It's all going on at Hellifield today, with three freight trains in the space of ten minutes.
That's pretty frenetic activity for such an isolated outpost in rural North Yorkshire.
Hellifield is pretty quiet nowadays, but its grand old station building serves as a reminder of happier times. Back in the early 1960s the station was home to a bustling engine shed and vast goods yard. It also had two additional bay platforms, allowing passenger services to originate and terminate there.
Modern day Hellifield sees hourly Leeds to Carlisle and Leeds to Morecambe services in each direction. These are operated by Northern Trains and usually consist of class 158 Express Sprinter units.
Several different lines converge on Hellifield, including the iconic Settle and Carlisle Railway, the Bentham Line and the Clitheroe Line. This means there are often interesting, albeit slightly irregular, movements through the station.
On the day of my video train 0Z67, the 1020 Kirkby Thore Signal Box to Knottingley T.M.D., had just arrived in the goods loop. This was a short notice light engine move by DB Cargo's 66118, possibly for route learning.
A few minutes later train 6E97, the 1044 New Biggin British Gypsum to Tees Dock Bsc Export Berth, passed through as it does about the same time every weekday. In charge today was DB Cargo's 66096, which was still sporting a well-weathered EWS maroon and mustard livery.
I picked up my camera and moved swiftly to the top of platform 2 in anticipation of the Hunslet stone empties - 6M31, the 0954 Hunslet Tilcon Gbrf to Arcow Quarry Gbrf - passing through. In charge today was GB Railfreight's locomotive 66782.
After that there was a lull in activity, so I decided to head to the station cafe, Shed 24H, for a refreshing brew.
Filmed on 19th August 2021.
Footage was captured using a Panasonic HC-VX1 (aff. link) fitted with a Rode VideoMic Go (aff. link).
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