CELEBRATIONS for the Great British Beer Festival took place in a unique way in Oswestry last week to mark two special anniversaries.

This year’s annual event coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), as well as marking 50 years since a train arrived in Oswestry carrying goods.

To mark the occasion, a special event was thought up by the Cambrian Heritage Railway group and CAMRA, involving a restored stretch of railway between Oswestry and Weston, Stonehouse Brewery and local pub The Bailey Head.

Beer was delivered by train from the local brewery, in Weston, to Oswestry station before being driven by classic cars to The Bailey Head.

Shane Parr, director at Stonehouse Brewery, described being involved in the celebrations as a privilege.

“It’s been really great that the Cambrian Heritage Railway have done this and have asked us to be involved,” he said.

“We really are looking forward to having trains coming here soon.”

The Great British Beer Festival is usually celebrated with a week-long event at the Olympia in London, but it was adapted this year to be held in separate local events across the country due to the pandemic.

Shane added: “It was a great idea to make the event more local after deciding they weren’t going to take the risk of hosting the usual event in London this year.

“It’s really saying to local pubs – you have an idea and do what you would like to do, and the national CAMRA organisation will back you.”

It was a landmark day for volunteers at the Cambrian Heritage Railway, who have been working towards getting trains back on tracks in Oswestry.

A carriage of the train was loaded with three, nine-gallon casks of beer which were delivered to the station and later taken to The Bailey Head.

Cambrian Heritage Railway volunteer Phil Ellson described the train travelling to Oswestry as a proud moment for all involved with the group.

He said: “The line here is not officially opened yet, but should be in September this year, when we’re hoping to start running services for passengers between Oswestry and Weston.

“We’ve had a long number of years and spent an awful lot of man hours rebuilding the line which was virtually derelict, and we’re obviously really proud that this is the first proper train that we’ve run since all that hard work’s taken place.”

Looking ahead to the reopening of the line for passengers, Shane added: “We’re going to put our heads together – us and the railway volunteers – and hopefully come up with different ideas for joint events we can run together.

“It’s a big thing – heritage railways bring tourists. You can see that at Llangollen and the Severn Valley Railway.

“I think it will be great for the town, and we feel privileged to be a part of that.”