{"id":7979,"date":"2012-04-11T11:00:45","date_gmt":"2012-04-11T10:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/?p=7979"},"modified":"2012-04-11T15:11:10","modified_gmt":"2012-04-11T14:11:10","slug":"epping-to-ongar-railway-reopens-steam-archive-photos-blake-hall-and-sham-69","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/epping-to-ongar-railway-reopens-steam-archive-photos-blake-hall-and-sham-69\/","title":{"rendered":"Epping to Ongar railway reopens: steam, archive photos, Blake Hall and Sham 69"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Epping<\/p>\n

Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated team of volunteers, the\u00a0Epping to Ongar branch line railway in Essex is set to reopen to passengers next month.<\/p>\n

From Friday 25th<\/sup> May, the Epping Ongar Railway<\/a> will be operating\u00a0a steam and diesel service between Ongar and North Weald, with a diesel shuttle taking passengers onward into Epping Forest.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

I can remember travelling on this 6.5 mile branch line when it was still part of the London Underground network, and it made for a unique tube\u00a0journey.<\/p>\n

Back then, it was possible to get on the Central Line at Oxford Circus, and then change at Epping (above) before rattling through open fields \u00a0in a tube train\u00a0towards the terminus at rural Ongar.<\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

This 1977 tube map shows the location of the Epping to Ongar branch, with the line occupying the top right corner.<\/p>\n

The star next to Blake Hall denotes that the\u00a0station was closed on Sundays.\u00a0[Map\u00a0courtesy\u00a0of the\u00a0excellent\u00a0London Tube Map Archive<\/a>]<\/p>\n

North Weald station<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

Running deep through the Essex countryside, the Ongar branch was single track with North Weald (above) offering the only passing place for trains travelling in opposite directions.<\/p>\n

The station originally acted as a goods terminal for nearby farms, but later proved useful to airmen travelling to and from the nearby North Weald Airfield during World War II.<\/p>\n

The station’s two platforms were used from 1949 until 1976 when the westbound track was lifted, although the boarded-up signal box can still be seen in this early 1980s view.<\/p>\n

There’s still not a lot to see around North Weald, but there’s a lovely pub a short walk away, the King’s Head<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Blake Hall station<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

My favourite station was the evocatively named Blake Hall, located miles from anywhere.<\/p>\n

Taking its name from a country house <\/a>a mile or so away in the village of Bobbingworth, the station was built as a condition of the railway being allowed to cross the land, and remains a considerable distance from any substantial settlement.<\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

After its modest goods yard closed on 18 April 1966, the station\u00a0became infamous as the least used on the entire Underground, and at the time of closure on 31 October 1981, passenger numbers were said to be as low as just six passengers a day.<\/p>\n

The station building still exists but has since been converted into a private home, while the\u00a0passenger platform has been demolished.<\/p>\n

It’s likely that this station will never see passengers again, but it was a privilege for me to have been one of them, and to have had the chance to chat to the station master (who must have had the easiest job on the underground!).<\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

A view of the line between Blake Hall and Ongar showing the rural nature of the route.<\/p>\n

Ongar station<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

End of the line\u00a0at Ongar, showing the buffer stops at the end of the single platform.<\/p>\n

The station was opened by the Eastern Counties Railway on 24 April 1865, with London Underground taking over services from British Railways in\u00a0September 1949.<\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

Trains were\u00a0hauled by steam locomotives along the branch until the line\u00a0onwards from Epping was electrified in November 1957.<\/p>\n

The photo above was taken just before the branch from Epping was electrified and shows ex-GE F5 2-4-2T locomotive No. 67200 preparing for the return journey [Pic: Ben Brooksbank<\/a>, 9 March 1957<\/em>].<\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

After\u00a0electrification, the power supply was pretty feeble, so the branch was only\u00a0able to support two short (4 car) trains at once, making it unsuitable for heavy use (if there had been any such demand).<\/p>\n

Towards the end, the Epping-Ongar service only operated during Monday to Friday peak hours, although there was a brief re-introduction of all-day services in 1990.<\/p>\n

When the inevitable complete closure came on 30 September 1994, the line had\u00a0reportedly failed to ever turn a profit.<\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

On the single platform, looking east to Epping. You can see the disused signal box in the distance – this was used to control station movements and the goods yard to the left.<\/p>\n

A curious fact about the station is that\u00a0all distances on the London Underground network are still measured from Ongar,\u00a0even though the station is no longer owned by London Underground [source<\/a>].<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

Similar view to above from\u00a0Friday, 12 September, 1980 showing a\u00a0\u00a0train awaiting departure for Epping [pic: wikipedia<\/a>].<\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

The ticket office at Ongar station was to the right of the door, with the platform straight ahead.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The chalked on graffiti on the wall says, “Sham 69 Rule Ongar” with what looks like an\u00a0anarchy\u00a0symbol below. \u00a0Bless.<\/p>\n

The future<\/strong><\/p>\n

Full details of timetables and gala opening weekend fares have yet to be released – check their website for updates<\/a> – but here’s their announcement about the resumption of services:<\/p>\n

In the 150th year since the Great Eastern Railway was formed the Epping Ongar Railway, the longest heritage railway in Essex, will be resuming steam and heritage diesel hauled passenger trains on the branch.<\/p>\n

As the volunteers work towards concluding the restoration on the buildings, track, signals and rolling stock on the former end of the Central Line, the railway will be running services commencing a special weekend from Friday 25th May.<\/p>\n

Regular services will be running every weekend and Bank Holidays (including the\u00a0Jubilee\u00a0bank holidays) until the summer, then daily during the Olympics at nearby Stratford.<\/p>\n

On each operating day, the railway intends to operate steam hauled passenger services between Ongar and North Weald, a diesel shuttle from North Weald into Epping Forest, and a heritage bus service connecting to Epping LUL Station and High Street.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’m looking\u00a0forward\u00a0to visiting the\u00a0restored\u00a0line over the summer. Expect a photo update soon!<\/p>\n

\"Epping<\/p>\n

More info and resources:<\/strong>
\nOriginal urban75 feature on the Epping-Ongar station
\n<\/a>Official Epping Ongar Railway website
\n<\/a>Disused Railways site entry
\n<\/a>Epping-Ongar history\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Archive videos:<\/strong><\/p>\n