GALATEA BETWEEN HELLIFIELD AND BLACKBURN

Table 2 shows the continuation of Galatea’s run south of the Hellifield water stop to the engine changeover point at Blackburn. The line carries an overall speed limit of 50mph, with further restrictions at various points, and has a generally undulating topography as far as Clitheroe, with some stretches as steep as 1-in-100. Leaving Hellifield Up loop 4 mins early and keeping speed well within the prescribed limit it was not surprising that a signal check was experienced at Horrocksford Junction while the 16.02 Manchester Victoria-Clitheroe service arrived at the ‘CME’s’ booked passing time of 17.24 at Clitheroe. The main point of interest on the route, from a performance angle, is the 4½-mile climb, mostly at 1-in-82, from Whalley to Ramsgreave & Wilpshire station, just short of the Wilpshire summit. The ‘Jubilee’ made an energetic recovery through Clitheroe and despite braking to 33½mph for a restriction near Milepost 20, speed was 48½mph at Whalley as the locomotive attacked the foot of the 1-in-82 gradient crossing the imposing Whalley Viaduct. Speed fell gradually as the gradient continued until, on entering the short Wilpshire Tunnel, it had fallen to 30mph. Damp rail in the tunnel and curvature caused speed to fall to a minimum of 23mph through the relocated Wilpshire station (reopened as Ramsgreave & Wilpshire in 1994) and increased slightly to 24mph at the summit itself. No sooner had speed risen to 29mph on the sharp descent to Blackburn than Galatea was checked to less than walking pace at Daisyfield Junction. Arrival at Blackburn was 6½ mins early, bringing to a conclusion another fine day’s work by Galatea and its keen crew.