Purchase and reopening Epping Ongar Railway

1 purchase , reopening

1.1 ongar
1.2 north weald
1.3 epping forest

purchase , reopening

the line purchased pilot developments (later epping ongar railway ltd) in 1998. ongar railway preservation society entered £325,000 offer line, pilot developments convinced london underground accept higher offer after bidding deadline. independent politician martin bell described deal controversial land deal in constituency years , alleging conflict of interest local politicians. line reopened epping ongar railway volunteer society on sunday 10 october 2004, providing hourly service between ongar , north weald. line shortly after extended coopersale, although there no boarding or alighting facilities there.

between 22 january , 9 april 2006 line shut down engineering works. involved general station maintenance, rolling stock maintenance , track maintenance. ongar station remained closed engineering works , general maintenance , reopened on 28 may 2006 without use of station buildings.

on easter weekend 2007, railway had visitors on single day since reopening, on sunday , monday. teddy bears picnic, anniversary of reopening , halloween events popular.

at end of 2007, result of awarding of planning permission ongar residential development, railway sold new private owner committed bring steam line.

following change of ownership in 2007, decided suspend train operations , concentrate on improving track. done in order undertake major engineering works secure long-term future , facilitate return of steam line, including restoration of station buildings, run-round loops, full signalling, , coal , water facilities. there have been major changes ongar , north weald stations.

ongar

the station building @ ongar



the booking office @ ongar station

the yards area (derelict since 1960s) has been purchased david wilson homes, has built small collection of houses. cattle dock remains, main station building, has been repainted in ger colours (1900–1930s). ongar operational ger station in ger colours. shop , refreshment facilities available in main building.

the milk dock being restored bay platform, become platform 2.

all track has been lowered accommodate b.r. mainline rolling stock, , new signalbox has been installed on end of platform 2 in style of original , incorporating original signal frame saved when original box demolished. of points , signals connected this.

north weald

the station building @ north weald

north weald has been repainted in lner/br (e) (1940s–1960s) colours, brunswick green , cream.

the track height has been lowered accommodate uk standard stock , has been relaid through loop , bay platform, making 3 operational platforms, new signalling allows bi-directional working, access improved siding facilities , enable safer shunting.

epping forest

the rail service has been extended coopersale within few hundred metres of london underground station. impossible alight @ epping, eor intends build platform @ site.