Epping Ongar Railway

It has been another busy few weeks at EOR, and I am glad to be reporting progress on many important areas towards us once again running steam and diesel passenger services. 

The station restoration team have been continuing work on the Grade II listed station at Ongar. This has seen the culmination of 12 months work with last of the rooms being transformed into GER colours. This particular room is being fitted to be the “Meeting & Training Room”, and so will provide space for both meetings, an area to host guests, displays and presentations as well as somewhere we can use for mutual improvement classes to train our staff.

The floor in the Museum & Display area is also seeing its final coats, the display cases being investigated and benches for the general waiting room and ladies waiting room have been carefully dismantled, sanded, primed and top-coated over the last few weeks. Both benches now look excellent, and very fitting in Great Eastern brown.

Our appeal to make GER benches for our platforms (with replica cast iron ends) has been successful, with enough monies donated for three benches. Our thanks to all those who donated, and we are shortly going to the foundry to get the ends. The priming and fitting the wood, will be a nice “inside” task for the wetter work days!

Our carriage team are also continuing progress on the 117 DMU, which is now being fitted out with new plywood panels. These are being varnished, to replicate how the Ongar end of the unit used to look when first built for BR. This work requires a keen eye, a steady hand on the saw, and also a little mathematical thought to get the most out of the materials! Work is also continuing on the two Mk2a TSO’s at Ongar, and I am pleased to report that work has also started on two of the vacuum braked coaches currently stored at North Weald as we get these ready for passengers.

The loco and engineering departments have also been busy, with the Ruston cab starting to come together. After many painstaking hours of preparing the insides, carefully working around the loco control handles, removing the many old layers of paint, the hard work really pays off with the first coat of primer transforming the cab into a fresh and welcoming interior. Over the coming weeks, we are looking forward to seeing this loco’s restoration completed.

Maintenance tasks continue, even though the railway is not running passenger trains, and there are jobs being completed on 03170, D6729 (37029) and the Thumper (205205). In addition brake tests have been completed on the two Mk2 FO’s, as our team work through basic inspections and maintenance of all our coaches to ready them for passenger service.

The Pway team have been continuing through the wintry weather, and have been working on levelling the track alignment on the approaches to Blake Hall. Meanwhile track laying at Ongar has continued, and as reported on the news page, the double slip has now been assembled and positioned. This space-saving item enables us to get trains into Platform 1 & 2 (formally goods platforms), as well as have a headshunt to enable “shunt & release” operations for loco hauled stock arriving into these platforms. Work is continuing this week to get the tracks, run-round and loco shed re-connected to the main line.

Douple Slip now completed at Ongar, with tracks being laid into the rest of the throat

As part of the crane operations, the former Spelbrook signalbox has been lifted onto its intended foundation, and while it still needs to have its legs fabricated and attached, it starts to give a flavour of how the original used to look, and which we will reinstate in the coming weeks. The signals team have also been busy, with work continuing at North Weald on fitting out of the signalbox, the repeater circuits and indications. A momentous occasion was when the key section staff from North Weald to the boundary at Epping was commissioned, and is now operational. The first time the branch has had two separate operating sections since 1976, allowing a train to run in each section.

View from end of main platform at Ongar Jan 2011

View from end of main platform at Ongar June 1936 (H Casserley)

I am also delighted to report that membership of the society continues to grow, and we are also very pleased to be welcoming new faces to the team. Whether they are completely new to railways or have some previous experience, everyone is very welcome and treated equally within our friendly team.

Report compiled by Simon Hanney, GM.

Its been another busy and eventful week down Epping Ongar. Monday saw Simon attending the North Weald Parish Council meeting, as we work to strengthen the links with our local communities.

The Tuesday gang made good progress, continuing work in the Meeting & Training Room, applying undercoat to the newly plastered walls, and also continuing the restoration work on the benches which will grace our Waiting rooms.

We collected some signalling items from Network Rail later on in the week, and are very grateful to the teams for their support and assistance. A number of these items are very important as we work to advance the signalling of both North Weald and Ongar’s sites.

The Thursday gang continued work on the engineering elements, including attending to the compressor pump on the 03 and battery maintenance on our fleet. The Carriage team are continuing their work on the 117 DMU, repanelling the interior and returning it to its 1950′s condition.

During the week, we saw the first point laid at Ongar, and several panels of track positioned as we start to re-lay the new station throat (see the previous posting below), and the exciting news about the agreement to purchase the 3CIG “Lymmy Slammer” Farringford (see News page for details).

The weekend saw several teams all working towards the re-opening:
The signals team worked on various signalling tasks, part of the team installing the signal box instrument for the level crossing gate release, checking that the newly made gate release keys worked in the instrument and the locks on the gates themselves as well as starting to alter the lever bands on the signal lever controls. Another team worked in the relay room commissioning the controls for the train detection circuits, further signaller’s indications in the signal box and then wiring the control unit for the one train working system between North Weald and Epping. There is still plenty to do with the brining in to use of the signalling controls and the installing of the semaphore signals outside still outstanding.

The Track gang continued work between Ongar and Blake Hall on fixing issues with the alignment of the rails, so its a smooth and safe ride, and as we move towards needing to shunt more items between stations.

Meanwhile Bob, Rodger and Simon attended the North Weald Community Day with the railway stand on Sunday. We were delighted to be invited to this event, to both have the opportunity to inform the local community about what is happening at the railway, answer questions and encourage more local people to get involved with the friendly volunteer team down their local heritage railway.

Rodger Green & Bob Gillman with the EORVS Publicity Stand at the North Weald Community Day

Progress update at Ongar… the new station throat is starting to take shape, with the first point laid out. This will take trains to the right  towards the bay platforms or continue down the main line…

First part of Ongar's "throat" (pointwork leading into the station) starts to take shape...

Its been a busy few weeks at EOR. Work has been continuing at North Weald installing the signalling structures. These have had foundations dug, reinforcing cages made, concrete poured and then once set, the various components craned onto the foundations. This includes both the distant signals, the home signals with the routes (both bi-directional working and bay platform), and an outer home to allow us to shunt in the station while there is a train between Ongar and North Weald.

North Weald's Up Distant 4 aspect Heritage Searchlight signal

Many of these structures have been assembled and some restored over the last 2 years, and seeing them installed and standing tall is a major step forwards as we get the branch ready for passenger trains. The signalling has been designed with the 10 year Strategic Plan in mind and will be very flexible, both being able to be switched into “automatic mode” when only one shuttle train is working, but when required trains can come from either direction into both main platforms, and allow access into the new sidings and bay platform.

North Weald's Down Home Signal; allowing trains to access Up, Down and Bay platforms

It has been commented that as many of the heritage “searchlight” signals were from the Colchester area, that our “37” (D6729) which regularly worked in this area will have been signalled and recognise many of these from their former locations!

Work has been continuing at Ongar and North Weald on the coaches, with good progress being made on the 117 DMU. The Carriage group are slowly growing in number and are always got a friendly welcome for new faces. With the fitting out of the 117, plus work on the steam set still to be undertaken, there is nice variety of rewarding projects for all tastes.

Our track team have been continuing work on correcting the rail alignment, in particular focusing on a section just to the east of the former Blake Hall station. The engineering team have also been continuing the work on the Ruston, and have been installing new windows and are turning their attentions to the cab interior.

The Telecoms team have also been beavering away in the background, and had a major step forward with the exchange now up and running. The team have a forward plan, and many of the routes for the phones have been included within the general works plan, so as the railway progresses, additional extensions can be easily added for key locations.

The Stations work team have been continuing work at Ongar, and the Meeting & Training room is coming together. We have been delighted to recently be gifted the redundant stove from Farringdon Station by Network Rail, which is being restored by our team prior to installing so it can once again provide warmth inside the Ongar Porter’s Room.

The team have also been following the installing of the new railings around the front of Ongar station. These have been manufacturer by Anvil Shutters  http://www.anvilshutters.co.uk/  carefully following an original Great Eastern pattern to be in keeping with the station, enabling us to keep the site secure and prevent children straying from the Picnic area onto the busy high street.

The Great Eastern style railings during installation at Ongar. Following installing in red oxide, these are being top-coated in black

We have been delighted to welcome some new faces down the railway over the last couple of weeks, and a big thanks to all the team leaders and teams for all their hard work as we get the branch ready for steam and diesel locomotive hauled trains.

Report by Simon Hanney, General Manager.

Its been another busy week down EOR, with the Tuesday gang continuing work on the restoration of Ongar station, in particular working on the Meeting and Training room, installing picture rail as well as minor filling of the walls prior to applying undercoat.

The Thursday gang have been continuing to work on the works unit Badger, and have nearly completed the exterior restoration of the Ruston shunter. The team have now turned their attentions to the cab interior, fitting out new windows and restoring the cab ready for smartening up and repainting.

Friday saw a very upbeat social evening, including a surprise guest (see News pages for details). The Committee were delighted to welcome many old and new faces down for the event, which gave an opportunity for members of different teams to meet, learn more about what other teams are undertaking and hear about the next stages as we get the line ready for re-opening.

Saturday saw a signals gang working at North Weald, in addition to getting the operating floor ready for the inter-locking changes that need to happen to the original Saxby & Farmer frame (to take account of the slightly changed layout and add the bi-directional facility so arriving trains can use either platform), the team also worked on wiring up the indicators on the block shelf. These bulbs indicate to the signalman the state of the equipment outside, and he/she uses these to check that the point or signal has correctly responded to the position of the lever.

Sunday was another busy day, with work going on down the track, correcting rail alignment faults on the section to Ongar, and also works party at North Weald. This included sealing minor holes in the roofs of two coaches, to prevent the rain getting in and damaging the interiors. The works then moved to inside “Brake Second Open” 9479 (the first BR coach of its type to be build with air conditioning), where the interior walls were steam cleaned to freshen up the interior before the carpet is shampooed and seats restored.

Meanwhile inside the station, Phil worked under the sink in the ticket office, and has kindly sent in a photograph showing what a difference it has made:

North Weald Ticket Office Sink: Before and After

Report Compiled by Simon Hanney, General Manager

Lineside vegetation being cut back, as we get the line ready to run trains, Picture James Galbraith

The team have now got from North Weald to the M11, and the trip provided an opportunity to take a quick picture of the 03 for its first trip under the M11…

03 170 under M11 bridge on vegetation gang – proving that folding chimneys are strictly optional!!

The station restoration team has been busy at Ongar, putting the finishing touches to the Ladies Waiting room, and starting the final room to be restored, the Meeting & Training Room. The picture below shows the Ladies Waiting room, resplendent in GER colours. Only the marks in the floor give any hint to the 1980’s LT strong room previously spoiling the room, and these final marks will soon get covered over once the flooring is installed.

Ladies Waiting Room, now restored back into period GE colours

Meeting & Training Room undergoing restoration

Meanwhile outside at Ongar, we were delighted to receive delivery of the points which will form the run-round loop. Once they are craned into their final position over the Winter, these will also allow the formation of sidings to each end of the loop, further maximising the storage space for our collection of heritage rolling stock, locomotives and engineering vehicles. Only last weekend the Pway team were out up the line, attending to some alignment issues with the track, as we get the track ready for giving our passengers a smooth ride.

Points being delivered for Ongar's run-round loop

Following completion of the main lines through North Weald, work is continuing on the signals install, getting various elements ready and items in place for the next stage of the works. Last weekend, the team were working inside the signalbox both on the wiring up, and also swapping some levers, as the half-height handles indicate “power” operated items, so we needed to do some exchanges so they were in the right places. Meanwhile our electrician Keith worked inside the station, working on burying the power cables in the ticket office, as we are keen to get the station looking correct for its 1940’s- 1960’s “period” and remove the old surface ducting. Of a more “visual” aspect to the casual observer, was the removal of the original bay platform buffer stop. This was unfortunately required as the platform wouldn’t comfortably accept a 2-car shuttle unit (such as the 117 or Thumper) which would stand proud at the end of the platform and over the yard points.

The bay platform will be ideal for the Coopersale shuttle (or indeed, perhaps as part of the services operating to Epping one day?), and is another example of how the infrastructure works are both designed for the needs of EOR now and in the long term future, so the branch can be ready to run trains as soon as a new platform can be built at Epping.

Bay Buffer stop being replaced at North Weald

The hope is in the future to re-cast a new buffer stop slightly further down the platform, to an identical shape and complete with the original GE / LNER ramps that were recovered, so as to not detract from the original feel of the station.

Report Compiled by Simon Hanney, General Manager.