Epping Ongar Railway

The Epping Ongar Railway is a small heritage line which runs between the Essex town of Chipping Ongar (also known as just Ongar) to the village of Coopersale just outside Epping. For much of the post-​war period, the line was well known as being a curiosity — part of the London underground system, yet running through an entirely rural area!
A relative newcomer to the preservation scene, it is still at a fairly early stage in its life (and at the time of writing there are no train services as extensive track repairs are under way).
History
The line was opened in 1865 as an extension of the Eastern Counties Railway line from London Liverpool Street to Loughton. Operated as a steam line for most of its life, in the 1940s plans were drawn up to incorporate the line into the new extension to the Central Line of London Underground.
Electric underground trains reached Laughton in 1948 and Epping in 1949. The line from Epping to Ongar, with intermediate stations at North Weald and Blake’s Hall was incorporated into the London Underground network, but initially run by a steam shuttle from Epping. The line was finally electrified in 1957, albeit cheaply, so that only short trains could run. The service thereafter continued to be operated as a shuttle from Epping.
Declining passenger usage caused the service to be reduced to peak hours only in 1976, and Blake Hall station closed in 1981. An improved all-​day service was implemented to attempt to attract custom, but this failed and the line became one of the few sections of the underground network to close completely in modern times, in 1994.
The line was then purchased by a private company, in order to run a service, but this did not materialise. A volunteer group was formed to help move things forward, and in 2004 a Sunday shuttle service was operated between Ongar and North Weald. Trains can run a little further to Coopersale, but there is no station there.
The line now
The main headquarters is at Ongar station, where a fairly ramshackle selection of railway vehicles is located, as well as a collection of London buses. The station also has a short section of broad gauge (5ft) track and two Finnish locomotives and carriages.
The station building has a small café and shop selling souvenirs, open on some Sundays, but since 2008 the line has been closed for some major engineering works, scheduled for completion in 2010. They nevertheless still have open days when visitors can wander around Ongar station, and the café and shop are staffed by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers.
Plans are under way to completely refurbish the station, which at present has a garden, oddly decorated with mannequins and ephemera with a ‘goth’ and science fiction theme.
The station has a small car parking area, and toilets.