Rail Ale

The Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is the world's smallest passenger train service, founded by two millionaires in the 1920s, one of whom -- Count Louis Zbrowski -- owned the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang racing car. The RH&D criss-crosses the Romney Marsh and offers passengers the chance to visit some ancient pubs, Martello Towers and to spot Derek Jarman's beach cottage at Dungeness. And Hythe was once home to the famous milk stout, Mackeson

Added: Friday, September 26th 2014

Gary and Alison Walters have built a brewery and bar in a former railway shed alongside Ludlow Station in Shropshire where they brew a variety of beers using locally-grown Maris Otter barley and hops from a local farm. The brewery tap welcomes both locals and visitors who can hop off the train for a pint before visiting the town with its castle and magnificent half-timbered medieval and Tudor buildings

Added: Wednesday, September 17th 2014

The Watercress Line offers restored trains, the steepest gradients in the country and some fine country pubs where you can sup local brews, including a Champion Beer of Britain. And there are regular train trips with real ale bars, too

Added: Monday, February 10th 2014

Box Steam in Wiltshire is a modern and efficient brewery but its roots are in the railway age of Brunel and the Box Tunnel that linked London to Bristol. Its beers and its pubs pay homage to Brunel and the great engineer's highs and lows

Added: Friday, December 27th 2013

You could be forgiven for thinking the Nene Valley Railway is in central or eastern Europe as the steam line has been used for filming James Bond and the Orient Express as well as the iconic Queen video for Breakthru. But the line is in Cambridgeshire and gives steam buffs the chance to also sample some good beer in Peterborough. Pictured: steam loco that will operate the Winter Torpedo specials in November

Added: Tuesday, October 15th 2013

The Settle to Carlisle railway was threatened with closure in the 1960s but it's survived and -- steam or diesel -- you can traverse the Yorkshire Dales and the Pennines and cross some spectacular viaducts, such as a steam train crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct (left). Along the route, you can enjoy some good beer and also visit a remote Cumbrian brewery

Added: Thursday, September 26th 2013

The Bluebell steam line in Sussex, preserved before the Beeching axe fell in the 1960s, has been linked at the cost of £11 million to East Grinstead and the main line to London. For steam and beer lovers, the line offers locos in their original liveries and some fine pubs with good beer and even food from a Michelin-star chef

Added: Saturday, August 24th 2013

Norwich, with its many fine pubs, is the ideal starting point for a trip to the coast on both the Bittern Line and the restored North Norfolk steam line. Along the way, discover some excellent ale houses in Cromer, Sheringham and the handsome Georgian market town of Holt. Pictured here is the beer cellar in the third Fat Cat pub in Norwich, the Fat Cat & Canary

Added: Saturday, August 10th 2013