A stock on Epping-Ongar?

Was this when the track was still connected at Newbury Park (from Ilford I think it was), or Leytonstone (from Temple Mills Yard)? That would of course have required possibly diesel or even battery loco haulage from Ruislip say though there was at one stage a connection between the Central at Ealing Broadway and the Up GWR Slow. I remember it well as a long siding which came off the Central before it curved round to the left, and was visible from EB trains on Hangar Lane bridge.

They did get onto the Central Line at the other end of course, Ruislip Depot to Acton Works via Ealing Broadway.

www.bandrvideos.co.uk/



Volume 130:
London Transport Archive

Using all archive film taken over many years up to 1980, this film covers the operations on the LONDON TRANSPORT network on rail and road. Metropolitan Railways are seen with steam at Rickmansworth in 1961 taking over from electric locos. Lots of coverage of the LT pannier tanks at NEASDEN, CROXLEY, WATFORD, FARRINGDON and LILLIE BRIDGE. The Metropolitan electric locomotive tours of 1972. Tube trains of 'Q' stock, '38' stock on the Northern Line and A62 stock on the Epping to Ongar line and others. Road transport covers trams, trolleybuses in EDMONTON and some ex LT vehicles in Spain. Horse buses back on the London streets in 1979 with their history mixing with a few preserved examples of early motor buses. The RT buses in central London up to the last on Route 62 at BARKING. RLH types in East London and Routemasters including FRM1 at POTTERS BAR. Witness a visit to ALDENHAM WORKS and the skid pan at CHISWICK with an RT. LONDON COUNTRY routes with green RT, RML, RMC and RF. GREEN LINE with RM's and RP's around HARLOW. There are all-over advert liveried Routemasters, Silver Jubilee and Shoplinkers examples. RTW's at NIAGARA FALLS, WR, A very nostalgic period remembered of LONDON TRANSPORT's history. Filmed virtually all in excellent colour, with a sound track and informative commentary

I've got a copy - it is actually '62 stock on the Epping - Ongar.

'A' stock was tested on the Central Line but at the other end. I know I contributed to a recent thread about this, but can't for the life of me find it. The WTT [1] that mentions the testing of the 'A' stock on the Central that I have has currently been borrowed by my General Manager, so I can't give you a date.

COLIN

[1] Working Timetable

Sounds like a good idea for the heritage route - A60/62 stock. =D

They are really set for getting steam soon, but Im not so sure this could take place, what with expense both to run it and for the environment. A stock will be perfect (if able of course)

I am just dreaming here but if they had a varitey of old tube stock running on there and they could have one each day of the week

I am not trying to critisize the EOR at all but they didn't really preserve much of LUL's heratige of running the line.

It could be like in Alderney and have them towed round by a diesel loco

They have altered the way that the doors operate too, as there are no compressors, but can't remember how!

I believe that one forum member is involved at said railway.

Interesting thread.

I can not recall 'A' stock ever being considered for this line simply because of the logistical effort in getting them there, in saying that, the original group who wanted to take over the line (not ORPS) when an early attempt closure was announced, are pictured examining possibly 'R' stock for operation on the line, nothing came of this as the line was reprieved.

Electric Preservation! and why not? Just because the line was electrified doesn't mean HMRI or whoever would get there knickers in a twist, why should they and to say otherwise is shortsighted indeed, if you don't ask you'd never know.

To put the record straight, I met HMRI before the line closed and posed the question 'would there be a problem with operating preserved LU stock on the line' 'none at all, as long as the safety case was in place and everything conformed to appropriate standards and regulations'.

The chances of electric LU stock operating on the line is zilch, mainly due to the lack of juice rails and the prohibitive cost of replacing them, plus you'd need a sub-station or supply from the Grid.........expensive.

As we all know, the Central operates ATO, codes in the track and no train stops. Getting a train from the branch in to Epping is quite simple really, it's not rocket science and conventional signals with train stops and coded working can work together in harmony, it just needs a little bit of thought, if you know anything about signaling then you will know it can be done.

When I still worked at the Wood Lane, I was approached by a Senior Manager who was seeking to get the line back and to operate it as a LU Heritage Railway funded by TfL, he wanted to know if I, and more importantly CHTL, would be interested in the project. What the current situation is I don't know but LU operating the line in a Heritage capacity would be a darn sight more interesting than what goes on now.

Fortunately we saved the Cravens 60TS from Booths and preserved Epping Cabin, I bowed out in Nov 2006.

No current rails.

I would like to see more preserved trains. In the next 10 years there will be a mass slaughter of rolling stock and if one working example of each (A, C, D, 67/72 73) couldn't be saved it would be criminal.

Although I'm not involved any longer with the presrvation scene in the UK, I do still follow events of the line and of course Cravens Heritage Trains.

The PWay on the line was in a sorry state when the line closed in 94. with ballast 3 feet deep in places, made up because the embankments are primarily ash and prone to sinking/slippage. Maintenance in the last 10 years of the line (LU) was 'makedo' to say the least, scouring of the bridge abutments at Cripsey Brook was also identified as a future problem.

Operating and maintaing a Steam/Diesel or any other fleet will be extremely hampard by the building of houses on Ongar Goods Yard, there aren't (if any) other suitable places on the line for a depot of sorts.

It does seem strange that the 'Chief Engineer' wants an A60, they couldn't look after the two 4 car 62TS they had, personally, I think he's in cloud cuckoo land.

It would be interesting to know just how much of there membership base is made up of experienced railwayman with the knowledge to restore the line and potential rolling stock, I'm not taking anything away from the enthusiasts, they are the valuable men and women who make these things work.

Membership of ORPS has remained around the 250-300 mark, any idea what the EOR's is?

Probably not Tom but there is a Cabin at Epping that requires the Frame to be installed, kick some butt for me!

I meant the bus company chief engineer, and like I said the railway changed ownership only a few months ago, so not the same team who allowed, i believe, two 1962 stock sets to be wrecked !