Epping Ongar Railway History
Copyright 2005 James Lyons
Ongar Station History
Opened: 24th April 1865
Closed: 30th September 1994
Re-opened: 10th October 2004
Intresting facts:
The station yard at Ongar is home to an unusual colony of non-poisonous European scorpions. Of coarse This wasn't an encounter of a rare bread in the countryside. People mainly believe that this was a plant from one of the station staff to get publicity for the line to prevent closure. They were featured in the BBC television programme 'Wildlife on One' in June 1979. The show called: Rare breeds
The railway was loved by the former poet laureate, Sir John Betjeman, who was a railway buff himself.
Ongar was often used as a film and TV location, due to its charm, period details and rural isolation. Mean films have been filmed at this location. With the most recent one being for The pop band Liberty X. Some of the small props and gliter are still there today.
Ongar station: Grade two listed building, awarded on 5th July 1984.
Station History : 1865-1885
The Great Eastern Railway opened the line linking Epping with Ongar on
Inside the station there was a ticket office and a station masters room. The entrance to the station has a small canopy.
The long, single platform (which did not have a canopy) was on the south side. The long platform of coarse leading on if it was leading to another destination.
Station history : 1886 - 1910
The Ongar signal box was opened in 1888, and the station platform was lengthened, from 350 ft to 470 ft, three years later. You can notice this at the east end of Ongar Station with the platform being very diffrent.
Additional sidings were provided in the goods yard in 1900, as the revenue from coal and agricultural traffic became more significant than that from passengers.
Station history: 1911 - 1935
Daily milk trains began running from Ongar to
Station history: 1936 - 1960
Not many changes were made to the station, although the oil lamps were replaced by electric lighting, and LT signage was introduced. The engine shed had closed in 1943-1944, and was demolished about five years later.
Even though today the engine shed is being rebuilt over the exact place it was 55 years ago.
The goods yard was closed on
The signal box and shunting neck were closed from
Really at this point the station was turning more like into a ghost station with no freight and passengers declining.
Station history: 1986 - 2001
In an effort to attract more passengers to the line, an all day service was reintroduced from
A brass plaque, commemorating the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Epping-Ongar line, was placed in the booking hall at Ongar station in 1990, but was later stolen.
In 1998 Pilot Developments bought (EOR Ltd) at this point the line was thick with weeds and smashed windows where vandals had left there mark.
2004 came and on 10th October 2004 the line re-opened with a Sunday service.
The line is probably more busy than it was then.
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