Epping Ongar Railway - Southern Giants Steam Gala 19-21 September

Up to 5 locos, including:

• 926 Repton
• 34072 257 Squadron
• 4953 Pitchford Hall

More info https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/southern-giants---steam-gala

 

926 Repton announced as the second visitor.

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It's my birthday that Saturday and with football too, I'm not sure I'll be able to make it to this, but are either loco likely to stay for the following weekend, especially Repton as I can't recall if I saw it at the NYMR when I went back in 1998.

 

I doubt Repton would as it's the NYMR Steam gala the weekend after. So would imagine it'll be fairly quickly off back up to the moors for that.

 

Ok thanks. If football ends up on my birthday, I might be able to go on the Sunday.

 

'Dave' from the Watercress Line has been announced as visiting.

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Staying until January 2026 according the EOR MPD Facebook page.

 

Will the full line be available by then ? Currently cut back to half way due to works.

 

Yes. Engineering possession this week with full line expected to be available from next Saturday, 23rd August.

 

The EOR website only shows trains to Ongar this weekend (23rd/24th August) - will that change if the engineering work is completed on time?

 

It depends is the current answer… work seems to be progressing but it relies on finding additional crews at the moment.

 

Looking forward to this one, does anyone know when timetable and loco directions will be available?

 

Final tweaks just being made to the timetable, primarily to ensure locos come on and off shed in the right order. Hope to have the timetable and loco directions available early next week when the compiler returns from a short break.

The Shark brakevan will be included in one of the sets, and travel in this will be available for an additional charge per trip.

There will be a special express run and some top and tail workings. 3781 will primarily be operating a shuttle with the DMU trailer into Epping Forest but will get a run to Ongar on one of the main sets towards the end of each day.

The first train departs approx 9.45 with service finishing approx 5.30 on Friday and Sunday, and 10pm on Saturday. Buses to and from Epping will connect with all trains.

 

Timetables are now on the EOR website

 

Any idea which direction the visitors are planned to face?

 

There's a picture on the EOR Facebook of Repton's tender in the yard and is facing Ongar.

 

For those who don’t do Facebook:

 

According to the website, 257 Squadron faces Epping and everything else faces Ongar.

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With my birthday on the Saturday and football Sunday, I decided to take Friday off work so I could come up for this one.

Just got to figure out a time thateans I don't get caught up in the worst of rush hour traffic on the Brighton Mainline.