EOR big steam up weekend 25-27th August.

Edit: Not sure why i put Sept, meant August. I've changed the title to August but for some reason the forum still displays it as Sept....

It has been asked elsewhere but has anyone got any news on this event at all?

With only 4 days to go there doesn't seem to be any indication of what's really happening, no timetable nor any news of anything visiting which makes it rather difficult to plan visiting, specially as a lot of people will use the trains and heritage bus to get to the railway. The only info there is is that it will be a mixed traffic gala with steam and diesel, banking and doubleheading may occur and it hints there may be something visiting.

I did email the railway but as of yet have not received a response.

Cheers,

 

I'll stop myself short of a rant, but how often do we hear pleas from preserved railways saying that they don't have enough money to fund project x, y and z? It's bordering on hypocritical when they not only fail to advertise events, but fail to reply to the relatively simple enquiries of potential visitors. Yes, it's volunteer labour, but it's still a business.

(Not aimed solely at the EOR, but it came up in conversation in the pub a few days ago and this seems as good a time as any to say it!).

 

In the absence of further info I'll not be going...............

 

Cheers Pete.

I understand people have also asked on the facebook account for EOR & twitter. But no response from anything.

 

I have had a reply from my email.

'Kieran,
Apologies for delay but a couple of 'teething' problems have prevented us finalising full details.

Hopefully be on the web-sit in next couple of days.
Regards,
Nick'

Whilst it's nice to have a reply, saying it will 'hopefully' be on in the next couple of days doesn't help anyone. It still adds doubt as to whether it will be put on the website and if that means wednesday or thursday, what use is the info to people who like to plan things in advance?

 

Pretty much 24 hours since i responded to the email minutes after i received it and no reply nor any update anywhere. Their twitter & facebook have also gone unreplied aswell. I really don't understand the point of having all these methods of communication if no one is using them at least a couple of times a day.

I sent a lengthy email and can't see why they are so against keeping in contact with PAYING customers.... i know they are new to this but it's not leaving a good impression in my books. Both tiny and large railways have got back to me usually the same day or within a 12 hour period, why can't they manage it?

Waiting till wednesday/thursday to announce even the basic details of your event a couple of days later is not really on.

 

Details finally released (though my email still not replied to) and i admit i'm extremely disappointed. Apart from Victory offering cab rides for £5, there is nothing really extra railway wise other than 4953 operating the full route.

Other than Victory, the same consists will be used from my visit in July. No freight and no visiting locomotives as hinted on the blank timetable page.

I realise the issues with 4141 & Isabel can't be helped but from a customers point of view, we were kept waiting for details of an event that's more or less turned out to be a normal operating day yet titled 'big steam up'.

There wasn't even an apology on the website for keeping it so late to announce any details.

Epping Ongar Railway – News

 

Epping Ongar Railway – News

Firstly my apologies that the details for this Aug Bank Holiday weekend have been slow in coming forward. As many readers will have deduced, we have been sent a few "curved balls"; shortage of signalling wire, locomotives being promised then not being available, and the odd last min mechanical and electrical defect. We have a responsibility to run a safe railway, which is always fore-front in our minds.

I am not comfortable putting out "provisional" timetables, as it runs the risk of people arriving for trains which perhaps don't run. Therefore we held off until we could publish what we had good confidence we would run (given the rapidly changing situation). Obviously the name of the event was chosen months in advance, and we couldn't have predicted how things would change, ALL of these circumstances have been outside of our control, and should not take away from the MANY hours of hard work that goes into the railway. We adjusted the fares to take into account the reduced offering before they were released online, so no-one is any worse off.

We also have to remember that in addition to enthusiasts who do keep up with developments, members of the general public may only take the first details/timetable available and not check back for updates.

Our freight wagons have not yet been restored, and we would be pleased to welcome more volunteers to our C&W team. As with every heritage railway, its the hardworking volunteers who make things happen. With more volunteers, we can look towards having these (and brake van rides etc etc) in future years, they are all here, just waiting for hands to restore them.
I tried to get some traction engines, but despite much effort, it seems they are all heading off towards the Dorset Steam Fair or are not available, reinforcing my earlier point about being keen not to announce until everything had been confirmed.

I am unsure what address your correspondence was sent to, and will speak to the volunteer who answers the general enquiries email. We do try and answer all communication promptly, despite it being a very small team and we don't have the ranks of backroom staff that some other railways have access to.

Please accept my apologies if the day is now not to your tastes, and I hope you will consider visiting the railway at a future time. We have a number of exciting dates lined up, our 1940's day on 9th Sept in conjunction with the airfield will see several re-enactment groups attending, and planes flying overhead, we have a Railwalk Sunday on the 16th Sept. Details are on our website.

We also will be taking on-board the learning points and suggestions as we look towards events for next year, and before comparing us with other 6 mile railways, please remember that we are only in the first few months of operation, we haven't had the many years to develop a tried & tested formula, hopefully with everyone's support we can ensure that from little acorns....

Thanks & Regards, Simon, GM, EOR

 

We went to EOR railway for I think the 5th time yesterday and to be honest i was disppointed that the advertised steam trains through the newly reopned line towards Epping were in fact diesel.
Also the driver of Pitchford Hall on the 11.10, 12.10 and 3.10 put in a totally lack lustre performance compared with previous trips on earlier visits. On my first trip to the EOR I was pleasantly surprised at the enthusiastic driving (not speeding I hasten to add) but yesterday was pathetic (as also commented by other passengers) combined with the non steam towards Epping left me wishing I had spent my £50 elsewhere.
May I suggest that if you advertise you must deliver or at least give a reason as to why not..

Stan

 

Let's be grateful we have someone from EOR willing to post here regularly, and in this case has answered some criticism.

Can I suggest (as the forums aim is to help preservation, not bash those who put heads above parapets), that any criticism or complaint is accompanied with a positive suggestion on how they can improve and learn from someone else's experience ?..
After all this was the lines first gala, maybe some on here with experience or willing enthusiasm and some phone numbers could see this as an oppourtunity to jump in and help them organise the next one ?

 

I agree whole heartedly but as I am sure you can understand I was dissapointed that the advertised full line trips were not running with steam when we were there Sunday and the steam running was less enjoyable than the diesel hauled trips due to fact it was so incredibly slow on all 3 trips (on the last we ran out of steam and ground to a halt before Blake Hall with low water)

Comments and criticism can be used constructively and lessons learnt for future events. Without doubt the EOR is the best thing thats happened around here and that is exactly why I support the railway by travelling when ever I can.
As I have said on a previous post if you advertise soemthing you must either deliver or offer an explanation why not. I was not the only person on board who was disappointed that the the advertised through steam trains did not run.

Stan