel Charles Burleigh and Charles John Clucheley Blake Plowden carrying on business. Ex-Parte Under the name or firm of Green & Burleigh, at 8 Suffolk Lane, Thames Street, in the City of London, also 79a High Street, Southampton and York Place, York Road, Battersea in the County of Middlesex, Contractors. John Joseph Lee of Halliwell Lane, Cheetham, Manchester, Make (Oath and Say), that the said Samuel Charles Burleigh and Charles John Clucheley Blake Plowden, were at the date of the

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