Following the resumption of passenger services on the 6 mile heritage railway, volunteers, staff, colleagues in the Heritage Railways Association and representatives from the National Heritage Awards gathered at the railway to unveil not one or two, but three national awards.
The awards were unveiled by
o NRHA Heritage Railway of the Year – David Allan (Ian Allen Publishing, sponsors)
o NRHA Volunteers Award – Andy Savage – (NRHA Judge and Executive Director of Railway Heritage Trust)
o HRA Award (Large Groups) – David Morgan (HRA Chairman)

David Allan (Ian Allan Publishing), David Morgan (HRA Chairman) and Andy Savage (NRHA) beside the awards (Picture Roy Strutt)
Following the unveiling, Roger Wright, Managing Director of Epping Ongar Railway said:
“Epping Ongar Railway is overwhelmed to have received these prestigious awards during our first operating season and it is most gratifying for our volunteers and staff to see their hard work and dedication rewarded. I would like ot thank the panles of judges for recognising the massive efforts made by those teams in transforming a closed down, abandoned railway into one we see today. This really is a proud moment and a huge honour and we look forward to building on these successes during 2013 and beyond.”
Simon Hanney, General Manager added,
“The railway and the teams have come a long way, even standing here 18 months ago this whole area resembled more a building site than a heritage railway, and we owe so much to those who continue to work so hard on the project. I am delighted that the awards have acknowledged the achievements of all involved that we have taken the first step towards recreating an authentic Great Eastern and LNER branchline for Essex. While there are many challenges ahead, I hope we will continue to work towards our long term goal for our trains to once again connect at Epping, benefitting both visitors and the local communities.”
David McAdams, Chairman of Epping Ongar Railway Volunteers Society said,
“It was a wonderful result, being selected to win three awards in our opening year, and is very satisfying to all the many volunteers who have given hours of their time, to not only having reopened this heritage railway, but to have reached such a high standard of authenticity. We still have much to accomplish, and these awards will strengthen our determination to continue to make this railway an outstanding example, of what can be attained.”