[Jun 6, 2022] 10th Anniversary and Steam Gala (Epping Ongar Railway)

Epping Ongar Railway 10th anniversary gala now 2 to 5 June, rescheduled due a major local sporting event on the originally planned dates.

https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/10th-anniversary-and-steam-gala/

75069 visiting from Severn Valley

Thursday 2nd June: Diesels and 4953 in action
Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th: Steam Gala
Sunday 5th: Mixed traffic.

 

9466 is the second visitor according to https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/10th-anniversary-and-steam-gala/

 

The line-up in itself is fantastic and with a £20 adult ticket price...following Covid and the current issues. That is TOO good to resist. Looking forward to this gala - A LOT.

 

This is currently top of the list for where I might head on that extra bank holiday. Is there any hint yet of which diesels might be involved on the Thursday?

 

Currently in the final stages of sorting this timetable, but Thursday should be the 31 and 37 to reflect what we had at our re-opening day in 2012.
Sunday I have suggested the Green-liveried Class 20 and 37 to give a BR crossover feel to the day, with two BR Black steam engines running.

 

That sounds ideal to me, thank you

 

No guarantee that 20001 will be available so its 37029 and 31438 on Thursday and Sunday it would seem.

 

Seriously considering going on the Friday. Be nice to tick off another new railway and a few more locos.

 

In the final stages of timetable planning. It would have been ready sooner but was awaiting confirmation of a few affecting external aspects. As it currently stands, loco allocations are different each day, mainly down to the order that they return on shed.

A short engineers set is planned to do two return trips (morning and afternoon/evening) on both days. This is in the hands of the two tank engines Friday and the two tender engines Saturday, so every engine is planned to have a turn on this set.
In the middle of the day, brake van rides operate out of North Weald with 03170.
Towards the end of the afternoon, a non-stop run departs Ongar for the Forest. This is in the hands of the tender engines Friday and tank engines Saturday.
A real ale train and fish and chip diner runs Saturday evening, which we hope will be steam-hauled, subject to crew availability.

All subject to the usual operational conditions and final signoff, which will hopefully be in the next few days - more or less there, just fine tweaking at this point.

 

I have been told it will be ready in time to join us, but will see what the latest is; I haven't been told otherwise.

 

More details on the event page now:
10th Anniversary Gala | Epping Ongar Railway (eorailway.co.uk)

Timetables have also been published:
WTT 2022 10th anniversary.xls (eorailway.co.uk)

Brake van rides are available on the goods train to Ongar, but please note they arrive and depart from the loop. Arrivals will not be able to connect with the departing passenger train (it shunts to the platform to allow people to alight once that has left) and subsequently it will return to the loop before the arrival of the next passenger set. Brake van fares must me bought in advance at the booking office at either station - no payments will be taken by the guards on-board.

 

is there a replacement loco for 9466 as i am guessing that wont be attending?

 

Was told just last night about 9466; a replacement is being sought but that's all I know at the moment.

 

80078 confirmed as replacement for the Pannier and will take over 9466's allocations on the timetable.

 

We potentially have a 5-engine gala on the cards!

For those watching the MPD page (or main page this morning) you may have seen that Isabel has started to come back together after repairs to the axleboxes and horns.
Steam test is scheduled for Tuesday and if all goes well, she will hopefully take over the 03's duties on Friday and Saturday.

I believe this is the first time we have potentially had a 5-engine gala since 2018?

 

Our line is rather difficult to photograph because of the green corridor-ness of it.

I've highlighted a few spots on screengrabs from footpathmap.co.uk of areas that are easy to get to or perhaps offer the best view. Please be mindful that footpaths cross farmer's fields in places and we request that you avoid straying from the existing routes to negate the trampling of crops and upsetting the landowners.

In some areas I've also mentioned the gradient of the line so you know which way they will likely be working hardest. A full gradient map is available in our guide book from the shops.



There are probably other routes/paths that I have not yet explored, but again please be mindful and do not trespass on private land or indeed the railway.

 

That is absolutely brilliant Wagoniester - most of those places I found on my last visit to the line (2017 April diesel gala) so it's both a great reminder and has suggested a few more ideas, and so handy to give it all in one image with the notes. Thanks so much for providing this for us all.

 

Its something I've meant to do for a while. Some places are obvious, others need a reminder they exist. The only issue with a lot is the sun, which can affect the shots; Coopersale Fields is a prime example, which you would need to shoot into the sun until late afternoon. I haven't been there for a while either so it may have grown up slightly too.
The bridge itself there has become tricky with a developing tree on the south side masking some of the view.

I look forward to seeing what people share - I'm pretty "chuffed" with what the timetable offers with plenty of different opportunities. I'm perhaps looking forward to Hall on the freight set most, as that's a bit unusual.

FYI, freight/engineers set is planned to be comprised of Dogfish, Rectank, Grampus, Fruit D, the Shark brake van plus possibly one other vehicle TBC. I hope next year to be able to extract the vanwide from Ongar to join the rake.