Westminster Jubilee Line station and around about

The Jubilee Line station at Westminster is 128 ft deep. The exit to street level via escalators is a brilliant design and use of space. I took these photos to show why I like it so much. I also took some photos outside on my way to meeting friends at a nearby pub.

 

Merry Xmas to all my reader

 

Photo taken on sunday 18th December during a station duty at Alton MHR. The writing on the hat reads: 'Bah Humbug. 100% Christmas Grump.'

Anyway dear reader, hope you have a great break with friends and relatives and I hope you come back here often to read my random utterings and the occasional decent photo.

Next years plans include CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival, a day trip to Newcastle, the Leyland National AGM weekend in Preston & Leyland, preserved railways in Yorkshire, a week working on the cellar team at Reading beer festival. Plus some bus trips, MHR events, oh and pubs and beers.

If you're lucky a really interesting blog update will tell you all about them.

I leave with a video of one of my favourite Xmas singles.

Hoppy beers plus VSOE photos and Thameside photos

Following a trade union meeting in London today (15th Dec) I visited a few pubs.

Craft Beer Co
Thornbridge - Pollards 5% (a stout) and Red Colorado 5.9% hop monster

Euston Tap
Mighty Oak - Flaked Out 3.7, Pin Up - Milk Stout 4.5 and Magic Rock - Curious NZ
3.9 (dry hopped with NZ hops i think)

Cask Pub & Kitchen
Arbor - Single Hop Dana 4.0, Mallinsons - Huddersfield Pale Ale 3.9 and
Chocolate Stout 4.1 all excellent brews. Then Magic Rock - Rock Star. A 7% hop
monster.

Then to calm my palate down a quick visit to the Falcon in Clapham Junction
(Nicholsons) where I had Moor - Amoor 4.5, Moor - Gold, Frankincense and Moor
4.8 and Cropton - Elf Indulgence 5.5.

Looking forward to a hopheadache in the morning!




I then noticed the VSOE train at Clapham Junction station so took a few photos for you.

 And here are some night time Thameside photos for you:

Old Railway posters at Richmond Station

Some 1980's railway posters have been revealed on the staircase to platform 1 at Richmond station.

My photos are below:

The back end of a Leyland National

Today (27th November), I helped with the continuing preservation of Leyland National NPJ472R. Former Alder Valley fleet number 251.
Throughout the day most of the panels at the rear were removed, the rear window glass was removed, we replaced the emergency exit door, and I tried, but failed to remove the rear seat.
The aim is to replace the rotten body panels, and prepare the rest for a repaint next year.
Some photos are below. Apologies that the photos aren't better were taken facing into thesun.

Glass removed

Whilst angle griding some rivets off, a spark started a very little fire. It was behind the engine air intake and we soon got backto work.

Where it happened

A little bit of foam got a bit warm

A couple of removed panels

How it looked at the end of the day. Note the new emergency door.

A day trip to Birmingham and Rugby

On Saturday 5th November I went on a day trip to a few pubs using a first class Great Escape ticket from London Midland Trains. I decided to spend £20 for a first class ticket. I was going to visit some pubs in Birmingham I like, and some pubs in Rugby not been to before.

Upon arrival at Birmingham New Street station I took a short walk to the Briar Rose. A Wetherspoons pub for a quick half of Lees - Hopmeister.

A minute walk to the Wellington (website) was next. This pub boasts 16 hand pumps. I decided not to have London Pride and settled for a half of Blue Monley - Magic 4.5% and Hopshackle - Extra Special Bitter 4.8%.

Wellington

Wellington

Next stop was the Lamp Tavern. A delightful little pub. On my way there I bumped into a fellow scooper from London. Martin was going to the Anchor so I said I'd see him there shortly. A half of Two Roses - Full Nelson 3.8% was my beer of choice here.

Pouring my half in the Lamp

Lamp Tavern

Next and final stop in Birmingham was the Anchor (website). A 4 roomed ex Ansells pub very close to Digbeth Coach station. There is always a good selection of beers here. 5 beers here were of interest to me, so a half of the following were drunk: Merry Miner - Scargill's Strike 4.1%, Patriot - Kiwi 4.1%, Geeves - Tunnel Mouth 4.8, Sportsman - Hopscotch 3.9% and Conwy - Autumn Red 4.5%

Anchor

Anchor

Anchor

Anchor

Anchor

Anchor

Then on to Rugby

The Victoria Inn for a half of Atomic Brewery Sun Burn 3.4%

The Squirrel Inn for a half of Dowbridge Decimus 4.6%. Locally brewed in the neighbouring county of Leicestershire.

Give cask ales a go, so I did.

Raglan Arms for a half of rarely seen Greene King XX Mild

Merchants Inn (website) had a beer festival on and a half of the following beers were drunk:
Dorset Piddle - Leg Warmer 4.3%, Merry Miner - Going Underground 4.4%, Oakham - Hop Picker 4.3%.

What a great idea!

I followed the sign for more beer

 

Unfortunately my train journey home was a bit of a nightmare but it was still a good day out visiting some great pubs with interesting beers.

The Merchants Inn is a fantastic pub with friendly and helpful staff. A good choice of real ales well kept, and lots of old breweriana to look at.