Down the Line
Join us on a journey 'Down the Line' - click on the different places to read about that part of the line (or just scroll the page)
Perhaps you would like to view a sped-up movie of the journey 'Down the Line'?
Please right click the still, and then left click 'Save target as' and download it to a location of your choice (probably your desktop - easy to find).
Ongar
Ongar is a market town with good selection of shops, pubs and restaurants. Passengers may wish to spend some time visiting the town. The remains of Ongar Castle are still accessible from the High Street and the log church (the oldest wooden church in the world), at Greensted, can be reached by road or a walk along the Essex Way.
Almost immediately after leaving the compound at Ongar the train travels over the Cripsey Brook viaduct.
The Essex Way
Look out to the left on sunny days and you may see walkers enjoying the pathways on the Essex Way. The Essex Way is a long-distance path stretching right across the County of Essex from Epping in the south-west to the port of Harwich in the north-east. Following footpaths and ancient green lanes it covers a distance of 81 miles. The path leads you through woodlands, open farmland, river valleys and leafy green lanes, unveiling historic towns and villages along the way.
Smaller pathways lead off the Essex Way and the print-outs of two walks are available at North Weald and Ongar stations. Both walks take about two - two and a half hours.
Blake Hall Station
2 miles further on (5 minutes) and immediately past the second bridge the old Blake Hall station building can be seen on the left. Blake Hall station was closed on 31st October 1981. Although the building remains, the platform does not and this is now a privately owned house.
North Weald Station
2 miles (3.2 kilometers) further on we find ourselves on the approach to North Weald station. North Weald Bassett is small village with local amenities and a couple of pubs. Nearby is the Airfield Museum and memorial and it also hosts a weekly Saturday market.
North Weald station was in a state of disrepair a few years ago but volunteers have worked hard to improve the condition of the buildings and platform. The Signal Box is currently undergoing restoration and flower beds, baskets and borders have been planted along the platform. The main station buildings still need a lot of work however; volunteers do regularly carry out regular maintenance.
The gift shop 'The Goods Shed' is located at North Weald.
The right hand building at the station is privately owned.
Vintage Bus Link (special event days only)
For those who wish to disembark at North Weald there is the opportunity to travel on a vintage bus to Epping Station. This service runs only on special event days and will coincide with the train timetable
M11 Motorway
As we pass over the bridge which spans the main road into Coppersale village we pass houses which back onto the railway. After passing these houses on our right and a golf course on our left we see the M11 overbridge and pass underneath the motorway.
As this railway was a London Underground line when the bridge was built the short sightedness of the engineers left no clearance for standard stock to pass under it, so EOR lowered the track by three feet to accommodate our stock.
Coopersale
Our journey continues into Epping Forest and onto the village of Coopersale. Although there is no passenger halt here it provides travellers with an opportunity to experience a bit more of the journey towards Epping.
End of the Line
All good things must come to an end and our railway is no exception as we reach the 9.4 Kilometre post the end of our running line. With just 800Mts between us Epping station, an extension project is inevitable.