Epping-Ongar Railway
TIMELINE
Over 150 Years


Over 150 Years Main Events Extension The Future Read Me



Over 150 Years of History

The Epping-Ongar Railway (link) was opened in 1865 by the Great Eastern Railway (link), as part of a single track extension from Loughton to Ongar. It has survived two subsequent closures and two subsequent reopenings and reflects the changes in the transportation landscape since 1865. This timeline aims to summarize the main events, which, I'm sure you'll agree, make fascinating reading.



A busy day at North Weald with guest locomotive Met No. 1. about to head for Ongar.

Whilst the Epping-Ongar Railway has an excellent detailed visitor-oriented site (link), it was felt that this present page presents a hopefully useful summary of what is a complex sequence of events which shaped this heritage line - the closest to the Capital. Lest we forget the initiative of the erstwhile Great Eastern Railway (link), their splendid crest features on this and on most of these pages on this web site.


Events Over a Century and a Half



Local Dignitaries Intervene

At one time there were a number of plans to extend the EOR beyond Ongar. Proposals included: (1) Great Dunmow and (2) Chelmsford (via Writtle?) - connecting to the already existing GER line. (link (Ambitious Plans)).

The Loughton-Ongar line was completed in 1865. Access to a railway was sought after in those days, so - it is suggested according to local history (link) - a number of local "dignitaries" in Ongar were keen that the railway should not be extended beyond Ongar. The railway should serve Ongar but no places further north or east, even if other communities which would have benefitted from extending the line would therefore be deprived of railway access. According to this suggestion, the said dignitaries therefore purchased some land across the road from, and just east of, Ongar Station; they then ensured this land was ceded to the church to enable it to open (in 1866) the Ongar Cemetery, thus, of course, blocking any extension of the railway. If all this is correct, it will remain for history to judge how appropriate this intervention by the said local dignitaries may have been.



The Future

As befits a flourishing heritage line, the EOR has quite a number of plans. (link). Apart from additional rolling stock and associated restoration and new build projects, these plans include two new stations or halts.