THE return next month of steam passenger trains to the Hellifield scenic line for the first time since they were axed in 1962 brings the picture on the right from rail buff Ken Roberts of travellers alighting from one 47 years ago on to the then-new platform of the old Wilpshire Station, the second halt on the line out of Blackburn.

Closed in 1964, with its buildings and freight yard later given over to housing, the station had been given a revamp only 10 years earlier with the replacement of the old wooden platform and shelter on the "down" line-- with the work seen taking place in the view on the left of an ex-LMS Stanier 2-6-2T mixed traffic tank engine arriving at the head of a five-carriage train.

But curiously, though as Ken's picture shows, the station's lighting was renewed in the improvements, gas lamps were still preferred.

Wilpshire Station, dating from the 1850 opening of the Blackburn-Chatburn line, was originally named Ribchester as it was intended to serve the village. But, as is shown on the name board behind the gas lamp on the platform on the left, it was subsequently designated "Wilpshire for Ribchester."

Rail travellers in the area are now served by the new Ramsgreave and Wilpshire station, which opened with the return in 1994 of services between Blackburn and Clitheroe .

The steam trains are being run from Preston to Carlisle by Ribblesdale Railtours on Wednesdays and Thursdays from July 17 to August 29, using the East Lancashire Railway's Dalesman locomotive.