This coming August bank holiday weekend will see the scenic South Devon Railway (SDR) hold its annual Rails and Ales event which this year is again over four days due to its popularity.  The Beer Festival is being organised by the Devon Diesel Society as in previous years so a high standard can be expected.

The event, which is popular with both railway enthusiasts and fans of Real Ale, is expected to feature a mix of classic rail travel over the seven-mile line, including the use of both steam and heritage diesel locomotives, and a Real Ale Festival serving a variety of traditional ales and ciders – see list below.

The frequent service of passenger trains will be mostly steam hauled, except on the Saturday when there will be more heritage diesel hauled trains — the rostered locomotives are not yet known.

The festival is expected to offer about 50 ales and traditional ciders from both local and national brewers – see list. Cost will be modest per pint, with no separate admission charge to the festival. Staverton Station Preservation Group normally sell a range of non alcoholic drinks and food.

Our friends from The Tradesmans’ Arms AND Stoke & Teignhead Cricket Club will be running a BBQ on Saturday and Sunday evening at Staverton Station!

The combination of the authentic surroundings of a station unspoilt from years past and set in such a tranquil location, together with the classic combination of heritage trains and good quality ales and cider, has proved to be an excellent recipe with the size and popularity of the festival growing year upon year.

The festival opens at 11:00 Friday and closes at 18:00 the Monday.  The event is open daily from 11:00 until 23:00 Friday, Saturday, Sunday and then 11:00 to 18:00 on the Monday.

With very limited parking at Staverton station visitors are advised to travel by the frequent train service to the festival There is a large free car park at Buckfastleigh, which is situated just off the main A38 Devon Expressway, whilst at Totnes there are good connections with mainline trains.