Epping & Ongar Railway Steam Gala Fri 6th-Sun 8th june

hi everyone,
A good looking steam gala down at the EOR. Line up so far:
home
GWR Praire tank N.o 4141

visitors
Black 5 N.o. 45379 (from the Mid Hants Railway)
Beattie Well tank N.o. 30585 (from the buckinghamshire railway centre)

Tickets can be booked here: http://eorailway.co.uk/your-visit/booking-online/


A short line up at the moment, but a good range of locos.

 

LATEST NEWS

The Summer Steam Gala at the Epping Ongar Railway is taking shape and we are now in a position to confirm that the following locomotives will be operating during the Gala.

Visiting locos;

Black 5 No 45379
(Courtesy of Mid Hants Railway)

Beattie Well Tank No 30585
(Courtesy of Buckinghamshire Railway Centre)

Jinty No 47406
(Courtesy of Great Central Railway)

Home Fleet;

Large Prairie No 4141

TIMETABLE

The timetable has been written and will be on the web shortly. Once again our unique timetable includes non-stop runs between Ongar and Coopersale and our popular evening trains will run again on Saturday night.

HERITAGE BUSES

Also reinstated for 2014 is our Shenfield heritage bus service. Regular heritage RT and RM buses will navigate the roads of rural Essex to take you to the Epping Ongar Railway direct from the BR mainline station at Shenfield. The buses will run at convenient times throughout the weekend. See EOR wbsite for details.

Dont forget this is included in the price of your gala ticket.

Additional morning and evening buses will also run between North Weald and Epping Underground Station as follows to connect with our gala trains and evening Beerex's.

Further details will be posted on the website as we get them.

PRICES

This year as per last year we are offering online discounts for those who book in advance. Save £2 on an adult ticket by booking early.

ON TRAIN BAR

The Bar will be open on the train all day serving snacks and a variety of locally sourced real ales.

The other great news is that we will be selling draught beer from our Bar Train. A full beer list will be provided when finalised.

Cider fans will not be disappointed to see the return of the London Glider cider. Made from the ‘windfall’ apples of East London not only is the cider very local but it is also making use of a natural resource that would otherwise be left to rot.

Other drinks available;

Guinness, Budweiser Budvar, Peroni. Ciders; Magners, Thatchers plus Red, White and Rose wines.

NB – all products whilst stocks last.

Further details will be posted on the website as we get them.

Any group or person wishing to bring a stall or sales stand to the gala please email daveh@eorailway.co.uk

Look forward to seing you all there.

 

Latest Update;

The EOR is happy to announce it will be running extra evening Heritage Buses during the Steam Gala. These buses are timed to connnect with our evening trains and all times quoted are for bus departures from North Weald.

The bus times are as follows;

Extra buses will depart North Weald to Epping Underground Station as follows:
Friday: 18.10
Saturday: 18.10, 19.00, 20.00, 21.00
Sunday: 18.10

Regards

M

 

Will the four engines be rotating working the passenger trains at the gala?

 

Just looked at the timetable, seems a bit strange that there are only two trips to Coopersale during each day, both of which don't stop at North Weald from Ongar?

To me this is going to make trains rather busy with only one train running most of the time. Unless the timetable here isn't final?

http://eorailway.co.uk/your-visit/timetables-and-fares/show-timetable.php?date=20140606

 

Hi All,

To answer the questions;

We are running an 'express rake' of 5 coaches which will be hauled by the Black 5 and 4141 and a short rake hauled by the Beattie and Jinty. Locos will rotate and run in a combination of formations on its rake ie solo and top and tail.

Due to our gradients the Beattie and Jinty will remain on the shorter rake.

An intensive two train service will run throughout between Ongar and North Weald including 2 non stop runs between Ongar and Coopersale which proved so popular at last years steam event.

Because Coopersale has no station it was decide to maximise the timetabling by running more trains between Ongar and North Weald.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the response Jimmy, during last years gala however I found the diesel hauled Coopersale shuttle did take away some of the crowds which this time seemingly wont have anywhere to go which is why I found it odd there aren't at least a couple more shuttles from NW to even it out, even if it utilised the thumper or slammer with a steam loco infront.

 

Hi Kieran,

I didnt have a hand in writing the timetable, I normally stick to organising Diesel Galas. However I can see the intent which is to try and run as many services as possible between OG and NW.

I am sure it wont detract from the fun and I hope you have a good time if your going.

Let us know any feedback if you are going. We are not afraid to hear it - good or bad.

Regards M

 

Question out of nosey curiosity as I won't be at this gala (very tempted as I've had two great EOR visits on normal service days, but only half a work-free day this weekend and the WSR's Hydraulic gala is more logistically doable in that gap), but what is the make-up of the two sets going to be? Didn't spot much spare serviceable coaching stock on my last visit in April so was wondering if the Thumper was going to be used as/in a hauled rake.

 

There will be a 5 coach rake consisting of BR blue grey mark 1 and 2s and there will be carmine and cream bso and maroon FK and a box van to replicate a traditional commuter train when steam operated the line.

For info we have a Mark 1 TSO at Shackerstone being dual braked and dual heated a Mark 1 coach in our shed being done in house, a mark 1 BFK about to started and another mark 1 waiting in the wings when time and funds permit.

 

Good stuff. Love the blue/grey rake, incidentally.

 

For those who like there buses as well as steam engines see below the bus roster for the Steam Gala;

Buses likely to be used this weekend are 3 out of 4 of the following:

Leyland engined RM 1966
Green Line RT 3238
Green (Country Area) RT 1700
Saunders bodied RT 3062

PLUS Green Line RF 180 (Route 381)

Enjoy M

 

My video - Friday 6th June:

 

My shots from a great visit on Friday:

http://khardy.zenfolio.com/p939517785









Cheers,

 

wow..... looking at the videos it was a g8 gala... couldnt go which was a shame.... just have to wait till next years steam gala