At this weekend’s “Rails & Ales” event at the North Norfolk Railway’s Mixed Traction Gala, one of the star attractions will be trains hauled by a Class 66 locomotive that has never hauled a passenger train.

From Friday, 9th to Sunday, 11th June, Direct Rail Services (DRS) Class 66 No. 66424 Driver Paul Scrivens will be making a rare appearance in East Anglia as it is normally used on heavy intermodal freight trains, including transporting block container trains for Tesco and working flask trains from nuclear power stations to the Sellafield reprocessing facility.

The locomotive was built by General Motors in North America in 2007 and shipped across the Atlantic.

A selection of bottled beers and ciders will be on offer at each of the line’s three stations at Sheringham, Holt, and at Weybourne station there will also be a real ale bar.

Selected trains will also have a selection of different brews available from the buffet car as well as onboard refreshments.

Each day, visitors will have the chance to hop on and off the many trains and discover around 25 beers and ciders across the three stations.

At Weybourne there will be live music daily, featuring live bands from the area and Drivetime Disco providing DJ sets and playing visitors’ requests. Full details of the weekend’s attractions can be found at www.nnrailway.co.uk/mixed/

The line’s popular heritage trains run daily throughout the summer, and its next special events will be a Vintage Transport Weekend on 1st and 2nd July, and a Vintage Week from Monday, 3rd to Sunday, 9th July. Full details of these and other events can be found at www.nnrailway.co.uk.

Commercial Manager, Graham Hukins, said “We are very grateful to DRS for making 66424 available for the event – we believe this will be the first time the engine has ever hauled passenger trains so it is a unique opportunity for enthusiasts, local residents and holidaymakers alike.

“The engine will be one of 10 in action at the event which sees two of our powerful steam engines joined by seven diesels and a heritage railcar,” he added.