Epping Ongar Railway

Following the efforts of Brian our signwriter and our Works & Way team, the platform at Ongar is starting to come together. One very visual element is the unique “running in” nameboard which graced the platform from 1865….

Ongar's original "running in" board, back in the 1920's (Fred Spalding, Essex Records Office)

Ongar's replica "running in" board, about to receive finishing wood trim before being painted into GER colours (note due to coaches in the platform, we couldn't quite get the same angle)

Tomorrow the finishing trim will be fitted, before being painted into authentic GER colours. Our thanks to Michael and the GERS for their help with providing the dimensions of the original… which is at the National Railway Museum. We hope to be putting some lamp-tops onto the posts, asphalt on the platform and flowers in the flower-beds to complete the scene in the next few work parties…

Timetables and Tickets for the resumption of passenger services special weekend 25-27th May are now onsale.

Regular readers will be aware that the Carriage & Wagon team have been working hard on restoring the British Railway Mark 2 “Brake Second Open”. This has included restoration of the passenger saloon, as well as guard’s compartment and luggage area.

On arrival the floor pan had rusted, and required removal and cleaning of all the seats, replacement of many leaking windows, resealing windows to remove bodyside leaks, repairs to the floor pan, additional/topping up insulation, repanelling the insides, varnishing and painting fittings before laying in a new floor.

BR Mk 2 Passenger Saloon - Back in August 2011, being stripped down for repairs...

The same coach today - new lino is being laid in the next few days before the seats go in ready for passengers.... (picture Richard Savill)

All this progress is thanks to the hard work of the volunteers who are working hard to get the branch ready to once again welcome passengers. You can book your ticket to travel right now… http://eorailway.co.uk/your-visit/booking-online/ and get a discount for booking online.

Firstly our apologies for the delay since the last update. Things have been rather manic on the railway lately, and with so much going on as we look towards once again running passenger services, it is sometimes difficult to find a quiet moment to sit down and write an update!

The team were delighted to see the scaffold come down from around the signalbox at Ongar, the top half is now looking grand in GER colours. The volunteer team are pictured working on the balcony today, next week they will start on the stairs, which is one of the last jobs for the Works & Way team to complete on this project.

The Works and Way team continue to progress the Ongar signalbox, building the balcony and handrail.

Meanwhile inside the signalling team have not delayed, and have been fitting up the original catch-handles and starting work on the operating and safety interlocking mechanisms.

Ongar lever frame, now complete with catch handles, note the access doors into the floor have been lifted and temporarily placed against the levers ready for the interlocking to be fitted

The very same lever frame, as it was originally in Ongar signalbox back in the 1950's

The carriage and wagon teams have been continuing their work on the Mk2a Brake Second Open, a new and more convenient method has been developed by Richard to seal the troublesome leaking windows. This new technique also means that the windows stay held in the body, so making the job safer, less manual handling and quicker and you end up with a better sealed window – winners all round! Next job is installing the floor, then the seats will go back in as we ready it for service.

The locomotive department has been busy, undertaking routine maintenance and safety system checking on the Class 31 (31438), and also doing test runs with the Thumper (205205). The two 03’s are in regular use shunting the rolling stock for the track and carriage teams.

The track teams (of course, without whom there is no rails to run on), have been concentrating on doing some vegetation management, which helps clear a good view of the way ahead, reduce the leaf contamination (which in turn affects braking) and also opens up the ground to provide a habitat for a wider range of wildlife, including ground nesting birds, badgers, foxes, rabbits and deer – all of which we regularly see along the line. In particular over the last few weeks the teams have been working with the signalling department to open up the signal sighting, so that as the driver approaches a signal, they have the maximum possible view of the signal, helping ensure the driver can safely obey the signal without jolting the passengers on the train.

The apprentices (see previous posting and news sections), have been busy getting to grips with maintaining the tracks, putting into practice the theory they learn in the classrooms, and learning the techniques which will enable them to maintain our country’s railway system, both on LUL and Network Rail. The teams have been out changing sleepers, adjusting dips in the rail alignment and checking rail fixings.

One of the “behind the scenes”, but non-the-less important tasks being worked on is the telecoms system. This is being improved to better meet the demands of a heritage railway, both so our customers can get the information they need, and also so our staff can contact each other. We are very grateful to Eddie who heads up this important area, and indeed are glad that we are able to reuse the equipment, so avoiding it going to landfill.

Behind the scenes, but non-the-less important... Eddie works tirelessly to ensure the phones keep ringing!!

Meanwhile the scaffold has been erected around the Station House at Ongar, which enables the team to safely access the gutters and soffits which are long overdue a clean and repaint. We hope this will be completed in the next few weeks, so the station is clean and smart ready for us to once again welcome passengers.

While the Mk2a BSO and “to be scrapped”  Mk2 FK coaches were in platform 1 at North Weald, the opportunity was taken to do some work on these coaches as they were not always accessible beside a platform. This was done on Thursday 23rd February. Geoff Walker and Stewart Carter cut and shaped new wooden treads for the exterior part of the passenger doors. The old treads were rotten and had to be removed. Some of the treads are temporarily secured to the brackets by screws through the screw holes but also require coach bolts to properly fix the treads.

Keith continues the restoration works in the vestibule ends of the Mk2a BSO

Meanwhile on Sunday work on the Mk2a BSO included making up the interior panel on the passenger door, Epping end, nearest Platform 1. This is still in progress. Also the opposite door had the little, but VERY essential “condensation” drain pipes refitted which carry water outside the coach and prevent rot developing in the body-shell – Alan P and myself carried out this work with help later from Stuart Carter who had earlier helped the P-way team.

Stewart works on restoring a door panel on the Mk2a BSO

Anne-Marie, Keith Renaut worked on the Mk1 SO. Anne-Marie painter some of the heater covers with silver hammerite. Keith assisted by sweeping around the heater areas before they were painted.

The Mk2 FK coach had more window frames removed by drilling out the rivet heads and removing the window frame complete, the coach providing vital spares prior to scrapping as it is beyond repair and restoration. The frames were then put into secure storage for future use.

The C&W guys work on removing spares from the Mk2 FK to help provide parts to restore our other coaches

Report by Eddie Veckranges

Regular readers will be aware that the volunteers at EOR are drawn from a wide age range, and we are pleased that our friendly team welcomes people of all backgrounds. This includes quite a number of younger people, who balance their work and home life, with volunteering ‘down the railway’ as a hobby. The older generation, some with previous railway experience while many others with DIY or a profession, pass on or learn new skills as we work together to get your local railway once again running steam and diesel hauled passenger trains later this year.

Being the closest heritage railway to London, the railway also offers an ideal “classroom” for those learning or furthering their professional skills, and over the last few years we have been delighted to welcome several companies who provide training to LU and Network Rail, as well as parties from the companies themselves, using the line for training or testing new equipment.

We were approached late last year by Vital Rail, who are a leading national engineering company, as they looked to increase the number of railway engineering apprentices they employ, and wanted to start a a southern location to train their apprentices. This scheme is backed by the government, and on completion provides a nationally recognised NVQ qualification. EOR was delighted to assist, as Chris Marsack, our Operations and Infrastructure Manager explains…. “EOR is pleased to welcome Vital and the apprentices to Epping Ongar Railway on this exciting project. The railway provides an ideal real-life classroom, enabling the students to learn and practice skills and the safe practices needed to advance their careers, with the added benefit that the works they undertake helps our volunteer teams as we maintain the railway.”

Vital Skills Training apprentices hard at work moving a piece of rail into place, before it is fixed down and fishplated into place

EOR has also been delighted to welcome BBC Essex down, and we were featured on the Steve Scruton program (check out our EOR TV channel via our website to listen to the program again), and we have also welcomed both local newspapers following the announcement of our two further steam locomotives coming to the branch, GWR “Pitchford Hall” and Prairie tank number 4141, see News item.

Work is continuing on the next chapter, as the branch gets ready to recommence passenger services. Sharp eyed readers will have noticed the scaffold around the Ongar signalbox, and this is to help us replace a few slates (which were lost as it was rescued from Network Rail and moved from another museum), and also enabling us to give the box a much needed redecoration.

Ongar signalbox, complete with scaffolding as the roof is re-slated and paintwork attended to...

Unfortunately the scaffold partly blocks the main line, so hindering shunting movements, so the team are working hard so it can re-emerge soon in authentic GER colours, putting back this iconic structure shown in all the original pictures. We are also working on the water tower, which will be located close to the original, and while initially will show its support legs, once we have passenger fares, we intend to complete the brickwork around the base in the same style as the original so the view from the end of the station is put back to how it originally was.

The volunteers continue to work both weekdays and weekends on the heritage coaches, as we get them smart and ready for service.

Three volunteers working on the sliding door at one end of the Mk2a BSO, carefully measuring up and checking the fit before lifting it back into position.

Our resident track maintenance tamper-liner was in action a few weeks ago (footage of this is on our EOR TV channel), this machine corrects the level (dips) and alignment (side to side movement) of the rails after years of neglect. We have been distributing some stone chippings (ballast), which helps keep the tracks in their new correct location, giving our passengers a safe and smooth ride. Of course all this work not only assists towards getting heritage trains running, but are important steps towards our future goal of once again run a service for local people to Epping.

As ever, all the latest news, updates from the work parties and even videos going behind the scenes are on this website, you can also follow us on Twitter “@eorailway” or become our friend on Facebook.

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