Epping Ongar Railway Diesel Gala - 22, 23, 24 September

Joining previously announced class 25, D7659, is class 14 D9516, courtesy of Didcot Railway Centre, and class 20, 20227 in London Transport maroon livery, courtesy of the class 20 Locomotive Society.

We believe it is the first time that D9516 has ventured out of Didcot since moving there in 2014, and 20227 will be reunited with its sister 20001 - it is planned that the class 20s will operate in multiple throughout the event, the first time this has happened on the EOR.

The three visitors are joined by the home fleet of 20001, 31438, 37029, 47635 and shunters, class 03, D.2170 and class 08, 08114 to complete a line-up of 9 locomotives for the event - it's the Railway's biggest diesel event to date!

An intensive 3 train service will operate on all 3 days, with our popular Saturday evening Real Ale Train planned to be hauled by D7659 and 47635. Shunters will be on brake van rides, with a chance to take the controls of one of them between trains, and our popular cab rides will also feature.

Our on board bars will have a selection of local Real Ales for you to enjoy whilst taking in the sights and sounds of the diesel traction working hard over our challenging gradients!

31438 and 47635, in British Rail blue livery will be operating with our blue and grey rake of coaches. The event is expected to see the last public use of class 31 locomotive, 31438, for a period of time as it will then be taken out of traffic for essential maintenance work to take place.

As usual vintage London buses will provide connections to Epping Underground station (on the Central Line, in zone 6 and less than 30 minutes from Stratford) throughout the day, including connections with first and last services. Some buses will provide connections with Shenfield station too. We hope to have some variety from the usual diet of Routemaster and RT type buses on this service, and may even be able to provide a special "photographers" bus allowing you to photograph the action from the lineside!

Fares have been held at 2022 prices and tickets are on sale now!

Timetable and loco roster has already been written, and is undergoing final proof reading. We hope to have it on the website in the next week or so. Services are planned to start at 09.15 on all 3 days, finishing at approx 18.30 on the Friday, 21.45 on the Saturday and 17.30 on the Sunday.

Tickets and other info, including a gradient profile: https://www.eorailway.co.uk/events/autumn-diesel-gala/

 

Autumn Diesel Gala, Epping Ongar Railway, 22nd September 2023.
Locomotives featured:
Class 14 No. D9516,
Class 20 No. 20001,
Class 20 No. 20227 "Sherlock Holmes",
Class 03 No. D2170.
Class 47 No. 47635 "Jimmy Milne",
Class 31 No. 31438,
Class 26 No. D7659.

 

Excellent stuff

Plus 08114 on the afternoon brake van runs

 

Whilst visiting the Epping Ongar Railway I paid a visit to St. Andrews Church, Greensted.
The oldest wooden Church in the World, and the oldest ‘Stave Built’ timber building in Europe.
The church represents some 1300 years of English history and Christian worship.
A short video (Maybe of interest, maybe not!):