AN 80-year-old steam engine will be taking Warrington day-trippers on a picturesque journey across the Settle-to-Carlisle railway this summer.

The crimson-painted Galatea, a Jubilee Class, will haul the special Dalesman Express and although the train will be pulled by a diesel locomotive when it picks up passengers at Warrington, Galatea will be waiting to take over when it arrives at Hellifield in Yorkshire.

The Dalesman will leave Warrington Bank Quay at 8.54am on several Tuesdays over the summer, with the next departure on June 25.

The train will also pick up passengers at Wigan North Western and Leyland and spend several hours in Carlisle before being scheduled to arrive back in Warrington at 10.16pm.

A spokesman for operators West Coast Railway said: “We’re delighted to bring Galatea back to the north-west this summer.

“It’s a much-loved historic steam engine and will be a magnificent sight as it races over the 20 viaducts and through the 14 tunnels between Settle and Carlisle, one of the most picturesque railway lines in the world..

“We are expecting hundreds of train-spotters, railway enthusiasts and photographers to turn out every time it runs, although we are urging them not to get too close to platform edges or the rail tracks.”

A standard class adult return ticket to Carlisle on the Dalesman costs £69 for adults, and £34 for children.

First class fares are £125 for adults, £59 for children.

Premier dining, which includes a full English breakfast on the outward journey and a slap-up dinner on the way home, costs £225.

For more details, visit the West Coast Railway

website

.