Take your tastebuds on a sentimental journey this September.

The Great Central Railway disappeared from the railway map in the 1960s but, despite the efforts of Dr Beeching, you can still sample the beer from all corners of the old network!

The award winning preserved Great Central Railway's annual beer festival returns for a fourth year with a cast list of breweries from across the former Great Central territory. Breweries from Wrexham to Rugby, and further afield, will supply over forty real ales and ciders. The three day festival starts on September the 24th at midday at Loughborough Central station.

Richard Patching, commercial manager for the Great Central Railway and real ale enthusiast has put together the programme. "This year's festival is a real nostalgia trip through the flavours of England. Breweries from all over the country have joined in, including Kelham Island in Sheffield, two breweries from Nottingham and Dow Bridge from Lutterworth. There has been a real boom in micro brewing, so we are delighted to present some beers never normally found in the area, as well as some established local favourites."

The beer festival hours have been extended to cater for the demand shown at last year's festival. It costs £3 to enter (just £1 after 8pm on Friday and Saturday) but it's free for members of the Campaign for Real Ale, members of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line or anyone buying a ticket to travel on the GCR's steam trains that weekend. There will also be live music and food.