Epping Ongar Light FantasticSelected dates - 3 December to 10 January
NEW FOR 2020!!
EXPERIENCE THE EPPING ONGAR RAILWAY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE!
- A train with a twist - adorned with colourful lights
- Specially illuminated lineside displays
- The family winter experience you will not want to miss!
Essex has been placed in tier 2 of the Government restrictions. Our services will operate as planned from 3 December. More information.
This year has been a truly awful one, and with our Epping Ongar Light Fantastic we hope to bring some of the joy we have all missed.
A truly wonderful experience of lights and music is coming to the Epping Ongar Railway this year, featuring a specially designed show to highlight our stations, rural setting and woodlands, that you can experience from the comfort of a train carriage.
Suitable for all the family, our Epping Ongar Light Fantastic services start on 3 December.
The exterior of the train looks spectacular but that is only a part of the experience. Once on board sit back, relax and experience the illuminations alongside the train and a number of special lineside displays that will melt your hearts.
Take a look at this video, filmed on a different Railway, to get an sense of what we have in store.
Please note that Santa will not be appearing for these trains. If you wish to see Santa at the Epping Ongar Railway, follow the link for details of our series of Santa Special Trains.
Dates and Train Times
The special train will be hauled by either a steam or diesel locomotive as indicated below. There is a choice of departures on the dates shown. You must travel on the date and time of train chosen when booking. The experience lasts for approximately 1 hour.
| Thursday | 3 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Friday | 4 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Saturday | 5 December | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam | |
| Sunday | 6 December | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam | |
| Wednesday | 9 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Thursday | 10 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Friday | 11 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Saturday | 12 December | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam | |
| Sunday | 13 December | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam | |
| Wednesday | 16 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Thursday | 17 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Friday | 18 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Saturday | 19 December | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam | |
| Sunday | 20 December | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam | |
| Monday | 21 December | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam | |
| Tuesday | 22 December | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel | |
| Wednesday | 23 December | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel | |
| Sunday | 27 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Monday | 28 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Tuesday | 29 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Wednesday | 30 December | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Diesel |
| Friday | 1 January | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam |
| Saturday | 2 January | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam |
| Friday | 8 January | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam |
| Saturday | 9 January | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam |
| Sunday | 10 January | 17.15 | 18.45 | 20.15 | Steam |
All trains depart from North Weald station (CM16 6BT). Car parking will be available. Our heritage bus services will not be operating in conjunction with these trains.
Please do not follow the brown signs which will direct you to Ongar station. No trains will depart from Ongar. Instead, use the postcode above to find North Weald station.
Please note that the Epping Ongar Railway endeavours to operate these services with the traction shown above. The Railway reserves the right to substitute the steam locomotive for a diesel or vice versa should circumstances dictate.
Availability
The colours in the table above indicate availability as follows:
| Good availability | |
| Limited availability | |
| Fully booked |
Sorry, all tables for 2 are sold out.
Tickets
Tickets are just £20 per person inclusive of train travel.
So that we can comply with social distancing guidelines we have a much reduced capacity on the train. As a result we are only able to offer tickets for 2, 4 or 6 people travelling together. No individual or other combinations of tickets will be available.
Terms and conditions of booking, including our refund policy, can be found here.
CAUTION: This event includes some flashing lights so may be unsuitable for people suffering from epilepsy.