EPPING AND ONGAR

My first ever visit to a heritage line on its opening day and splendid it was what with the weather. Ran a tad late in the afternoon but so what. Hall top and tailed with the pannier and like wise with the diesels. Very enthusiastic bunch who readily admitted today they were on steep learning curve. Good luck to them!

 

A couple of shots at O ngar from yesterday.

 

Hopefully the "steep learning curve" will include tuition on firing skills to avoid tarnishing the reputation of the railway for unecessary & very visual pollution!!

 

Went along today RT's 3062/3228 doing the shuttle bus service.
The first train from North Weald to Ongar was diesel as the steam locos were not yet ready, the 10.30 to Coopersdale being cancelled as a result.. Whilst the diesel consist was at Ongar, the two steam locos top and tailed the 'B' set, and it was promptly announced that the train would form the delayed 11.00 to Coopersdale!, extra steam mileage, excellent.
On the return to North Weald, the two train sets resumed their published timetable. Epping Station Car Park was just about full, when I returned just after 1 o'clock.

 

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Thats some clag :nono:

 

Did you stop to think that the clag may have been arranged? Lighten up.

 

Anyone who knows anything about firing steam engines will know that firing an engine like that isn't the correct way to treat the boiler.

 

Arranged?? - I think you need to get real pal

 

Glad to hear the weekend has gone well and my apologies for the post that was here earlier. It was uncalled for.

The line is on the do to list to visit hopefully later this year.

Duncan

 

Well said Martin, a little common sense goes a long way.

Best regards
CW:

 

I guess it's ok to produce tonnes of black smoke on opening days and photo charters?

 

I spent the day at the railway on Saturday. The quality of the restoration is amazing for a railway just opened - even the lawn outside North Weald station was laid with new turf. The ease of getting there from Epping should serve them well, I think. I was really impressed - after the first train was substituted everything else ran pretty well. While it was a shame the run-round at Ongar wasn't ready having the two engines always smokebox first was great.

I spent the afternoon wandering from Ongar to North Weald trying out most of the crossings for pics. If anyone's interested they are on Flickr at :

EOR opening weekend - a set on Flickr

 

I wish people would come into the real world and maybe ask for facts rather than jumping to conclusions about poor firing. I was up there for a couple of days the week just gone and was firing on both the Hall and the Pannier, the coal we are using is, as I understand it from Cumbria.

Now regardless of how much or how little of the stuff I put on the loco would instantly produce black/very dark grey smoke, even half a shovel full of small stuff and it was going mental, you could have the doors wide open and the blower on quite a bit and still you'd have the smoke. Believe me I didn't enjoy it especially lighting up in the morning. I was using what I had at my disposal and did successfully make steam and keep water in the boiler.
More of the stuff from Cumbria turned up last week so unfortunately the situation won't improve but if you feel you can criticize the fireman, of which I must add all have experience from several other Heritage Railway's all over the country who don't use this coal, then do come up and show us how to do it properly. There's not that many!

I myself ignoring people's comments had a thoroughly enjoyable two days up at Epping Ongar and it was nice firing somewhere different for a change, none of the passengers complained and all seemed very happy with the day out.

 

I was driving most of the weekend and as jonnie already has stated, no more coal than was required was used when firing the locos, It is most unfortunate people cant be just happy another good steam railway has opened and we will be learning as other railways have to buy something less smokey next time, but needs must when we purchased the Daw Mill. Lets just enjoy the opening cant we??? lighten up everyone.....

 

I'm not your pal, sunshine.
I've seen arranged clag on many a railway. Some crews are very inventive with their use of adjuncts when clag is required.

 

Trust the weekend went well. Sorry to hear about the naff coal but these things are sent to try us.

 

Jonnie.

Many thanks for the clarification and I'm sorry for the comment earlier. It was out of line and wrong. Will amend post accordingly. Glad to hear it went well and as promised hope to be there at some point in the future.

All the best

Duncan