EOR announces TWO mainline steam locomotives are destined for the branch....

I dont think you need GER rolling stock or loco's to have the branch line atmosphere - it survived electrification and i dont think a Prairie in BR black pulling mk1 suburbans into North Weald would hurt much either (although the panniers available from the Paignton & Dartmouth/Tyseley might be more suitable than the Hall - possible exchange?).

What concerns me though is that the quantity of rolling stock, of such varying ages, designs and conditions, is in danger of hurting the quality of the railway if outside storage at North Weald and Ongar continues. It would be fantastic if a shed is planned, but according to the VCT survey it will need to be sizeable - they have 21 carriages (including air-con mk2's), plus a DMU, DEMU and CIG along with the diesels and steam loco's that ideally should be kept undercover too.

Chris

 

It certainly won't start operations feeling much like a GER branch line, but at least two locos from a fairly long "for sale" list have found working homes, which has to be good news. True, a pannier or small prairie is more suitable to a branch line than a Hall, but 4953 is in working order and 4141 soon will be, whereas 4588 and 7760 aren't. There aren't any other heritage lines that have a cross-platform connection with London Underground trains. This line could really do well. I hope so.

 

I just wanted to add from myself who has worked on 4141 and 4953 for the last four years that I am very sorry to see that 4141 and 4953 have been sold to the Epping and Ongar Railway. Have fired and driven both 4141 and 4953, 4953 is a fantastic locomotive in excellent condition mechanically and externally. 4141 will be just when she has completed her protracted overhaul.

As has been mentioned before, 4953 has a contractual obligation to operate at the GCR until further notice and will remain under my care at the GCR.

I wish the EOR good luck to the future in looking after the locomotives in the same way we have

 

That is of course "potential" connection. Both platforms at Epping are currently used by LUL, the 800 metre gap is not insurmountable, but will not be easy to close the gap.

 

Fair point when you put it like that...

I agree about shed ought to be high on the 'to do' list, being much closer to London than most if not all preserved lines, i do have concerns about the vandalism/theft problem that being close to an urban area represents.

As for GER atmosphere, that can be added later if needbe, i'd say the priority first is to get some services running and get some income flowing, then you can decide where to spend what you earn, maybe a dereclict GER station building somewhere would make a good project once funds are availible.

The North Norfolk started out with Industrial's and boiler tubes holding up canopies, now they can field an excellent show of Anglian motive power and buildings, but the income those Industrials bought in early doors, is what allowed them to build their line up into something excellent, a good benchmar for the Epping Ongar to follow in my opinion.

4953 may be on the large side, but how many of our preserved loco's are really suitable for the lines they run on ?, preservation is as much about hearts as head where it comes to saving something, plus Barry only had so many Standards, what i would say is, a 'Big Namer' is more more likely to get Joe Public in when mentioned in advertising then an anonymous tank engine, for example - "Come & see Pitchford Hall" sounds better than "come and see 2159" or whatever.

 

The only locomotive I can remember from BR days (probably because of its easy to remember number!) and one I'd love to own, but never mind! Built in August 1946 and withdrawn in February 1963 this "Large Prairie" was allocated to Gloucester (Horton Road) Shed for its entire working life. In practice, 4141 was often shedded at the sub-shed of Cheltenham Malvern Road and was a regular (along with 4142 and 4100) on the Kingham Line as well as from Brimscombe for Sapperton Bank duties. 4141 would indeed also have taken its turn to haul the London-Cheltenham expresses for the last part of their journeys from Gloucester to Cheltenham (St James). Really this fine 2-6-2T should be on the Glos-Warks Railway, close to its old stamping ground but I'm sure it will be perfect for the EOR. Good luck to them; they deserve to do well and London needs a heritage line nearby.

 

Many thanks to everyone for their kind words of support. EOR is very pleased to be announcing this news.

As mentioned within our statement, and the Heritage Railways article, history has not been kind to GER / LNER locos, meaning these are not available. I hope those who feel strongly about the authenticity will be visiting the Holden F5 website (The Holden F5 Locomotive Trust – Home), and making a donation - so the day we can once again see a F5 on the branch comes sooner. )

When-ever possible, we try to preserve items typical of the local area - such as the suburban's, the Gresley buffet, ex Stratford Class 37, Ipswich 31, 03's....

While these GWR steam locomotives and Isabel will form our "home" fleet, this of course does not preclude guest locomotives visiting, but as already highlighted these locomotives do mean that we have a solid base to start from. Like many other heritage railways, unfortunately many of our items are stored outside. Currently with no fares income, we must focus on the essentials to get passenger trains running, and a passenger interchange at Epping, but as with other lines, once we are running we hope to be able to address this aspect. Please remember the branch was only "preserved" in 2004... so we are several years behind the likes of the Bluebell or SVR and very much admire the facilities they have now available...

I would like to remind readers that the volunteers have worked in all weathers and spent many months restoring both station buildings. Ongar station has been painstakingly restored, removing LU ticket and electrical rooms, opening up original doorways and windows to put it back to its original layout and carefully researching and painting it in GER colours, with appropriate period fittings, complete with GER signalbox (and hopefully one day, when funds allow, a GER shed to replace the "tin shed").

North Weald has been restored into LNER / BR(E), and is looking fantastic. Earlier this week I was speaking to one of our team who has spent many weeks carefully peeling back layers of paint of an original slate fireplace in the Booking Hall, and then smoothing and oiling - thanks to his efforts it now looks excellent, and is just one of many examples I could give. I therefore hope all of these efforts by all our team will help to ensure an authentic branchline atmosphere.... even if the locomotive on the front isn't original to the branch...?

Many thanks for your kind words "63601", and as outlined in the statement that you should have received from John, you and rest of the support team who have worked so hard on Pitchford Hall, and kept her in such good condition, will be very welcome to help out or visit her at EOR. I hope that you will continue to be involved with this special engine, and pass on your experience and suggestions so we can keep up the high standards you have set for us.

 

They'll have one - the Bluebell

(Giving Charing Cross as the notional centre of London, Google gives 22 miles to Epping; and 29 miles to East Grinstead - surprisingly little difference).

But seriously - good luck to them: having ex-mainline locos will definitely raise the profile. Not being a project I'm particularly familiar with, I'm curious about where the money is coming from (not just for the locos, but for the evidently large amounts of work that has taken place - there is potentially millions that look like it has been invested)? And is it a line with a large volunteer base to call on, or is the work being done primarily by paid staff and external contractors?

Just curious, not critical!

Tom

 

Isn't there the small problem of the tunnel under the motorway precluding through running with stock of normal loading gauge?

 

They could always paint 4953 and 4141 in to GER Blue, then they would fit the period feel
most railways have issues with stock stuck outside, even ones formed decades ago.

As for a GE terminus.. Would North Woolwich station look too out of place at Epping ?, could always call it "Epping Great Eastern"

 

Simon

If I may go off track with a simple question please as to who now owns the Epping Ongar Railway infrastructure and trackbed.

Is it a Charitable Trust, a Society (e.g. Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Society?), or a commercial organisation?

Chris


Edit: Have just discovered the note on EOR's 'Press Release' webpage stating that the Epping Ongar Railway owns and operates the railway between Ongar, through North Weald, to the boundary adjacent to the London Underground Central Line. So my question is now who owns the Epping Ongar Railway organisation?

 

The track was lowered many years ago now (I think it may have been done while under Pilot?), and allows the railways biggest locos through with plenty of room to spare. The track-bed is complete all the way to the boundary with LT at Epping.

There's two full time paid staff and a few external contractors for the bigger jobs but the rest done by the working volunteers.

 

Absolutely true - starting from central London the Bluebell's in fairly easy reach. But if you live in north London like me, the nearest steam is quite some schlep away - so this is very welcome news!

I'm not surprised - though I'm certainly very pleased - that there seem to be decent financial resources behind the developments on this line. It's in striking distance of London so it really should be able to attract some decent financial contributions, as seems to be happening. Good show - really looking forward to seeing it all up and running.

 

The railway is effectively owned by a single individual. Companies House records show that Epping-Ongar Railway Ltd is owned by Epping-Ongar Railway Holdings Ltd which in turn is owned by Beechmead Ltd which has a single shareholder Mr Roger Wright. Mr Wright is the sole Director of all three companies. There is also a separate Epping and Ongar Volunteer Society. None of these organisations is listed by the Charity Commission.

 

I was just thinking about a Heritage line in the Midlands who would have given their proverbial " right arm" for those two locomotives, but it is not about "would like", it is about having the hard cash to purchase the engines, so good luck to the new owner and the EOR.

 

Starting so late and after assorted false starts the EOR needs someone behind it who can take risks and has access to ample funds -it seems like it now has and good luck to it. I travelled on it in a tube train just before it closed and its a nice ride, rail connected (well nearly) in a generally wealthy area so hopefully with access to plenty of volunteers and fund raisers. It also can't be extended beyond Ongar or Epping which should keep its focus clear.

 

Just as an aside, Mr Portillo had a ride on the EOR in one of his recent programmes and explained some of the lines Great Eastern ancestry. He had a ride in the cab of a rather tidy-looking class 37 diesel.

 

Missed that development. Thanks for the clarification.

 

Slightly off topic: So does the ex-owner of 4953 and 4141 still own 4121?