The BeerTrain

Friday 31/01/2020 With the Class 68 diesel's finally getting out in numbers on the Liverpool to Scarborough services (4 diagrams at present) I thought it was about time I sampled them - and of course drank some beer! A work colleague sent me the info on which locos were working at about 0530 including the news that my last class 91 loco, 91121, was working into Leeds this morning. I worked out a move to get me to Doncaster for the 91, however while on the bus into town I found out that Northern had now cancelled the train from Meadowhall to Doncaster, so I headed to Wakefield to have the 91 from there to Leeds. I did the free bus from Wakefield Kirkgate station to Wakefield Westgate station where I saw there was an 0754 to Doncaster which gave me a plus 6 minutes onto 91121. I decided that if the train was another 91 (not a new Azuma unit) then I would risk this move & when 91106 rolled in I boarded. I made it at Doncaster no problem & enjoyed 91121 back into Leeds. 1...

A two centre holiday, I would be driving across France to Geneva for a week based in Lausanne, utilising the famous Swizz train network to visit other cities and tourist attractions. The following week would be a drive to the South of France to stay at a Gite (with pool) in Cessenon-sur-Orb. Thursday 4th July With a 4 ½ hour drive to Dover today I scoured the Whatpub app (& Tripadvisor reviews) to find a suitable  lunch venue, I came up with the Green Dragon,Waterside, London Colney AL2 1RB. Ideal as we only had to come off the A1 one junction before the M25 and could then join the M25 afterwards. Green Dragon, London Colney The pub was excellent, as was the leafy riverside location all topped by a very good chicken & ham pie. I sampled a Fullers London Pride (which I rated 3.75 on UnTappd). The M25 was busy but moving well and I had paid the Dart Toll online before leaving home, we were soon across the Thames and onto the M2 into Kent. We were staying at Loddington...

A welcome return to the Fatherland as I'd not managed a train & beer trip here since August 2018. My main aims being to sample some new brewpubs & breweries and travel behind some 218 diesel locos as their booked workings on passenger trains are diminishing fast. Wednesday 3rd April 2019 As with all short trips the best way to maximise them is by an early flight, to this end I had booked one with Ryanair at 0630 on Thursday morning from Manchester. I booked a single room at the Gardens hotel, on Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, for £34. No Breakfast as I would be departing about 0430 am! Unit Barnsley - Huddersfield 1900 Barnsley - Huddersfield Unit Huddersfield - Manchester Picc xxxx Hudd - Manc Piccadilly I checked in at the Gardens and was upgraded to a double room, very kind of the receptionist. I dropped my bag in my room and set several alarms for 0430 / 0432 / 0435 etc! due to the very early start next day.. As the time was about 2100 I went out in search ...