Tube Train Returns to Epping Ongar Railway!! 26-28 September

For one weekend in September, families and friends, enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in railways can see and ride on an historic Tube Train which will once again be operating to and from Ongar!

To commemorate 20 years since the cessation of Underground services between Epping and Ongar, the Epping Ongar Railway will be holding an "End of Tube Event" on 26, 27 & 28 September. To recreate the atmosphere of the former London Underground line, we will be operating, in passenger service, the 3-car Cravens set dating from 1960 that regularly ran on the branch, and operated the last train on 30 September 1994.

As the line is no longer electrified, the unit will be hauled by Schoma Diesel locomotives, owned and operated by London Underground. This is the first time that these locos have been used to haul a passenger train, and is likely to be the only opportunity to ride behind them, particularly as it is planned to convert some of them to battery power soon.

Stations will be decorated with replica LU roundels and copies of the original closure notices just to give the stations that 1994 feel....

Met 1...
Met 1 recently operated London Underground’s popular heritage steam services. It generated world-wide interest when at the centre of London Underground’s ‘Tube 150’ celebrations in 2013, and in 2014, the commemorative trains operated on a section of the Hammersmith & City line and on the north end of the Metropolitan line to Chesham.

Met 1 will be working with a selection of restored former London Transport rolling stock will mean that, in addition to hauling passenger services, the Railway will be running demonstration freight trains.

0.0km...
To start the proceedings on the Friday morning, Mike Brown MVO, the Managing Director of London Underground, will be unveiling a replica 0.0km sign at Ongar reminding us that to this day, distances on the Underground are measured from Ongar.

On the buses...
Sunday will also feature visiting buses, which will operate additional services in the area. This will include the launch of prototype Routemaster CRL 4, the front of which has been restored to its original 1957 style. It is hoped that all four prototypes will be in attendance, together for the first time in many years - they will be joined by a display of buses ranging from the 1940s right up to one of the New Routemasters, which will be in service alongside former London buses from the 1950s to the 1980s.

So come along and experience some truly unique firsts, not just in preservation, but in any sphere of railway operations.

 

I've added a selection of photos from today to here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steam60163/sets/72157647649668708/

Well done to EOR and London Underground for this event....

Cheers,
Alisdair

 

Shame I can't make it, but it's nice to see the Cravens stock back out!

 

Met 1 failed at lunchtime returning from Ongar to North Weald, resulting in a delay of around 3 hours, duties taken over by the Crompton.
The Craven stock also had a few problems with it's air supply, but seemed very popular.


Craven Stock North Weald Station Epping & Ongar Railway by timz2011, on Flickr

Full Album at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/timw1/sets/72157648084728706/