Epping Ongar Railway

The on-going infrastructure works at EOR have been progressing well with the good weather, and an important milestone was reached this week, with the reconnection of the tracks through Ongar’s main platform and run-round loop….

Then - F5 2-4-2t 67193 at Ongar on 28th April 1956 (Picture by Kelley)

The same view at Ongar now, just moments after the last rail on the main line was lifted into place...

The team have worked hard to ensure that the layout in this part of the station closely resembles the original, both so it is an authentic restoration and as this layout best serves the anticipated present and future requirements of the railway.

The pway team will now be attending to these tracks, replacing any life expired sleepers, attending to fishplates, chairs and keys before ”jacking and packing” (carefully putting stone chipping under any low sleepers) to ensure the rails are even and level, before ballast is distributed over the track-bed formation in the coming weeks to hold it into place and ensure even drainage. The tracks will then be ready for many more years of trains running over them…

Epping Ongar Railway are pleased to announce the arrival of former BR Class 31 locomotive 31438 on the line.

This English Electric built 1,470 hp engine is a welcome addition to the home fleet as it is fitted with both air and vacuum train brakes and is the first locomotive to arrive at the Epping Ongar Railway with electric train supply. This provides the coaches with an electrical supply to power heating and lighting during the winter and (as fitted to our newer coaches) operate air conditioning or buffet car systems.

31438 arriving by road through North Weald village

Our locomotive 31438 (originally numbered D5557) was delivered new on 15^th October 1959 to Ipswich depot, was moved north in 1984, finally being withdrawn in September 1995 from Carlisle.

31438 takes its first steps onto EOR metals

Class 31 locomotives were regular performers on secondary line and freight duties around the East Anglia area, with the first of the class being allocated to nearby Stratford Depot making it rather appropriate that one should now be based on the line.

Thanks to the dedicated work of her former owner, she is in full working order and has proved herself to be a regular and reliable performer. The volunteer team at Epping Ongar now look forward to refreshing the exterior retaining the BR Blue colour scheme.

Video of its first start at EOR is now uploaded on EOR TV:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dINcS7umpK4

As the Epping Ongar Railway looks forward towards the recommencement of passenger services the railway has recognised the need to strengthen the leadership and coordination of the teams working on key parts of the restoration.

The drive towards re-opening has taken another step forward today with the appointment of Chris Marsack as the railway’s Chief Maintenance Officer.

Chris will be leading the infrastructure improvements, including the track, signals and rolling stock restoration and maintenance. These are all essential elements to enable us to operate steam and diesel hauled trains and to push towards once again running services to Epping.

Simon Hanney, General Manager, comments: “Chris has been a volunteer on the railway for the last 4 years and brings with him 28 years of mainline and metro railway operations and construction expertise. I am delighted to welcome his complimentary skills and look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with him, as we look towards the exciting reinstatement of passenger services on the branch.”

Epping Ongar Railway is appealing for people to share their memories, stories, photos and video as it looks to create a railway museum.

The archives team are keen to expand our collection of photos, voice recordings, video (including cine footage) and both donated or loaned artefacts to display to visitors to give an idea of what it was like to ride and work on the railway in our area.

F5 67200 Arrives at Epping, just one of the pictures donated to EOR for use in its museum displays. Pic: Covey Crump 9th Nov 1957

EOR general manager Simon Hanney said: “We’re really keen that the museum at the railway has a wider scope than just the Epping Ongar branch and incorporates memories, artefacts and items linked to the railway histories of Chelmsford, Brentwood and surroundings, especially as all the crews were based at the Stratford depot.”

Electric stock in use on the branch shortly before closure, did you work on units such as these or other first generation electric units on the Chelmsford and Brentwood main lines?

It is hoped that the museum will also include interactive audio recordings, which are being compiled by the volunteer archives team, using specialist equipment recently purchased by the railway. It is hoped that the museum display within the Grade II listed Ongar station building will appeal to all ages, and be especially beneficial for school visits, as the railway can provide an educational resource for local schools.

If you are able to assist, whether through offering your memories or volunteering in the museum team, please contact Nick on nickw@eorailway.co.uk

BR Class 25 D7523 arrived at the railway today, and will be immediatly pressed into service with operation of engineering and ballast trains, as well as maintenance and testing the vacuum braked coaches.

D7523 takes its first steps on EOR metals...

D7523 leaves the pad and takes the main line, heading towards Epping

Driver's view of the line ahead from the Cl25, between North Weald and Coopersale

Another step towards the reinstatment of passenger services has been made, when operational tamper-liner 73241 arrived at EOR.

Tamper-lIner 73241 prepares to arrive at EOR (Photo Owen Hayward)

Tamper-liner machines are very common on the national network and are used on many other heritage lines, as they both correct the top line of the rail & sleepers (taking out any dips or bumps), and also can straighten the rail, so removing kinks running along the rail. The machine will prove invaluable to the trackwork teams, ensuring our passengers have a smooth and safe ride, saving many hours of hard work and helping the team focus on the other tasks required towards getting the line ready for steam and diesel hauled passenger trains.

To see the machine at work, please view the video on EOR TV.

In addition, there is a video of the tamper being delivered here.

Epping Ongar Railway’s diesel fleet is being further enhanced with the forthcoming arrival of British Railways Class 25 No D7523 .

The locomotive will be leaving its current home at the West Somerset Railway in early September 2011 for a new home at the 6.5 mile Epping Ongar Heritage Railway.  The Class 25 has been based at Williton Diesel Depot in the care of the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group for the last 15 years and she has been enjoyed by thousands of visitors and staff over the years.

BR Class 25 D7523 on an engineers train at the West Somerset Railway waiting to leave Williton for Minehead on the morning of 21.08.11

The WSR are sad to see this Type 2 former British Railways mainline diesel-electric locomotive depart for pastures new, as she has proved a useful and reliable member of the West Somerset Railway diesel locomotive fleet.  However WSR have wished her well at her new home where they know her new carers will find her a very useful asset for their developing Heritage Railway as it heads towards once again running steam and diesel hauled trains.

As a way of saying a fond farewell to D7523 from the West Somerset Railway the locomotive rosters for Sunday 4th September (Late Summer Weekend) have been amended, please see the WSR website for details and fares.