"Saturday Hit Squad Hits North Weald"

The Sat Hit Squad are an enthusiastic cross-department team that meets on Saturdays. We tackle achievable projects around the railway where we can make a positive difference, and help other departments on larger projects. The jobs we tackle are very varied, and are suggested / chosen by the team, hopefully taking best advantage of any dry weather!

This last Saturday (1st Nov), given the wet forecast we decided to look under North Weald station canopy. The team erected the scaffold, and were soon sanding and preparing the 120+ year old structure, removing the old LT paint back to a sound surface. This was then painted in wood or metal primer (pictured), ready for application of the LNER green & cream. Some interior painting of North Weald signalbox was also tackled during the heavier rain. Previous projects in the last few weeks the team have tackled has included re-roofing the Shark brakevan and also sanding / priming this vehicle.

The team is very relaxed and always has a friendly welcome and extra cuppa for new volunteers. Contact: Simon simonhanney@hotmail.com

Shark Van Refurbishment

The good weather over the past couple of weekends has allowed the railway teams to work on the Shark Van restoration project. Volunteers who regularly attend the railways on weekdays as well as Saturday and Sundays were able to combine their skills to produce the following results:

The rotten/missing timbers in the roof have been replaced, the metal end heaved off and the new corner supports jointed in. The roof was then jacked up and replaced, and new felt was laid on the roof.

Two of the D shape edging strips for the sides were carefully removed and, taking advantage of the nice weather, knots were treated, new wood painted and the exposed parts of the roof underside were undercoated in primer.

As always, anyone interested is welcome to come along and get involved; the more hands - the sooner we can re-open.

New signal eqipment at North Weald

A new signal post has been erected at North Weald at the end towards Blake Hall. Pictured are some of the volunteers involved with the work including Head of Signals, Simon Hanney and Acting Chairman Eddie Veckranges. Work at North Weald continues to progress with the painting of the Signal Box (interior) and complete refurbishment of the Ladies Waiting Room in the main station building. Anyone interested in helping should contact the relevant Department Head or acting Chairman Eddie Veckranges.

Shut-down Latest

You may be wondering what we are hoping to achieve during this extended shut-down and the team have pleasure in listing the key tasks from Ongar to Epping:
· Clearing Finnish stock, re-gauging the run-round loop and re-modelling the Ongar approach – this is to reinstate the run-round loop, so an engine can move around its coaches. It will also mean easier access to the loco facilities and safer shunting. The remaining Finnish stock is being placed at its own platform in the former goods yard, and will become a static display, and provide accommodation for a shop and possibly refreshment facilities.
· Install signalling of Ongar approach (possibly via ground-frames) to safely control the points in the station approach to HMRI standards.
· Undertake major reinforcing works on the embankment at Blake Hall, to stabilise the track-bed and increase the axle loading capacity of the branch.
· Correct track along the line to improve the ride and remove temporary speed limits to regain punctuality and passenger comfort.
· Reinstate the passing loop at North Weald, including restoration of both GER, BR & LT railway signalling at this station. Undertaking remedial work on the surface to the Up platform.
· Re-paint and restore North Weald booking hall (including rebuilding the open fire), improve toilet provision at both stations and finish minor station works at Ongar
It appears a long list at first, but with a few extra hands, the right equipment and a little kindness from the weather, fully achievable. 

For safety reasons, many of these overdue works cannot be carried out in conjunction with running passenger trains, and can be carried out quicker and more efficiently during a full line possession, as being increasingly used on the mainline. These works are all focused towards having a line which can host steam engines and result in one which we can be proud of and which offers our visitors a memorable experience. 

Other tasks that could be undertaken in the near future include work on North Weald footbridge (replacing flooring to reduce the structural loadings so it can be reopened), setting up temporary covered carriage and wagon facilities in the (former Finnish) loco shed to start work on the “Shark” brake van and setting up a museum and archives for the line.

April/May Update

No passengers but the railway is busier than ever! It has been an eventful Spring and we hope to keep you abreast of a few of the developments. The working volunteers have battled come rain, shine, and snow to continue the varied essential engineering works during the shut-down: As ever if you are available and ever wondered what its like at Epping Ongar Railway do come down and get involved; you will be assured of a warm welcome, plenty of cups of tea and helping to enable us with an essential piece as we work to bring steam back to the line.

Ongar

Trackwork/Clearance On 11th May some of the 5foot Finnish stock was removed. The remaining Finnish stock is being placed at its own platform in the former goods yard, and will become a static display, and provide accommodation for a shop and possibly refreshment facilities. (Photographs Michael Wall)

Station Buildings Work has been done to clean and tidy the ticket office, the old taxi office which is now used as the Station Masters Office on running days and the Booking Hall. This meant removing old and redundant electrical and telephone wiring (pictured is Mike Hardy carrying out this task Photograph:Eddie Veckranges.) The wiring has tended to build up over the years where old installations were removed and new installations put in place. This had left an unsightly mess and made painting difficult. We have also managed to uncover some old features, like a little spy hole located in the ticket office door. The eyeglass had been covered over by paint but can now be looked through since the paint has been scrapped off. Preparation has also been made to redecoration of the ladies toilet.

North Weald

Permanent Way team are continuing with major trackwork improvements at North Weald and other areas of the line.

Signalling The weekend and weekday parties have finished painting the stairs, been working on the windows (applying undercoat and glossing both inside and out), refurnishing the inside including moving the sink and putting the box back to how it was originally. Our sparkies have been putting the finishing touches to the transformers and starting a wiring audit of the signal circuits, and we have made a start on stripping the old paint and light rust off the Saxby & Farmer lever frame ready for repainting. Simon also borrowed a Minolta Colorimeter from Writtle College and measured the exposed paintwork, some dating back to 120 years ago when the box was build in GER days, to measure the exact colour of paintwork - so we can get paint mixed to those scientific colours in a few weeks time when we come to repaint the inside.

And...

Driving Courses During the shut-down, Steve Weal, our Train Crew Manager, is running mutual improvement classes to cover the theory of safe and efficient driving of vintage stock.

Still to do:

Signalling. Install signalling of Ongar approach (possibly via ground-frames) to safely control the points in the station approach to HMRI standards.

Trackwork. Re-gauging the run-round loop and re-modelling the Ongar approach – this is to reinstate the run-round loop, so an engine can move around its coaches. It will also mean easier access to the loco facilities and safer shunting.

Undertake major reinforcing works on the embankment at Blake Hall, to stabilise the track-bed and increase the axle loading capacity of the branch.

Correct track along the line to improve the ride and remove temporary speed limits to regain punctuality and passenger comfort.

March Update

Much has been achieved on EOR in the last few weeks; the P-way gang have been tackling the track-work and have now reached the North Weald area (pictured), jacking and packing and greasing fish-plates. The pictures below show the working group at the Epping end of North Weald station, as they check fish-plates and align the trackwork.

The signals gang have been meeting on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays - putting the finishing touches on the window frames and exterior, the Tuesday gang have been putting the finishing touches to the new steps and the team is looking forward to commencing the next stages as we work to signal North Weald. Our sparkies have also been replacing the old china fuses with a much safer MCB fuse-board and re-commissioning the signal transformers, stripping out redundant wiring, installing bus-bars and fuse banks. We are also currently seeking sources of old signalling equipment that we can use to reopen North Weald, and if you can help in any way, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Simon.

The Thursday gang have been busy with vegetation clearance along the line, always an excellent way to keep fit, blow away the cobwebs, get to see new parts of the line and enjoy the great outdoors. They have also been working on the brightening the general station areas. As ever, if you have ever wondered what its like to work on the line, wonder no more - come on down, as there is always a friendly welcome.