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

Enjoyable day at the gala yesterday, only real criticism was the bus link to Epping LT which was flaky at best and there was a long gap at the end of the day with no buses at all (despite a large crowd gathering), and indeed one bus turned up, dropped some people off then disappeared without doing another run despite the long queue.

Some photos now up at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/Epping-Ongar-Railway/Southern-Giants-gala-September-2025, a selection below.

 

Regarding the bus, it appears to meet the true London Bus experience of the era being portrayed. So yet just more "Heritage Experience"
LT timetables used to say "Whilst every effort to keep to the timetables, London Transport does not undertake it buses will be operated in accordance with them"

An example can be seen on this eBay item.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275659374374

 

A collection of shots taken on the Saturday of the gala from the lineside
My first time linesiding the railway and needless to say am very impressed we got what we got!

 

My video from a great couple of days at the gala, the steep gradients certainly make for an entertaining line to both travel on and film. I visited for the day on Friday, taking the first train of the day from Ongar to North Weald and spending most of the day there. I managed three rides to Epping Forest behind each of the main locos in between filming the chimney first departures from North Weald and a walk to Marconi Bridge. After travelling back to Ongar late afternoon I stopped off at Penson's Lane on the way home to film the last trip of the day in and out of Ongar. Sunday after work I spent an hour at Coopersale on the bridge off Vicarage Road, where east bound trains tackle the 1 in 70 under the bridge from a near standing start with a 5mph TSR ending just before the bridge. Video is edited in time of day sequence, huge thanks to all involved in organising the event, photos to follow.

 

Photos from the Friday and Sunday...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/albums/72177720329229195

 

Went on Saturday and enjoyed riding the trains, the trip to Epping Forest with the heritage DMU is certainly interesting.

Had three real ales while on the train, beers and trains what can go wrong ?