STEAM enthusiasts who appreciate real ale should head to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for its annual Steam Gala.

As well as hosting the annual Steam Gala, with visiting engines joining the home fleet of locomotives, the railway has teamed up with a number of local micro-brewers to give a ‘rail ale’ twist to the event this weekend. (September 26-27)

Howardian Gold from the Helmsley Brewing Company, Abbey Blonde from Whitby Brewery and Coal Porter, a dark and malty brew specially named for the railway gala and made by the Great British Breworks of Pickering, are just some of the real ales that will be available on draught from Pickering, Levisham and Goathland stations. Hand-pulled and bottled beers will also be available on certain trains.

This year the railway welcomes two visiting engines to its Autumn Steam Gala – the SR Maunsell Class U 2-6-0 No.31806 and the WC Bullied Class 4-6-2 Pacific No. 34092 named City of Wells, owned by the City of Wells Partnership and which usually runs on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire.

They will join the railway’s home fleet which includes No 61994 The Great Marquess and No 45428 Eric Treacy. For further details about the forthcoming weekend, go to www.nymr.co.uk or call customer services on 01751-472508.