Epping-Ongar Railway: 23rd September 2012Prepared by Ian Smith, 28th September 2012.North Weald Station to Coopersale: 31438North Weald Station is fascinating. A year ago the track was taken up for ballast to be removed so that the track could be replaced at its original pre-tube level. Since then the track has been relayed, the platforms extended, most of a new footbridge erected, a signal box installed and a yard and facilities laid out for the engine shed. The public areas have all been tidied up and look the part. There is even a fire in the waiting room/booking hall. Remarkable progress.In the loco yard behind the platform wall sat 03170, one of a pair of these little but quick shunters. There too was the line's current big steam engine, 4953 "Pitchford Hall", on a maintenance day today.
My train was waiting in the near platform, formed of Brush A1A-A1A 31438 with a Southern 3-CIG electric unit 1498. The Brush was in the process of being rubbed down for a repaint, so looked scruffy but sounded good. Is English Electric engine sounded remarkably like the smaller EE engines in the Thumper units.
I climbed aboard the 3-CIG, and settled into a seat in a first class compartment (Remember those?). Here I had a grand position to hear the big engine thumping away as we headed north out of North Weald, not towards Ongar but towards Epping. We passed various London Transport colour light signals, that looked as if they were still in place since the line closed. But they worked, and must be recent installations of old equipment to suit the new layout. We passed under the M11 and were into Epping Forest, climbing up between the trees. We trundled past Coopersale, with the pub, once a terminus for the 381, then slowed, coming to a halt just short of the STOP board, a kilometre from Epping Station.
Coopersale to Ongar: 1498Going back the other way the diesel was pushing but the driver was in the cab of the electric unit. Although there are insulators still in situ through the forest, there are no conductor rails, so no power for the unit! Radios linked the two cabs.We trundled back down the hill to North Weald, past the yellow signal into North Weald Station. The other 03, 03119, was waiting on the western end of the other passenger set in platform 2.
At North Weald I changed ends, moving to the east end of the 4-CIG, and grabbing a look at the Class 37, English Electric Type 3 No D6729, on the east end of the other train.
The single-line tokens for the North Weald-Coopersale and North Weald-Ongar single line sections having been exchanged, our driver obtained permission to proceed towards Ongar. With the throb of the diesel muted by the length of the train we set off eastwards, rumbling through the wet countryside. Too soon we were coming in to Ongar. The Thumper 205205, that I had followed down the Whitby branch when it went to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in March 2005, was in the yard undergoing repaint, showing traces of blue, NSE and Connex liveries as well as grey primer. I look forward to travelling on it again, as I did between Ashford, Rye and Hastings. Behind the DEMU stood a forlorn-looking French steam engine, looking much in need of attention. Paddington suburban diesel unit 51342/51384 was in the siding next to the platform, also in need of a repaint from its current blue and white.
Ongar to North Weald: 31438I alighted from the ex-Lymington Branch 3-CIG at Ongar. The station surroundings are much different from my last visit, with an estate of new homes built by the station approach. Perhaps they will need a commuter service to London once more.I returned to the platform, where the train was being prepared for the return to North Weald. I walked up the lengthened and resurfaced platform to the new signal-box, for a look at the train engine: 31438.
Thinking "nothing ventured: nothing gained", I politely enquired whether a cab-ride was a possibility. "Certainly", came the reply. So I climbed into the cab, and stood behind the small central window above the original cab-end connecting doors. Riding a diesel cab was a new experience for me. (I gather that cab-rides and train driving sessions are formally available at the railway).
We growled west along the single line, snaking its way across the rolling countryside past Blake Hall and back to North Weald, where the Home signal was displaying a yellow with a feather to direct us into platform 2.
I thanked my driver and second-man, and alighted, walking round the east end of both trains over the manned foot-crossing. North Weald Station to Coopersale and return: 03119/D6729The Coopersale shuttle this time was being topped-and tailed by little shunter 03119 and Type 3 D6729. I climbed onto the almost empty blue and grey Mark 1 set, and went to the west end, next to the little 204hp shunter. The crew were trying to start its engine, but what I suspect was a blocked fuel line was frustrating their attempts. But the big machine at the other end had plenty of power, and soon we were away, being pushed up the gradient into the forest with the "Tractor" growling away at the rear.
We stopped a little short of the STOP board before rumbling back down the line to North Weald, where it was time for me to return to the buses... Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
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Part Three: buses
Ian's Bus-stop
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