Seven Hours in Preston: Beer #4973 and the Great Train Delay Odyssey
From the Desk of JT, the Beer Logger (B-Logger)
Mission: Turn travel chaos into craft beer content. Having a blast, with beer!
Beer #: 4973
Location: Preston Station, Lancashire (the Bermuda Triangle of British rail)
Beer: Tilting Ale – RedWillow Brewery (Session Pale Ale)
Vibe: Trapped in a station with unhelpful train gods and a surprisingly reliable bar
Mood: Frustrated, amused, hydrated, determined
🍺 Welcome to Preston — Population: Everyone Who Got Kicked Off a Train
Here’s the thing: nobody plans a seven-hour layover in Preston. Not even Preston.
But when an accident on the tracks shut down all northbound and southbound trains, the universe said, “You know what? JT deserves a story today.”
And oh, did we get one.
Trains were stopping. Crowds were building. Station staff disappeared like they’d been vaporized in a sci-fi movie. And suddenly, we were honorary residents of Preston, Lancashire.
We were kicked off our original train before 2pm. We wouldn’t leave again until after 9pm. And—because the day needed comedic timing—we did board a train around 7pm, only to again hear:
“SORRY, we are terminating this train here. Everyone must exit.”
A chorus of groans echoed across the platform.
Preston was now our home.
🎉 The Bar Saves the Day: BrewDog, Stella, and Emotional Stabilization
Thank the beer gods for one thing: Preston Station has a bar.
Not a fancy bar. Not a destination bar. But a bar that serves:
- BrewDog Punk IPA (reliably delicious)
- Stella on tap (don’t judge — survival mode)
- Cold bottles
- Hope
We had several beers. Because what else do you do when trapped in a train-station limbo with hundreds of mildly angry travelers and no information from anyone in charge?
As the hours crawled by, the beer menu became our emotional support animal.
🚆 The Train Boarding Olympics: Standing-Room Survival Games
The absolute craziest part of the day wasn’t even the delay.
It was the total lack of information. No announcements. No staff. Just rumors and vibes.
Veteran UK rail riders told us, “You just have to try to get on the next train north.”
Wait. What?
So we stood behind the yellow line. Twice.
- First for two hours.
- Then for ninety minutes.
Each time: train arrives, doors open, a wave of professional pushers surged forward, and—poof—every spot filled before we could even get our hopes up.
We considered:
- Getting a hotel in Preston (no thanks)
- Taking a bus (no idea how)
- Uber (financial suicide)
- Walking to Glasgow (a joke… mostly)
So we returned to the bar. Again.
🍺 Beer #4973: Tilting Ale — The Train-Beer Redemption
We finally boarded a train heading north—9:15pm, victory!
Lori saw the steam building behind my eyes and said the magic words:
“Find a train beer and do a review.”
Bless her—I grabbed the most interesting beer available on board:
Tilting Ale from RedWillow Brewery A session pale ale that’s light, hoppy, and wonderfully bitter in the way that fit my mood exactly.
🍺 JT’s Onboard Beer Notes
- Vibe Check: Tastes like optimism trying its best
- Drinkability Level: Exactly what you want after 7+ hours of platform purgatory
- Accent Jealousy Factor: The Preston locals complaining had top-tier delivery
- Crowd Energy: Exhausted. United. Slightly hysterical.
- Surprise Factor: A good beer on a train? Miracles DO happen.
⭐ Rating: 3.25/5
A genuinely tasty beer heightened by circumstance. Light, hoppy, clean finish — a session ale that played therapist on a train.
Author’s note: there were a few comments on this video implying that I was insensitive about a possible fatality on the tracks. In fact, it was a long day, and we did not receive much information. Nothing about the accident was confirmed or denied. And there was zero communication or service provided at the Preston train station. Regardless of what kind of accident or fatality, the prolonged delay and lack of communication were the sources of my frustration. We, of course, felt terrible about a possible fatality.
🌙 Arrival in Glasgow — At Last
We rolled into Glasgow around 11:30pm, caught an Uber (thankfully available), and collapsed into the hotel.
Sleep hit like a freight train — one that, unlike ours, arrived on time.
A long, wild, hilarious day. But that’s what this journey is about.
Having a blast, with beer!
Key Takeaways
- JT experiences a seven-hour layover in Preston due to train delays, turning chaos into a beer adventure.
- Preston Station’s bar becomes a source of comfort, serving BrewDog and Stella amidst frustrated travelers.
- Despite a lack of communication, JT and others participate in the ‘Train Boarding Olympics’ as they wait.
- Finally, JT reviews Beer #4973, Tilting Ale from RedWillow Brewery, praising its taste and mood-lifting qualities.
- The journey ends in Glasgow around 11:30pm, showcasing the joy of travel and craft beer, no matter the chaos.
Related Links
Master Beer List – CLICK HERE
