ACCRINGTON & BEDLAM

We have now reached the East Lancashire town of Accrington. It used to have steam trams! This one is on Blackburn Road.

The steam tram locos and carriages were broken up in 1907.

Electric Cars replaced steam. No. 3 on delivery.

The opening of the electric tramway, with car No. 1 in 1907.

Accrington Corporation later ran bus services. The operator became Hyndburn Transport in the 1970s. A fleet of Leyland buses was used.

Here's the later livery applied to an Atlantean.

An East Lancs bodied Leyland Leopard in the town centre.

This Leyland PD2 had been hired in from Rossendale, circa 1975.

Rossendale Transport was a frequent visitor to Accrington.

For a short period, Stagecoach became the main operator.

Nowadays, Transdev run most of the services.

Blackburn Transport could also be found in the town.

A local independent, Pilkingtons, run several routes around Accrington.

After deregulation, other independents came and went, including Accrington Coachways.

A&A Coaches was based in the town and used double-deckers on schools duties.

Accrington station was once a triangular affair, built by the L&YR.

A class 40 passes through with a Trans-Pennine oil train.

A Cravens DMU arrives at what is left of the station.

Pacers later took over.

A Northern 158 calls on the hourly Leeds to Blackpool service.

Right, that's the transport covered. What else is there in Accrington? Well, there;s the market and the town hall.

Pub time! First stop is the Arden Inn, a former Whitbread house, now with live music.

The George is believed to be still trading, but no longer has cask beer.

Accrington is not the greatest of places for beer, so let's move vaguely southwards, to the suburb of Bedlam, where a brewpub, the Red Lion was situated. Sadly, it's now a private house.

That's it for now. The next post is coming soon, looking at more of East Lancashire.