RAIL ALE TO REAL ALE
Friday 4th - Sunday 6th May 2012 

Another first for 2011 saw a joint venture between the railway and the Falcon's Nest hotel in Port Erin over the weekend of Friday 13th to Sunday 15th May; the inaugeral Rail Ale saw passengers taken by train to take part in a real ale festival at the hostelry, located adjacent to the southern terminus.  In 2011 trains operated on the standard timetable and fares, with a £1.00 entry fee to the pub, and a further payment of £10.00 which entitled the attendee to eight half-pints of different real ales and ciders which had been laid on especially for the event by the Falcon's Nest.  With no evening train services, return could be made on the standard Bus Vannin services, with the Hullaid Oie (night owl) late buses also being on offer on the Saturday evening.  Services were hauled by No. 10 G.H. Wood based out of Port Erin (and still turned chimney first to Douglas following the photographic charters last month) and No. 13 Kissack on Douglas duties.  A special cast headboard which was provided by the Supporters' Association ad.orned the ex-Douglas trains over the weekend, being swapped at Ballasalla to ensure that the advertised Douglas departures carried the headboard, which was commissioned last month for the first Rail Ale Tour which took place on Easter Saturday as part of the annual Rush Hour event.