Epping Ongar Railway

During the last two weeks, we have been pleased to welcome Bob & Rick to the team, who have come down from B&R Trackwork, and are using our Tamper (73124) to correct the dips and faults in our running line. James Galbraith has kindly compiled some of his footage of the tamper in action, including from inside the cab, all of which has been taken during the last two weeks and this now available to view on EOR TV.

Meanwhile our own Track Maintenance teams have been busy, and not just at weekends! Thanks to the dedication of the team, nearly every day over the last two weeks, 03119 and the “Dogfish” ballast hopper have been shuttling up and down the line, dropping additional ballast (stone chippings) where the tamper requires this, before shuttling back to the ballast pile at North Weald for reloading, as we work to get the line ready for running passenger trains.

Work has been progressing at North Weald, with the finishing touches being applied to the slate fireplace in the Booking Hall and starting to create a snagging list of the last few items of general tidying up work around the station as we get it ready to once again welcome passengers.

Some of the Tues Gang regulars, enjoying a well deserved cuppa!!

Meanwhile out on the rolling stock, despite the cold weather, the team have been continuing work on the Mk2 Brake Second Open (BSO), which has seen its corridor end door removed, sliding mechanism attended to and the door replaced so it now slides back and forth. Work has also continued in the toilet, preparing for the new floor and lino to the laid.

The Carriage restoration team carefully measure out the end vestibule before the sliding door is replaced onto its new runners...

Meanwhile inside the saloon (passenger area) of the coach, Eddie applies stain to the replacement panelling, to try and best match the original panels.

The team have also been restoring the BR 20t Brake van, which has been receiving some long overdue “TLC” with new wooden end pillars being fitted to replace the existing ones which at one end had nearly completely rotted away! Some of the end and side panels are also receiving attention, while inside the bench seat and rotten wood around the Guard’s lookout duct (the curved metal sheet in the middle with windows so the Guard can look along the train) have been stripped back and are currently in the process of replacement.

The signalbox at Ongar has also been a hive of activity. It is currently surrounded in scaffold to assist with the roofing repairs and (much needed) exterior repainting. The team has been busy progressing with this as the scaffold “fouls” the mainline. This means that shunting movements into the main platform are currently suspended while this work is progressing and until the scaffold has come down. Work on the signal lever frame is also progressing, with each of the 30 “Saxby & Farmer” levers carefully taken apart, many layers of paint stripped down back to a smooth clean surface, ready to be repainted and then the levers installed back into the signalbox at Ongar.

The signals equipment has also not been forgotten, just one example of the work undertaken has been by John, who has been working hard on the signal post telephone system. This is a closed circuit linking telephones at the base of the further away signals, back to the signalbox. This enables the signalman and driver to converse, very useful when relaying shunting or other instructions. John has taken home several wooden cased telephones, and carefully restored these. The telecoms department are URGENTLY in need of more Bakelite phones, both desk and in particular wall hung examples for places like the signalbox. If you can help, please call Eddie on 07963763184.

Often overlooked by visitors, but none-the-less essential, the track that our trains run on is receiving long over-due maintenance and upgrading as EOR looks to once again run passenger trains. Below is a glimpse into the excellent and often tiring work being done by the volunteer team who attend every week… after all “no track = no trains”….

Well what can I say other than we really achieved something despite the artic blizzards! The plan was to change all remaining sub standard sleepers in North Weald. Not only did we achieve this, but with the scrap sleepers we created several a raised area that can be used as tidy storage for pway items. Neat idea Chris……..

Attendees were; Sean S, Steve E, Steve C, Chris M, Simon H, Alex N, Michael D, Bob G, Dean W, Myself and Ann Marie got stuck in also, and the team split into sub-groups to best focus on the various elements that required attention.

The team carefully lift a replacement sleeper onto the maintenance trolley, watched by Marco & D7523! (Pic Sean Sharples)

The day started with myself, Sean and Michael unloading the tools for the day and placing them on site in preparation for the days jobs. Before kick off we had a team chat, discussed the plan, allocated the jobs and finally the safety brief. Michael and Dean took up there usual jobs with the nutrunners and Steve E continued from Sat with grinding off the elastic pins on the sleepers so as to make it easier for the rest of us. Big thanks must go to Phil S who did grinding on Friday and Steve on Sat and Sun for doing this less than glamorous job but without it I doubt we would achieved half of what we did.

Marco & Steve C lift the rails, to enable the next sleeper to be pulled out and changed (Pic: Sean Sharples)

Preparation is key and the work done on Fri and Sat was vital to a successful day on Sunday.

The rest of us then set about the removing and replacing of sleepers. And as mentioned prior to lunch we built the timber storage areas at the Ongar end of North Weald. By lunch time that cup of tea never tasted so good…..!! Steve C made a half time appearance with the Crimbo cards and some moral support. Thanks and hope to see you back lineside soon Steve.

After lunch the Class 37 and 31 were started and shunted the stock out of Platform 2 so the team could replace the sleepers there. The lads set off at a ferocious pace and just as the light was failing the last pandrol and last screw were placed in the last sleeper and North Weald had been delivered prior to Christmas as promised to Chris M all those weeks ago.

Mission accomplished, a quick wash and then we hit the pub. The first pint barely touched the sides…….

Again a massive thanks to all the team who have turned up in all weathers and put a real shift in every week.

The ballast to provide a stone-chipping bed to hold the sleepers in place through the platforms and new pointwork layout at North Weald has now been delivered, and the team will be repeating the work they undertook at Ongar, using one of the line’s BR Class 03 shunters or Class 25 to carefully shunt the Dogfish ballast hopper around the layout, depositing ballast, before packing this into position between the sleepers (visit EOR TV for video footage of the Dogfish in action). More help with this essential task is required, and details on how you can get involved (and perhaps get some fresh air and work off that extra helping of turkey!!) is here.

Report by Marco Carrara

Progress “on all fronts” has been the theme of the last few weeks, with lots to report from all the departments:

The track teams have been focusing their efforts at Ongar, now the track panels of the main and run-round loops have been placed, the rotten, split or sub-standard sleepers were unscrewed and pulled out, before being replaced with better ones prior to the stone ballast being dropped. This is another example of how we are doing the job for the long term, as while it has taken several work parties to achieve, it is harder and more time consuming to replace a sleeper once the ballast has been dropped, especially when we are running trains. While some sleepers may have given a little longer in service, we can rest comfortable in the knowledge that the layout is robust and fit for purpose. The redundant sleepers have been graded, some are going for firewood and others for re-use in sidings, it is testament to the hard work of the team that over 60 sleepers have been changed as well as broken chairs replaced and fishplates greased and fitted.

Digger loads track ballast into the Dogfish, ready for spreading along the tracks through Ongar

The track team will  now be turning their attention to North Weald station between now and Christmas, where the slightly more comfortable figure of 50 sleepers has been quoted, and the Dogfish will again be in action dropping the track ballast before the hard work of levelling the track and shovelling the ballast into the beds between the sleepers. Footage of this is on EOR TV. We are also thankful to Lineside Rail for their help. As part of their track training course, their students come down and learn Pway skills on our railway, helping us get the track ready for trains.

Also pictured above you can see the platform works that is currently being completed. We are not calling this an “extension” as the original platform wall indicates that the platform used to run further west, but for an unknown reason LU decided to shorten it?! Care is being taken to ensure that the platform will both incorporate a safety recess under the coping stones, as well as having period lamps and period flowerbeds between these, that were so iconic of Ongar’s original platform. Following the appeal for donations towards making new GER benches, we hope in time we can once again populate the platform with places for our visitors to sit, relax and enjoy the period surroundings.

Another important element towards once again running steam on the branch is the rebuilding of a water tower at Ongar. The base of this has recently been dug and following concrete being poured, the framework and bricking will be installed. Thanks to the GERS we have the plans for the original, and our water tower will be built to closely resemble the originals that were so typical of this area, with identical examples at both Ongar and Epping. The tower is being located very close to the original, and so allowing steam engines to take water either while doing the run-round manoeuvre and while “coming off” or “going onto” the engine pit and shed. This operation will also be visible for those who venture to the end of the platform, so adding to the theatre and period atmosphere that the station will hopefully provide.

Foundations for the water tower being prepared, the plastic pipes will be included so the water can be run underground to the tank to prevent the pipes freezing in winter

Meanwhile in the signalbox, as well as the restoration work on the structure, the careful operation of lifting the lever frame into the signalbox has been undertaken. We are delighted to announce that the ORIGINAL lever frame for Ongar is once again going to signal the trains at Ongar. The frame is being restored and will be re-locked so that it meets the anticipated current and future requirements of the railway, as outlined within its 10 year strategic plan. 

The lever frame is a remarkable survivor, as the signalbox was demolished by LU in the 1980’s. Luckily the Saxby & Farmer Duplex frame was saved and following storage at North Woolwich, was transferred for safe storage. When ORPS/CHT heard that EOR was looking for a lever-frame for Ongar, they kindly came forward to make this available, and it is very fitting that it is being returned to its original use, housed within an original GER Type 7 signalbox, in original GER colours. The Thursday “Works & Way” team have been working hard to re-configure the operating floor supports to make it ready for the frame to be lifted in and starting the restoration of the frame itself.

Ongar's original lever frame is gently lifted up into position. Once the frame is securely in position, the lifting legs will be removed.

The signals that the lever frame will be controlling have also recently been lifted into position. The decision was made to use heritage colour light signals on the approach to the station, both due to a shortage of mechanical parts, to ease maintenance and also so that examples of these are preserved for future generations.

The signals are all SGE searchlight examples, which were once common-place all over East Anglia but are now redundant on the mainline. Our examples have come from Colchester, and were kindly donated by Network Rail. Since being saved, several of these were carefully sanded and treated before being painted in original 1940-60’s colours. Final attention to the hoods, backboards and commissioning will be occurring over the next few months.

Old and new alongside each other. On the right is the old LT "fixed distant" and on the left is the "new" inner down home signal. The LT signal on the right will be removed and may have a future life as the fixed distant for up trains approaching Epping...

The inner down home signal is on a slight curve and to assist the Driver to control his train, we have restored and installed a "banner repeater" which gives the driver an advanced warning whether the next signal is showing a proceed aspect. This has been restored into its original 1940's colours.

Meanwhile at North Weald, the station building is nearing completion, with period lights having been installed in their original locations and just a few last items to be gloss painted before the original wood floor is sanded and varnished. The carriage team is also progressing with the restoration of one end of the DMU, and also on the Brake Second Open, with all the windows now replaced, the fibreglass insulation replaced (where necessary), before the panelling is restored and lino reinstated. Work has also been occurring in the Guards compartment, where an authentic BR creamy-yellow replaces the almost austerity-looking 1980’s grey, which, along with the attention to the woodwork and fittings really brightens up the Guard’s area of this important coach.

One of the most momentous achievements has been the connecting up of the main and run-round tracks into Ongar (see News story for pictures). The Pway team met at Ongar last weekend and focusing their efforts on getting the track ready for ballasting. This included temporary jacking up sections of the rail, re-spacing, straightening and in some cases replacing sleepers, working systematically down the track.

Pway members working on the run-round track at Ongar

With the teamwork, many hours of hard work and group coordination led to over 30 sleepers being replaced during the day, including some longer ones under the points which lead to the loco shed and “neck” siding (the one beside the buffer stops at the high street end). Missing keys, bolts and chairs were also replaced. All these tasks are made much easier with the tracks recently being laid out on the flat sub-base.

The assembled (and slightly exhausted!) Pway Team; Chris, Tom, Steve, Michael, Phil, Marco, Sean, Rog & Guy (Simon was taking the photo!)

The next step will be for the rail alignment to be made straight and even, before ballast is loaded into the “Dogfish” ballast hopper, which will distribute this onto the track. You may recall us reported a few months on the work being carried out on the Dogfish by the Thursday Engineering team to ensure its hopper doors operate smoothly, and this is just one example of how the various elements comes together, working as one team, to get the job completed and getting passenger trains running.

The trackwork at North Weald has also not been forgotten, and as part of teaching by local company, Lineside Rail, to teach new candidates how to manage and work alongside road-rail vehicles (RRV) a digger recently visited the line. As part of the teaching the special digger was used to move some ballast down the site (to an area that is inaccessible by road vehicles), in conjunction with teaching and demonstrations on how to get the rails level, and the RRV lifted sections of the rail to assist with this task through a set of points which had previous developed a noticeable dip. The railway is very grateful to Lineside Rail for their assistance, and is keen to promote this type of joint win-win relationship.

Road-Rail Vehicle and Track Principals Training being undertaken at EOR

The signalling teams have been busy both at North Weald and at Ongar where many of the signal posts for the station approaches are set out and ready to be craned into place. Work is continuing on the restoration and installation of the mechanical items on Ongar’s lever frame and at North Weald before the weather deteriorates. One of the achievements that the signalling team are particularly proud of has been the post rescued from Frinton, an original c1900 wooden Great Eastern post donated by Network Rail, which has been restored and fitted with an early 1940’s colour light signal. Similar alterations like this were undertaken all over the local area. This provides a contrast with the mechanical semaphore arm (the “Down Starter”) on the other side also on a wooden post, and we hope to be able to show visitors and school pupils visiting how the technology of signalling trains progressed during the last century.

North Weald signal 101 (Up loop, down starter) now installed

You can’t help but notice one of the recent changes to North Weald station, from the lifting in of the main span of the latticework footbridge! This replaces the original concrete one (which had become unsafe), and was rescued from Woodford further down the Central line by ORPS several years ago. It is an original 1880’s Great Eastern Railway example and, having been completely shot-blasted and painted, nicely frames the end of the station and compliments the restoration works. A similar design still exists at Epping, though is largely hidden by a latter concrete example. The stairs leading up to the bridge need extensive remanufacturing and this expensive work is scheduled to be undertaken after the line is once again running passenger trains, but lifting in the main span is another step towards tidying the front turning circle as we work to get this area ready for passengers and heritage bus services. EOR are very grateful to ORPS for donating the bridge for preservation on the line.

The main span of the GER latticwork bridge being lifted into position at North Weald

The crane gently lowers the span into its final position, to once again cross the tracks of the former Great Eastern Railway

The work reported previously on the BR Brake Second Open coach is continuing, with the floor pan now welded into place and windows replaced with ones recovered from another coach before we look towards fitting the new lino (in a period colour) and re-fitting of the seats in the coming weeks.

The Works & Way gang have been busy at Ongar, and as well as continuing work on Ongar signalbox, have been restoring the original gate between the main platform and the milk dock. This is a remarkable survivor (though having said that, there are some rotten pieces to replace!), the missing matching side gate will be made to help us authentically restore the platform to its original look. The gates will be useful to close off the Milk & Cattle Docks platforms when not in use, for example on low season days when we only need to use one platform. Initially this gate will be kept closed as these platforms will be restored, resurfaced and brought into use after we have opened to allow us to concentrate on getting the line welcoming passengers as soon as we can.

Restoration work in progress on the original platform gates at Ongar

Once the weather gets too inclement for outside working, the plan is for the team to turn their attentions to putting the finishing touches to the museum and educational display area within the former Parcel’s Office within Ongar Station. We are appealing for ANYONE with memories of the branch, or railways in the local area, to get in touch as we are keen to record these for future generations. This appeal is not just for people who used to work on the line, but also those who used to use the line, whether that was commuting to work, waiting for a loved one to return or if your business relied on the rail freight and collected or made deliveries to the goods yards.

We would especially be delighted to copy any pictures video or display railway related items both from the early days right up to 1994 so visitors can get a real feel of our rich local transport heritage as they await their heritage train to arrive and take them on a trip through our beautiful countryside. We have also started to strengthen links with Ongar Millennium History Society to help us document and archive the history. Please get in touch with Simon (01277 365200) or Nick Whelan (nickw@eorailway.co.uk) if you are able to assist.

The weekday teams have been busy continuing the restoration of the Ongar signalbox, with the rear window being re-hung, to aid token exchanges with trains leaving from (bay) Platform 2, the window has had its undercoat and about to have its gloss paint. The window frames on the rest of the signalbox have also been receiving attention, and are being painted white as advised to us by the Great Eastern Railway Society, to be in keeping with ensuring an authentic Great Eastern decoration of the signalbox.

Meanwhile downstairs in the signalbox, the lever frame has arrived and had its levers removed to aid with its jacking up through the operating floor. In the next few weeks, each lever will be carefully sanded back, so we have a smooth, rust-free surface to paint. The levers will also be re-arranged so that the long ones (for manually worked items such as semaphore signals) and short handles (for electrically operated items such as point machines and colour light signals) are in the right order for the new layout. The signalling teams have also been busy at North Weald, working on continuing the installation of the mechanical items required before the weather deteriorates. More on the signalling of both Ongar and North Weald is on our signalling pages.

Steve C works on adjusting the spindle for one of North Weald's heritage semaphore signals

The “works & way” gang have also been busy at North Weald, both continuing the final phases of the stations restoration, and working on the platforms. The building is really coming together with its 1940-1960 colour scheme showing off the building, the teams have recently completed the restoration of a former Liverpool Street ticket rack, which included taking it down to its individual parts for these to be cleaned and painted. While the weather has been dry, progress has been made on protecting and treating the platform fencing, with many jokes being made likening it to the former task of painting the Forth Rail bridge!!

Three of the Tue "Works & way" Gang preserving the fencing up the DDA access ramp onto North Weald's Up platform

In addition the volunteers of the buildings gang are also working on the Porters Room, previously this had rather a make-shift tea making area following its initial restoration, and the volunteers have turned their attentions to putting in a more substantial worktop, shelves and facility here, for this most important of areas! After all, where would a railway be, without decent tea making and staff facilities!?!

John & Bob working inside the Porter's Room at Ongar, improving the staff rest room facilities

Work has been continuing on our heritage rolling stock, with the Brake Second Open being the focus of many hours of hard work by the teams. This vacuum fitted vehicle will run with steam engines, and so is an important element towards once again getting steam hauled trains on the line. The work has expanded from the original scope as it was found that the floor pan had corroded at the edges from where the windows leaked and let the rain in, and so will need some reinforcing pieces added before new lino is fitted.

Inside the Brake Second Open, demonstrating the level of work that is going into this coach, all the seats and floor has been removed to enable the floor pan to be worked on, as well as replacing windows and plywood panelling.

The windows are in the process of being replaced, some of these double glazed units had leaked so much they had come to resemble fish-tanks they were so full of water!! The underframe of the BSO has also been getting attention, with parts of the brake rigging being freed off and oiled up, to make the all-important handbrake operational and, hopefully, a smooth runner when the coach is in traffic.

The guards doors on both sides had had their hinges re-seated and the internal doors have been freed off and fettled so they open and close smoothly. Next the teams will be working on the other external (slam) doors, ensuring these work faultlessly and that the door locks operate correctly and safely.

Teams have also been working on the Thumper (205205), the faulty contactors have been re-wound and are now operational, enabling the unit to once again be started up. Investigation are continuing into the power problem. The overload relay [OR] was found to be permanently energized. The cause is yet to be determined, as the fault helpfully went away after lunch! The current limit relay [CLR] coil is suspected to be open circuit. The voltage regulator motor is running all the time. The voltage raise relay [VRR] is also permanently energized…. investigations and fault finding continues!

Meanwhile the outside of the unit has not been forgotten, and Paul and the Wednesday gang have been working hard on the seemingly never ending task of scraping off the many layers of roof coating. This comes off both in satisfying big flakes (some as big as a dinner plate!) and very frustrating, hard to lift, small fingernail sized pieces, but we are keen to ensure that the roof is given a proper re-coating before the winter, so that it keeps it water-tight and smart when it is put back into service. The teams have also been doing some routine maintenance on the other coaches, for example cleaning gutters and working on ensuring that these drain away, to prevent water building up and getting into the rolling stock and damaging the interiors.

Work is continuing on the 117 Diesel Multiple Unit, with the new interior panels being treated, and parts of the trim being re-placed. The seats were removed some months ago to assist with the restoration, and the opportunity it being taken for the seat frames to be cleaned up, and given a fresh coat of authentic BR “Middle Brown”, prior to being re-fitted and topped off with re-upholstered seats in authentic BR pattern moquette.

Meanwhile, less glamorous (!?!) but just as important, Nick is continuing with maintaining the competency database, new volunteer inductions and mentoring, ensuring that new faces to the friendly teams are given a basic safety induction and know their way around, introduced to the team leaders, and settle in with whichever teams they fancy like helping out with. Also recently all our team leaders have been going for First Aid refresher courses, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Lineside Rail for providing this. We have a close working relationship with Lineside Rail as they come down and use our railway for teaching and examining staff that work on Network Rail, in turn assisting our track teams as we work to maintain and improve the track ready for once again running passenger trains (also see the recent news item regarding the arrival of the Tamper-liner, which includes links to EOR’s TV Channel).

Firstly we must give our apologies for the delay between updates, it is very exciting and rewarding to be around the railway, seeing so many projects going forward and with progress happening amongst all the teams. It is a special feeling to be involved with something “from the early days” and am sure that in years to come many of our volunteers will reflect on these times, and hopefully if we get the restoration correct, many of our visitors may even initially assume it has always been “like this” and not realise the many hours of hard work required to restore the railway.

The trackwork that was being laid during the last report has now been bolted together, levelled and ballasted, and the track teams moved their attention to the North Weald area so the track was ready for the Open Day.

Members of the Track-work gang stop for a moment to enjoy a well earned cuppa; (from L to R) Steve, Anne Marie, Chris, Phil, Michael, Steve

In the next few weeks we will be looking towards seeing our Tamper arrive on the line, and then undertaking sleeper changing and tamping of the line, so the rails are level and true, and give a comfortable ride to our passengers. The engineering team has worked hard on the Dogfish ballast hopper, so the doors operate smoothly so we have complete control over how much ballast is dropped. The lineside vegetation teams have been out, trimming back some of this year’s new growth, low hanging branches beside the track and also over the coming months will be opening up sections of the line for safety and to provide a range of wildlife habitats.

Sean & Marco, sitting under a tree... cutting it down as part of our lineside vegetation management

The coach restoration teams meet on Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays, and I am delighted to announce a new team now meeting on Wednesdays. EOR is committed to providing work parties to suit all shift patterns or availability, as we work to ensure there are people of all ages and backgrounds helping out. Work has nearly been completed on the Mk1 Compartment Composite, and the groups are now focusing on the Mk1 Standard Open and Mk2a Brake Second Open, as well as completing the 117 DMU. We have been seeking quotes from a number of companies for recovering the seats and are about to place an order to get these done in time. All the coaches we are restoring are part of “Phase 1”, to ensure that at opening we have a set of coaches for the steamer and a set for the diesel engines (the latter will include the 3CIG coaches).

Eddie fixes a loose door trim in the BR Mk1 Compartment Composite

Routine maintenance has been occurring on the Class 37 diesel (D6729), with the teams completing its B Exam, it is “in traffic” and performed faultlessly for the Open Day. The Sunday Locomotive team are turning their attentions to the last few outstanding items on the 03, and it is in near “show-room condition”…. One of the items we are still awaiting is repairs to the wear-worn and torn driver’s seat cushions as we are missing someone who can wield a needle and thread… anyone out there willing to help?!? 

The Building Restoration gang have been hard at work, and did a great job at preparing North Weald for the Open Day, and in the weeks since working hard on the station as it gets closer to being finished. The GER ticket rack donated fromNorth Woolwichis currently being painstakingly stripped down and many layers of paint have also been removed from the original GER fireplaces, bringing out the original detail and also uncovering the original slate sides which will be oiled so they are returned to their former glory. The team were delighted to be donated an original GER parcels label cupboard rescued from Blake Hall, and have restored this and it will be installed in North Weald, as the stations were identical and so people can enjoy it within a fitting setting.

The gang have been working hand in hand with the signals department on the Ongar signalbox, and thanks to the efforts of the team the ‘box is really coming together. The teams have been doing a marvellous job on making GER pattern windows to replace the two that were missing at the west end of the box. While at Spellbrook the box had a second door added in connection with the level crossing, and all evidence of this is now gone, and the box is back to its original GER layout, as the original Ongar box would have looked.

Thursday Buildings Restoration Gang volunteers working on restoring the windows on Ongar Signalbox

The team have also been continuing work on restoring the former Chitt’s Hill level crossing gates at North Weald, and platform furniture at both stations. This has included preparing and painting the lamp-posts in authentic period colours. In particular at Ongar we have been careful to site these and the flower beds using original photographs, so the station is true to the original. At the entrance to Station Approach the Ruston shunter is undergoing something of a transformation by the engineering team. It will be a static exhibit which will be a centre-piece within the Picnic and Play area at the station, this area also offering grandstand views of the engines shunting around their coaches.

The signals team have also been busy, getting North Weald signalbox ready for the Open Day, as well as continuing the work on installing the signalling. Many hours of hard work over the winter freeing off and restoring LNER and BR (E) shunting signals has paid off, with these now installed and adding to the period charm of the lineside areas. The team are ensuring that the majority of signals within the station area are mechanical, and so in keeping with the period of the station and adding to the exciting of the train leaving when the signalman pulls on his lever, the red arm raises to give the “all clear” for the train to depart. The team have close links with colleagues on other railways and doing some swaps of equipment, and thanks to the help of the Great Central Railway, have now got quite a few of the essential electro-mechanical items needed for Ongar’s signalling. They need quite a bit of restoration work, which team members will be doing at the railway and in their garages and garden sheds over the coming months, another job were the more people helping, the sooner the items will be working and we can get passenger trains running.

If you like the sounds of helping out within any of our friendly teams above, then please visit the How You Can Help page. You don’t need to have any previous experience, as we can teach you the skills or methods, and you can be assured of a welcoming and rewarding volunteering experience.

Its been a busy few weeks on EOR, with progress both highly visible, as well as on some of the “behind the scenes” projects.

Those passing down the High Street at Ongar, cannot fail to have noticed the recent track-laying activity at the buffer stop end of the site. The cranes and plant have been busy laying in the points which form the “run-round” loop, which enables a locomotive to go round the side of the coaches in the platform, so it can re-attach and form the next departure.

Crane lifting in the first section of pointwork at Ongar's buffer stop end

The operations were assisted by 03170 and Macaw, the former has been the subject of restoration works by the Sunday gang, who have spent many weekends working on niggly faults and also restoring the exterior, which is really shining and is testament to the groups hard work and painstaking attention to detail.

03170, freshly repainted into BR Blue, assisted by shunting the pointwork for the crane to lift in...

The track work very closely resembles that of the original, which was in place from 1865 until LT stopped running locomotive hauled trains and is really coming together as can be seen by the accompanying pictures:

Ongar's Buffer stop area in 1938 (Pic: London Transport Museum)

Trackwork taking shape at Ongar (June 2011)

Meanwhile up at North Weald, the station restoration team are working hard at the decoration of the station and the carriages gangs (both weekdays and weekends) have been working hard on the DMU as well as the Compartment Composite and Standard Open coaches, which we hope will be presentable by the Open Day on 3^rd July.

Complete re-panelling and window fixing inside the 117 DMU is nearly completed, with many panels now varnished (Picture: Andrew Cook)

To assist with the carriage restoration, a team from Iondale (www.iondalegroup.com) have kindly came forward as part of their Community Involvement program.

The Team from Iondale, helping restore our 1950's coaches. From left to right; Alex Jupp, Jason King, Claire Kirk, Kay Jupp, Steve Jupp, From EOR; Eddie, Simon, Sue, James and Anne-Marie. Not pictured, but also helping were Callum Jupp, Ashley Barber and Olamide Jagun

The team worked really hard last Sunday and made excellent progress on the BR Mark 1 Compartment coach, and are looking forward to their next visit, which will also be helping us prepare for the Open Day (3rd July), helping us get North Weald station ready to once again welcome the public for the first time in several years.

EOR would like to take this opportunity to publically thank the team at Iondale for coming forward on their day off and their hard work, help and assistance. We hope to be working more with Iondale in future months as we head towards the railway’s grand re-opening with steam and diesel engines.