Epping Ongar Railway 150th Anniversary 24th-26th April

You are correct, we did transfer four schoma diesels and the cravens unit in September 2014. We have had LU tampers and other engineering vehicles stabled at that end of the line. However, until this weekend, we could not take the public right up to the connection. Over the winter, pway have dropped balast and changed many sleepers, getting it ready for passenger traffic. This weekend at the diesel gala was the first time (as far as I am aware) we have gone that far up with fare paying passengers.

I am on the engine all three days of the gala, so will hope to bump into yourself at some point!

 

Timetables are now up on the website, however no loco allocations on the timetable and no brakevan rides.

 

Timetable with loco allocations and times of goods with brake van rides, is available to download from the event page.

 

Try here:

http://eorailway.co.uk/events/150th-anniversary/

 

Thanks Stuart... I could only get it up without any loco allocations! Obviously can't work our own website

 

The Y7 turned up this morning and is now at North Weald MPD, facing Ongar.

 

For some reason the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society has been omitted from the list of stalls attending the event.

 

I've sent an email to see if we can get this corrected - apologies!

 

Should be sorted now. http://eorailway.co.uk/events/150th-anniversary/

 

Many thanks. Looking forward to a good weekend for all.

 

The Y7 has had some attention today... A deep clean and a quick repaint on the smokebox! It has a small warming fire in it tonight, and is out on test tomorrow.

4141, Joem and N2 have all had fires laid ready for the warming fire tomorrow. Lots still to do, but the list is getting smaller!

Excuse the poor quality of the picture of the Y7... Photography isn't a strong point!

 

Everything's in the right place and lit up. Tested the Y7 today and went to the new stop board at Epping forest and back... Ready for a good weekend.

 

Thanks to all the hard working volunteers who make these galas possible. A good day out today despite various operational glitches and delays waiting for politicians. Nice to know hard working steam can be found so close to London.

 

some photos from my Friday trip to the railway.

 

I spent Friday at the event, had some rather nice weather, my 26 photos can be found here:

http://khardy.zenfolio.com/p1011160743

 

J72 failed again today. Was looking forward to my first ride behind her since 1976 Still a good day though at avery friendly railway. N2 sounded very good on the "non stop".

 

Managed a few hours up on the line this afternoon. Lovely time spent, shame about Joel we managed run up to Epping to then see her declared a failure at North Weald, much examining in her smoke box and trying to clear something from the footplate. Few pictures of the day, shall hopefully return in June for there western themed gala.

 

A short film featuring 4141 and 1744.

 

The real ale in the bar car at £2.50 a pint was a bargain.

 

A very fun weekend, but had its challenges. The Y7 and 4141 performed faultlessly. The N2 had a minor wobble on friday morning, but a quick sort out and it managed to carry on, without fault, all weekend. Joem was a little bit more troublesome, failing on Friday early afternoon with injector trouble but then came back out. However, on Sunday it failed and the 37 took over its duties.

We did have a few delays due to water issues. The tank at NW was not filling quick enough and Ongar's water supply was relatively slow. We are already thinking of how we can overcome this for our June gala.

I had a good day yesterday on the Y7, for a little engine, it dealt with our gradients well and could of easily taken another couple of wagons. It was nice to do a bit of shunting aswell.

We also had some coal related issues, switching from Russian to Welsh. It took some of our fireman (myself included) a trip or two to adjust to the Welsh coal. Its very hot stuff when it gets going, but it seems to take a bit longer to get going, which caught a few people out.