20260506 Class 66 No 66689 Passes Through Ribblehead

This video posting celebrates Class 66 No. 66689 'Evening Star' wending its way through the picturesque Yorkshire dales on a section of the Settle to Carlisle line. We see it passing through Ribblehead station, not once, but twice, pulling its heavy mineral freight load on scheduled freight service 6J84 1237 Horton in Rib Quarry Gbrf To Brindle Heath Eurofreight on the 6th May 2026. It passed through Ribblehead initially at 12:55 on its way up to Blea Moor U.G.L. in order to lose and gain wagons and allow the loco to change ends in order to continue its journey south. It passed through Ribblehead again in a southerly direction at 13:29 as it continued its journey onward to Brindle Heath. The famous Ribblehead Viaduct lies a very short distance North of Ribblehead station and can be seen from the station's east side due to the curvature in the line. This package incudes video footage of the loco crossing the viaduct on its return journey from Blea Moor. No 66689 was originally numbered 66779 and was the last Class 66 built for the UK and is one of 12 that were regeared to allow them to haul much heavier train loads. Felt quite lucky to have seen it on this speculative trip to Ribblehead primarily to see the famous viaduct for the very first time. Hope you Enjoy, the views were stunning.