Catch-Up 3 - Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th July!
Weekend of the Churnet Heritage Valley Railway's 'Rail Ale Trail' jointly sponsored with Stoke's Titanic Brewery but featuring lots of other goodies too!
Bars were open at the 3 stations en-route: Froghall, Consall & Cheddleton. Pubs at all three & a couple of local village pubs were joining in while, in addition, there was a constant stream of 'Ale Trains' running up & down the line!
In weather like this, why would I want to travel on a train? Walked it one way on Saturday; rang son-in-law, Andy, & we walked it the other way on Sunday! A good weekend!
Froghall Station
As you can see, I was one of the first there... though not exactly waiting for them to open!
Heritage Railway... so all the authentic bits & pieces scattered around
A pint of 'Elsie Mo' from Nottingham's Castle Rock Brewery to get me going!
Quite sedate, really, but it was a different scene when Andy & I got back here on Sunday afternoon - live band playing, barbecue under way & the tables packed!
Finished with a 'Foundation Stone' from Stone's Lymestone Brewery - one of the best of the weekend!
Remains of Thomas Bolton's copper-works between the railway & the Caldon Canal (Postscript 3)
Apparently these buildings were demolished to avoid excessive poll-tax charges
There are currently plans on the table to redevelop this area with holiday cottages & landscaping.... hope they keep the chimney!
One of the steam engines doing almost continuous service throughout Saturday & Sunday
Obviously a lot of rail enthusiasts as there were many more passengers than walkers.... or perhaps they were just lazy!
Party in full swing by the time I reached my favourite local at Consall Forge (Postscripts 1, 11 &16!)
Somehow managed 3 pints here over the weekend: 'Pig on the Wall', 'Stairway to Heaven' & 'Einstein'!
There were live bands & a hog roast here on Saturday night & by Sunday most of the beers were different & not on the event programme.... guess they sold out!
Consall Station
Managed a pint of 'BG Sips' from Ilkeston's Blue Monkey Brewery here on Saturday but they were all sold out by Sunday.....
.... and this is where I sat in the shade, in a garden beside station & signal box at Consall, to enjoy my 'Sips'!
Well, they'll be in Cheddleton before me but, at least, the canal goes directly to 'The Boat' pub! (Postscript 5)
Next stop!
Cheddleton Station
Finishing point.... or Sunday's starting point. Andy & I were just in time to drink the last of their '99 Red Baboons', also from the Blue Monkey Brewery (You may detect a theme here!)
Song of the Day(s) : 'God Bless Charley Mopps, the man who invented Beer'! - an Irish drinking song, I have a fine version by John Foreman & The Pump & Pluck Band!
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