Name: Epping Ongar Railway
Rating: 5.0

Epping Ongar Railway

Epping Ongar Railway, Station Approach, Chipping Ongar, Epping, Ongar CM5 9BN, United Kingdom

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

Epping Ongar Railway is a heritage railway in Essex that lets visitors step back in time and enjoy the romance of historic travel. It is the longest heritage railway in Essex and the closest to London, uniquely running on a former part of the London Underground network. The railway offers an all-day experience through countryside, ancient forest, and historic towns.

Visitors can enjoy heritage steam and diesel train journeys, vintage London bus rides connecting with Epping and Shenfield stations, and travel through scenic Essex countryside. Activities and features include Dining Trains (Epping Fryer fish and chips, Afternoon Cream Tea, Real Ale trains), Steam and Diesel Driver Experiences, Signal Box Experience days, The Penny Salon micro-gallery, wildlife spotting, countryside walks from stations, and exploring the Grade II listed Ongar station. Guests can also enjoy station buffets, picnic-friendly trains, themed family events, enthusiast events, and panoramic views from certain services.

An All Day Rover ticket costs £19.50 for adults, £1.00 for children (3–15 years), and £18.50 for concessions. A Bus Event All Day Rover is priced at £12.00, and tickets are valid all day long, including train and bus travel on standard operating days. Discounted group rates are available for groups of 15 or more, with details provided on the website.

Overall, Epping Ongar Railway offers a rich and nostalgic transport experience close to London. It combines trains, buses, dining, and countryside views into one full-day attraction. This is an ideal visit for families, railway enthusiasts, groups, and anyone looking for a memorable heritage day out in Essex.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Dining Trains: The "Epping Fryer" fish and chip service, Afternoon Cream Tea service and Real Ale trains! If you're looking for somewhere unusual to have a delicious supper of Fish and Chips, or a lunchtime outing accompanied by Fish and Chips, then the Epping Ongar Railway's Epping Fryer dining train is the perfect place for you.
Steam and Diesel Driver Experience: Have you ever dreamt about taking to the footplate of a steam or diesel locomotive, feeling the power of the engine as it hauls a train along a full size railway? We can now offer you the opportunity to drive an engine from our home fleet, getting a truly authentic experience as you control the locomotive and train, complete with coaches behind, tackling our challenging gradients, obeying the signals and stopping at platforms.
Signalbox Experience: Have you ever wondered how the movement of trains is controlled on a busy railway such that trains, locomotives and rolling stock are in the right place at the right time? Unlike signalling simulators, if the sequence of signalling is wrong our trains really can get stuck in the wrong place causing genuine inconvenience to real people. So, why not come and learn for yourself how it's done at one of our signalbox experience days.
Ride a traditional London Bus: Our vintage London buses run regularly throughout the day to connect with the underground at Epping (Central Line, zone 6) and Greater Anglia and Elizabeth Line train services at Shenfield. The bus departs from right outside the station. Start your journey at either location, or take a ride during the day.
The Penny Salon: The Epping Ongar Railway opened the ‘micro-gallery’ at Ongar Station on Saturday 27 May 2017. The gallery is in the Ladies Waiting Room at the station. A railway volunteer and professional photographer who specialises in steam photography, Geoff Silcock, has worked alongside the Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Society members to transform the room into a place to display photographs and pictures. Mr Silcock has worked with local photographic and historical societies to bring a programme of interesting and relevant exhibitions to the Railway.
Wildlife: Look out for wildlife and enjoy the views of the skyline London from Epping Forest. Why not keep an eye out over the countryside and forests as you travel - you may see some cows, a deer, a buzzard and from some parts of the line, and on a good day, a view of London's skyline. All this from the comfort of your seat! Travel on our diesel railcar, when operating, and enjoy panoramic drivers eye views!
Take the tube to Epping: Many children really enjoy travelling on the tube and this gives you a great reason to take advantage of TFL off peak fares. Epping is on the Central Line and in Zone 6. Our vintage London buses depart from right outside the station to complete your journey to our train services.
Find the start of the Underground: Did you know that all distances on the London Underground network are measured from Ongar? Even though the line ceased to be part of the underground in 1994, this is still the case today. Look out for the distance marker posts every 200m along the line on the left hand side as you travel from Ongar.
Walks: There are a number of local walks from both North Weald and Ongar stations. Your ticket is valid all day, so why not break your journey and explore the historic town of Ongar, or take a stroll through the local countryside and return on a later train? You can download our walking tour of Ongar, or you might even have time to walk to Greensted Church - the oldest wooden church in the world! To get there, just follow the "Essex Way" footpath from Ongar High Street.

Facilities

Parking: Parking available.
Food & Drinks: We have a lovely buffet at North Weald Station and a small sweet and cake shop at Ongar - but with big tables on our trains you can also bring an 'indoor picnic'. Our on board bar is sometimes open, but bring your own bubbly!
Toilets: Ladies and Gentlemen's toilets are available at Ongar and North Weald stations. Baby changing equipment is included within the Family Room / Ladies Waiting Room facilities at both stations.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

All Day Rover

Adult: £19.50
Child (3 - 15 yrs): £1.00
Concession: £18.50
Bus Event: £12.00

Pricing URL: https://eppingongar.tygit.com/shop/groups/pk/07bb5448b048b7688522ff5e31524cb2

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

The railway makes an ideal visit for groups, we offer:

Coach Tour operators an ideal rest break location, adding an additional attraction to your itineraries while also offering a friendly and welcoming service from our dedicated team. We have our own book-able coach parking spaces available at North Weald station.
Schools can experience travelling back in history and learn how a steam or diesel engine works
Social or Support Groups can have a relaxing and different day out, where they can sit and watch the countryside go past
History groups can explore and research local history and see the award winning restoration work
Veterans can reminisce, especially those with a connection with the RAF or the Airfield at North Weald and wish to relive days gone by
Indeed any group looking for an interesting and different memorable day out... within a stone's throw of the M25 & M11!

Groups of 15 people or more can benefit from specially discounted group travel rates, and with lots of trains operating throughout each of our operational days, there are many options to suit all itineraries and visit times, from a short stop-off to a whole day adventure – Epping Ongar Railway can offer it all.

Visit the website to view timetable.

Address: Epping Ongar Railway, Station Approach, Chipping Ongar, Epping, Ongar CM5 9BN, United Kingdom

Post Code: CM5 9AB

Council: Epping

County: Essex

Directions, Parking and Public Transport options are all outlined on the find us page. There is very limited parking available at the stations, with priority given to blue badge / disabled customers.