Epping Ongar Railway HistoryFacts About The Line
A Link to an old EOR webpage with the article of the first day of service!!
Please click on the title below:
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The platform at Blake Hall remained after the station closed. But after a few drivers had caught had been caught droping of kids and other people off at the station, LU had no choice but to tear out the platform.
The last service to Epping from Ongar the train would go to Woodford, as there was no shed or depot on the line anymore. This is where the train would be held over night.
People still live in the stations. Blake Hall part of North Weald and part of Ongar.
The line has been heavly vandalised of the years, many windows buildings and coaches have been defraced. But now since EOR have operated on the line, it is being brought back to its former glory.
In the early stages of the privitisation, the line was meant to be electrified and tube stock run. Then due to lack of funds and the the tube stock stabled ongar being extremely Vandilised, this was never an option.
The two car DMU now running on the line was buillt in 1959 and was run out of paddington, in its days of service as BR rolling-stock.
The steam trains at ongar on the 2nd lane which is now disused and cut off from the main line, are of 5ft gauge. Which are too big and too exspensive to run on the line. Though steam will be a definate option by other means in the future.
The Line at Epping station.
As you see two lines going on passed epping station, this is where they go.
The left lane goes on for a couple of 100 yards before stoping ,this was used as a siding and later on used for a safety overrun.
The right lane is the Ongar branch lane, which goes on for about 800 metres before stoping.
At this point there Indicated on the map the line is has been broken to stop eor or LU trains from going over this limit. There is also a metal fence across the line for security.
bravenet.com