[ubuntu-uk] The Real Ale Train - Saturday 21st August 2010

[Alan Bell]

The Watercress Line is a small steam powered railway line in Hampshire.
It runs from Alton Station to Alresford. Alton is the end of the line
for scheduled services from Waterloo. Every few weeks or so they run an
evening special, the Real Ale Train, or RAT.

Basically the train turns into a very very long bar for the evening.
There are several converted bar carriages and plenty of seating (comfy
old seating in groups of 4). Steam, Beer and Software Freedom seems an
irresistible combination so it sounds like an ideal evening out for the
Ubuntu UK community.

We have conducted a poll to find the most popular date for the event and
from this decided on Saturday 21st August 2010. You will need to book
your ticket, tickets can be booked online
http://www.watercressonline.co.uk/section.php?xSec=191 and cost £12 each
including a service fee of some sort but more importantly including a
voucher for your first pint. Beer is not "Free as in Beer", but it is
just £2/pint. Don't hang about and try to book late, they sell out
months in advance. If you didn't vote in the poll you can still come, it
was just to figure out the best date. If you did vote, don't forget to
actually book your ticket.

Beards are strictly optional - it may sound like a male dominated event
(and to be fair, it is) but it has a very friendly atmosphere and all
are welcome.

Other alcoholic and soft drinks as well as snacks are on sale at the
on-board buffet. Hot food can be purchased on board the train with
vegetarian alternatives available. You have to be 18+ to buy beer, but
there is no age limit (at either end of the scale) for joining in.

The RAT starts from Alton at 19.20 and tootles gently up and down the
line a couple of times, returning to Alton in time for the 22:44 train
back to Waterloo. (This is a connecting service, if the RAT is late, the
mainline train will wait for it)

Dress - something Ubuntu related.