Copyright (c) 2026 Protz On Beer, by Roger Protz https://protzonbeer.co.uk/categories/rail-ale en-gb Fri, 20 Sep 2019 12:04:00 BST Bob Barton has produced a loving guide that lists station bars and refreshment rooms offering good beer, along with preserved steam lines with real ale on board. The book also has a fascinating history of how trains and stations started to offer food and drink when the "iron way" replaced coaches Fri, 20 Sep 2019 12:04:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/reviews/2019/09/20/on-the-right-track-for-beer-and-trains https://protzonbeer.co.uk/reviews/2019/09/20/on-the-right-track-for-beer-and-trains East Lancs Railway is a restored steam line brought back from the dead following the Beeching Axe. It has two superb bars at Rawtenstall and Bury stations serving a fine range of beers from local breweries plus top quality true lagers. Visitors will also find saison, sour and even a Bavarian-style Dampfbier. When the line reopened in the 1980s it received a visit from the Flying Scotsman (pictured) Sun, 08 Jul 2018 13:26:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/features/2018/07/08/full-steam-ahead-to-two-great-rail-bars https://protzonbeer.co.uk/features/2018/07/08/full-steam-ahead-to-two-great-rail-bars 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 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 09:59:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2014/09/26/the-little-train-line-with-a-big-heart https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2014/09/26/the-little-train-line-with-a-big-heart 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 Wed, 17 Sep 2014 08:20:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2014/09/17/ludlow-on-the-fast-track-to-success https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2014/09/17/ludlow-on-the-fast-track-to-success 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 Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:19:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2014/02/10/going-loco-on-a-hampshire-steam-line-with-great-pubs-and-3-breweries-to-visit https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2014/02/10/going-loco-on-a-hampshire-steam-line-with-great-pubs-and-3-breweries-to-visit 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 Fri, 27 Dec 2013 09:24:00 GMT https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/12/27/not-boxed-in-wilts-brewery-steams-ahead-but-pays-homage-to-rail-giant-brunel https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/12/27/not-boxed-in-wilts-brewery-steams-ahead-but-pays-homage-to-rail-giant-brunel 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 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 14:38:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/10/15/breakthrough-on-the-nene-valley-line-and-find-some-perfect-pints-in-peterborough https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/10/15/breakthrough-on-the-nene-valley-line-and-find-some-perfect-pints-in-peterborough 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 Thu, 26 Sep 2013 11:20:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/09/26/up-hill-down-ale-on-a-railway-masterpiece-that-crosses-the-pennines-to-scots-border https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/09/26/up-hill-down-ale-on-a-railway-masterpiece-that-crosses-the-pennines-to-scots-border 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 Sat, 24 Aug 2013 13:59:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/08/24/irony-on-the-iron-track-beeching-way-heralds-start-of-revamped-bluebell-line https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/08/24/irony-on-the-iron-track-beeching-way-heralds-start-of-revamped-bluebell-line 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 Sat, 10 Aug 2013 10:48:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/08/10/from-the-city-of-ale-to-the-north-norfolk-coast-and-the-steam-poppy-line https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/08/10/from-the-city-of-ale-to-the-north-norfolk-coast-and-the-steam-poppy-line In the first of a summerseries that celebrates steam trains and real ale, we travel along the restored steam train line into Swanage -- that will soon link up with main line services to London -- and pick out some of the excellent pubs in the area, along with a new brewery based in the romantic village of Corfe Castle Sat, 03 Aug 2013 06:33:00 BST https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/08/03/dorset-delight-as-steam-train-links-pubs-with-fine-beer-and-new-craft-brewery https://protzonbeer.co.uk/rail-ale/2013/08/03/dorset-delight-as-steam-train-links-pubs-with-fine-beer-and-new-craft-brewery