Epping and Ongar visit.

As most of you know, I can normally be found under a wagon, in a guards van or on a footplate at the Severn Valley, however, following a recomendation from our ops manager, I took advantage of some free time to visit the Epping and Ongar. While the Mk2 coaches may not be to the purists tasted, you can't hear them from the train! The stiff gradients make the loco work hard, the staff are friendly and the scenery is lovely, plus I recomend the selection of real ales sold from the on train bar.
Access is easy, take the tube to Epping and hop on the vintage bus, usually an RT or a route master, you can even buy your day rover from the conductor.
A repeat visit will certainly be in order for me!

 

I live about an hour away and keep meaning to go......maybe this summer. Is there much to see apart from the train ride? Can you go into the yard, for example?

 

It's a cracking line, much better than what I was expecting, hoping to go back this summer. Highly recommended from myself.

I visited on a day where Met 1 was running with two exLU coaches... sunny boiling hot summer day... perfect!

Last year trains were only running between Ongar and North Weald when I visited as the Coopersale section was having works done on it, so hope to discover more of the line next time too!

 

I didn't ask to go round the shed but you can see most of what is in the yard from the train, the scenery is nice and I recomend a trip on the vintage bus too, as it works from the Brewery in Chipping ongar to Epping station via north Weald, all included in the ticket.

 

I only live 15 minutes away and I still have yet to visit. Sometimes I wonder why I call myself a railway enthusiast...........

 

I've just noticed they also run a Vintage Bus service from Shenfield on Saturdays and Sundays.Pictures I've seen show a London Country RT in use.
Colin

 

15 minutes walk, or 15 minutes in a fast jet plane?

 

Would be worth a visit just for that.

 

I, too, visited for the first time during the half term earlier in the year. I was in London for the day and at a loose end, and although the time I had available limited what I could travel on (I rode the Thumper the whole length of the line, but couldn't fit in a trip behind the Prairie) I was really impressed.

Bearing in mind my preference is for either non-GWR pre-group standard gauge, or anything narrow gauge, and I find the blue and grey era of BR incredibly dull and depressing (probably as I remember it as being the time when so much of beauty and interest was swept away in the cause of corporate identity) I wasn't expecting to be that excited at the EOR, but I was surprised at what they have achieved - the Stations are gems, the stock was clean and well presented, everything worked, and the staff excellent and helpful. Clearly there is much that they are still working towards and I would certainly return whenever I get the opportunity - which will be soon. It is so easy to get to by public transport as well.

Oh, and the vintage bus ride from Epping (RT) was the icing on the cake - really took me back to my childhood travelling to school on them.

Many thanks

Steve B

 

I paid my third visit to the line yesterday, lovely weather with the Prairie & very smart Thumper. My shots are here: http://khardy.zenfolio.com/p1029514870

 

53 photos of a visit in July 2015 can be seen here. They include the stations and rolling stock, the preserved London Transport buses the EOR uses to connect with Epping and Shenfield stations, the two Finnish locos at Ongar and two of their preserved counterparts in Finland, an air display at North Weald by two Folland Gnats, and London Transport L11, an unusual LT electric loco not related to the EOR but preserved at Epping station.

https://andrewstransport.smugmug.co...-2015/51252729_zVGx4J#!i=4270195850&k=Q4rhRN6

Cheers

Andrew N