Change of plan for Epping Ongar as anniversary gala moves a week back
EPPING Ongar Railway’s 10th anniversary gala originally planned for May 27-29 has been rescheduled and will now take place across the four-day Platinum Jubilee bank holiday in June.
The change of dates to Thursday, June 2 to Sunday, June 5 has been necessitated owing to a major sporting event taking place over the May dates, which will result in local road closures and travel disruption.
The new event format will mean that the line’s diesel fleet will become more involved in the celebrations, to reflect the wider range of the EOR’s heritage traction and volunteers.
The railway launched steam services in May 2012 with an impressive display by resident GWR 4-6-0 No.4953 Pitchford Hall, which is expected to feature throughout the whole event.
June 2 will see Pitchford Hall operating alongside some of the home-based diesel locomotives, with June 3/4 running as the annual steam gala, set to feature BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No.75069 from the Severn Valley Railway on its first visit away since 1994.
The weekend ends with the Sunday being a mixed traffic day, comprising some of the steam and diesel fleet operating alongside one another.
The event is expected to feature some double-heading, engineering freight trains, and brake van rides, too. For more information, visit www. eorailway.co.uk