Western Workhorses - Spring Steam Gala17, 18, 19 April
Our annual steam gala takes place on 17, 18 and 19 April, with an intensive steam hauled service in operation.
The home fleet of steam locomotives, along with visiting locomotives, come out to be put through their paces over some of the most challenging gradients in preservation, for three days of steam filled action!.
Great Western Railway Modified Hall class locomotive 6989 "Wightwick Hall" will be working alongside our own Great Western Railway Hall class locomotive 4953 "Pitchford Hall", allowing a contrast between the modified and orignal Hall class locomotives! Additonal visiting locomotive, large prairie locomotive, 4144 will provide a welcome return to a large prairie locomotive to our branchline, and will give a truly "Great Western Workhorses" theme. It will also be a rare opportunity to travel behind Hawthorn Leslie locomotive Isabel at the Epping Ongar Railway.
TRAIN AND CONNECTING BUS TIMETABLE NOW AVAILABLE - DOWNLOAD HERE
What to expect
An intensive service will operate, during which the engines will need to work hard on our challenging gradients. Services will additionally run until late evening on Saturday.
Non stop double headed service from Epping Forest to Ongar with 4953 and 6989 on Friday. Both locomotives also double head on Saturday.
Shuttle trains into Epping Forest with 3437 "Isabel"
A special return journey from North Weald to Blake Hall station on Saturday with 3437 "Isabel" and 2409 "King George" (no boarding or alighting will be permitted at Blake Hall) in addttion to the main service between Epping Forest and Ongar.
All trains will be running in conjunction with our fleet of vintage London buses, which will provide connections with Epping Underground and Shenfield National Rail stations.
Our on train bars will be also be open, serving a selection of draught beers, as well as a range of wines, lagers and soft drinks.
Footplate Rides - LIMITED AVAILABILITY!
Join the crew on the footplate and experience a Great Western workhorse from the best seat in the house!
Tickets must be purchased in advance for a specific train offering a complete round trip on the footplate from North Weald to Epping Forest and Ongar. Footplate ride tickets include an All Day Rover so you can enjoy the rest of your day travelling "on the cushions" behind your favourite locomotive!
These footplate rides are extremely limited to one per loco per day as below:
6989 Wightwick Hall: 12.15 departure from North Weald - round trip via Epping Forest and Ongar. £95
4953 Pitchford Hall: 14.15 departure from North Weald - round trip via Epping Forest and Ongar: £95
4144: 13.15 departure from North Weald - round trip via Epping Forest and Ongar: £85
3437 Isabel: Friday and Sunday: 11.45 and 13.45 departures from North Weald; Saturday 11.45 and 14.45 departures from North Weald - return journey to Coopersale Bridge: £30
Please note: This is a footplate experience only. You will not be driving or firing the locomotive. Participants must wear long sleeved clothing and trousers and closed toe footwear (trainers are acceptable). You should not bring bags on the footplate due to limited room. Alcohol must not be consumed prior to your footplate adventure. The crew may refuse access to the footplate if they believe any participant is intoxicated.
The stars of the show!
VISITING LOCOMOTIVE
Great Western Railway Modified Hall class locomotive, 6989 "Wighwick Hall" in a red livery following it's star appearance in the Harry Potter TV series.
Locomotive appears courtesy of Quainton Railway Society and the Bluebell Railway
VISITING LOCOMOTIVE
Great Western Railway large prairie class locomotive, 4144. SOME OF ITS FINAL WORKINGS BEFORE EXPIRY OF BOILER CERTIFICATE
Locomotive appears courtesy of Didcot Railway Centre
Photo: K Felstead
HOME FLEET LOCOMOTIVE
Great Western Railway Hall class locomotive 4953 "Pitchford Hall"
HOME FLEET LOCOMOTIVE
Hawthorn Leslie saddle tank, 3437 "Isabel" working shuttle trains into Epping Forest.
LONG TERM VISITING LOCOMOTIVE
Hunslet locomotive, 2409 "King George" (Saturday only)
Brake Van Rides
For an additional charge of £10 travel on our brake van on a short goods train on shuttle services into Epping Forest with 3437 Isabel.
On Saturday this train will be top and tailed by Isabel and "King George" and will make a special rare return trip to Blake Hall station (no boarding or alighting will be possible at Blake Hall as it is privately owned and has no public access).
LNER Cafe at North Weald and the Buffet Stop at Ongar
Our catering outlets will be open all day. Hot snacks and other light refreshments and hot and cold drinks are available at the LNER Cafe at North Weald, including breakfast rolls until 11.30; the Buffet Stop at Ongar will be offering hot and cold drinks and other light refreshments.
Meet Malcolm Root on Friday 17 April
The Epping Ongar Railway is proud to announce a return visit by renowned transport artist Malcolm Root FGRA. Malcolm Root is one of Britain’s leading transport artists, widely admired for his evocative paintings capturing the golden age of steam, railways, and transport history. He will be present on Friday 17 April, in the marquee at North Weald, where he will be displaying some of his original paintings, and is expected to also have prints of some of his paintings for sale, including In the Bleak Midwinter - his painting of Epping station in Steam days. A print of this classic painting, plus the photograph from which it was painted are on regular display at the Penny Salon on Ongar station.'
The Penny Salon Gallery
The Penny Salon Gallery at Ongar station will be open featuring our new exhibition 'London Town'. Admission is free so don't forget to complete your visit and take a look during the day.
Also appearing in the marquee at North Weald will be the 'Penny Salon on tour' where presenter Malcolm Batten will be displaying some of his father's photos of Great Western 'Halls' and other 4-6-0 classes at work taken in GWR days as well as some of his own photos of preserved steam locomotives.
Train and bus timetables
The train timetable with locomotive allocations, together with times of the connecting vinatage London bus service, is now available!
Download the train and connecting bus timetables
Gradient Profile
Download our gradient profile.
Getting to us
PUBLIC TRANSPORT:
It's easy to get to us via the London Underground and Elizabeth Line and Greater Anglia services. Our inclusive vintage London buses will run from right outside the front of Epping Underground station (Central Line, zone 6) and from Shenfield station (for Elizabeth Line and Greater Anglia services), connecting with our train services at North Weald and Ongar stations. These will connect with the first and last train services, as well as running regularly throughout the day, so you will not miss a minute of the action! Timetables with bus times will be available shortly.
THERE IS NO CAR PARKING AT OUR STATIONS:
There is only limited car parking for disabled passengers at our stations, which must be booked in advance. Public car parks are available in Ongar (charges may apply), a short walk from the station (use postcode CM5 9AB); Alternatively passengers may park at Epping Station (charges apply) and join our vintage bus service (use postcode CM16 4HW).
More details on how to get to us.
Photographers
We encourage you to use your camera and video for personal use on our station platforms and designated foot crossings. For your own and our staff's safety, please do not leave the public areas or trespass on the lineside areas.
Which way are the locomotives facing?
6989 Wightwick Hall - facing Ongar
4953 Pitchford Hall - facing Ongar
2409 - facing Ongar
3487 - facing Epping
4144 - TBC
Fares
The following great value fares apply. All our tickets offer unlimited travel on all train and vintage London bus services on the day of your visit.
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In advance Adult: £27 |
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On the day Adult: £28.50 |
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NEW: 3 Day ticket (In advance only) Adult: £45 |
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Optional additional experiences FOOTPLATE RIDES (In advance only): from £30 to £95 BRAKE VAN RIDES:- supplementary fare of £10 per return journey, payable on the day only, and only on presentation of, or purchased at the same time as, a valid all day travel ticket. |
Children under 3 are free - no ticket needed.
To purchase a 3 day ticket offering unlimited travel for the whole gala, or even a saving over two seperate one day tickets, select Friday 17th April from the calendar when choosing tickets.
Our stations will only be accessible to passengers holding a ticket valid on the train services.
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