The BeerTrain

A trip based around a railtour being run by Treysa e.V in Germany using diesel loco 212 372 to the “Rhein in Flame” fireworks event around the Koblenz area. After a few months of planning there would be 3 of us meeting up in Germany to do a bit of beer drinking and train travel for a couple of days prior to the railtour. I lost the original report for this trip (I.T. issues) so some of the detail is missing &/or assumed. Wednesday 08/08/18 My German Wings flight booking next day had been changed by the airline from a sociable 1125 to Bonn to an unsociable 0655 to Dusseldorf! Due to this I made my way over to Manchester this evening where I had booked a hotel across the road from Manchester Piccadilly. I had arranged to meet a former work colleague, Howey, in the Piccadilly Tap pub on the station approach, he then took me on a tour of some of the new wave “Craft” beer bars that have opened in central Manchester over the last couple of years – only Real Ale from the handpump for ...

After Dan & Robs wedding in New York we included a visit to Plymouth & Boston (both in Massachusetts). Tuesday 04/08/15 I was nursing a hangover this morning, we took a Metro to City Hall then walked down to Ground Zero, many many people paying their respects – a very moving location. We then hopped into a cab to Greenwich village to sample the Caffe Reggio on Macdougal street which has been a coffeehouse since 1927 and has been featured in many movies including The Godfather part II,Serpico, Next Stop Greenwich Village and Shaft. Many celebrities have been spotted or photographed here. In 1959 presidential hopeful JFK made a speech outside the coffee shop. Here we had a nice lunch (which came with a Bellini included) & washed down with a bottle of Brooklyn Lager (hangover cure). Al Pacino outside Caffe Reggio. We walked down past “the Cage” basketball court to the West Fourth st / Washington Square subway station to catch a tube to Maceys for a spot of shopping. ...

Part 1 - up to and including the wedding A trip to New York for Dan (our son) & Robs wedding and a chance to sample the Beer scene over the pond. Plenty of time to line up some decent pubs/bars to try & including a visit to Plymouth & Boston (both in Massachusetts). Thursday 30/07/15 We flew with Thomas Cook on the 0945 from Manchester airport / arriving at JFK 15.30 US time. Although more expensive then the rail option we took a Yellow cab into the City, a chance to see the skyline & buildings of interest whilst queuing our way into the City. To make us feel at home the heavens opened on our way, so much so that texts of Flash Flood warnings started arriving on my mobile. Just alighting from the taxi & walking into the Hotel became difficult due to the torrent of water running down Park Avenue, our home for the next six nights being the Waldorf Astoria Towers.               The Waldorf...