Epping Ongar Railway — Attraction in Epping Forest

Fantastic experience. Hats off to the volunteers for keeping these old and golden steam trains and buses up and running, for us to experience the taste of trevelling in late 1800's and early to mid 1900's. Important points to note- -It is necessary to check timetables on the web since wintage buses or steam trains may not run on certain days. Advance online booking is convenient. -Time table in the official web site shows two points as 'North Weild Arr' and 'North Weild dep'. This is just to differentiate the arrival and departure times of the trains as they are stopped in North Weild for a while. It is the same station. -Vintage bus picks you up right in front of Epping station drops you in front of the North Weild station. Buses continue up to Ongar station. -These trains run on the closed track beyond Epping, the last Central Line station of the eastern end. After epping, the track runs to North Weild (through epping forest) and Ongar. Wintage trains run basically between North Weild and Ongar stations. Some trains coming from Ongar, stops at North Weild and then continues further towards epping, creeping into epping forest. Train stops in the middle of the forest and comes back to North Weild. There is no platform or getting down from the train in epping forest. Train just continues beyond North Weild into the forest, stops at a point and comes back. -Online ticket with QR code should be show to the station ticket counter and should obtain the hard paper ticket. -Those paper tickets are valid for unlimited travel during the entire day. So dont throw them off. -Your ticket is valid to travel in any compartment, any seat. There are coaches with private rooms with a capacity for 8 people. Dont forget to try them. -You can closely observe how a steam engine is operated, how water is filled, how engine is coupled to coaches and how tracks are changed. -There are two cafe's, one outside the station and one to get in from from platform. Their food and drinks are good and reasonably priced. -There is a gift shop outside the station. They have reasonably priced souvenirs and books. -Ongar station has an exhibition room. Can learn about the history of railways around. -Epping, North Weild and Ongar stations...

Last night we went on the 3.20 experience, it was the most awful , unorganised Christmas event I have ever been too . It was absolutely chucking it down with rain when we arrived , got told to get off the bus as the train was arriving ! 20 mins in the freezing cold rain with children no one telling us what was going on . No shelter by the time we got on the train we was cold, wet and had crying children . No one helped us find our carriage or seats . People were huddled in the toliets with screaming cold wet children . How you can not have provisions for rain /winter . I have now had to had an ambulance out this morning as I have asthma and being left out in that for so long has caused a chest infection/asthma attack.

Absolutely disgusted, disappointed and would not recommend to anyone , we wasn't greeted , asked for tickets etc sat in ongar on the train for over an hour waiting to see santa for 2 mins barely any interaction 😐 bored children .

No drawing competition, no letter writing , no one saying we can get off at ongar and stretch our legs .

The train was filthy , sandwiches , crumbs and wrappers on the floor from the previous journey.

10 mins after the journey started a Colouring pack was chucked on the table in front of my children again no interaction at all.

The grinch said 5 words to the kids , scrooge gave them one chocolate ball . The elf said nothing and just walked past .

Absolutely horrible...

Had a trip on the Santa Special train today. Parked in Ongar High Street (free of charge in December) and then took the free bus (old style 60's / 70's bus) to North Weald Train Station. Here we were greeted with a free mince pie (and a drink of hot mulled wine for the adults) whilst we waited for the Santa Special Train. Had the opportunity to take some photos of an old steam engine that has been fully restored, looking magnificent in full working order. Once on the train, we took our seats in our reserved cabin in the Reindeer carriage, and awaited departure. Once we were moving, an Elf visited and showed a magic trick, then we met the Grinch and Scrooge, a further magician, and then finally the Big Man in The Red Suit. He was wonderful, said hello to the children individually by name, and the handed them all a present made out to each child individually with their name on the wrapping (really nice to not get just a generic boy / girl present). When we eventually arrived back at the station, we disembarked before queuing up to take a photo with Santa. Grabbed a Hot Chocolate, then made our way back on to the old bus to enjoy the short journey back to Ongar. All in all, quite a pleasant trip, made all the better by great company of friends, and all kiddies had a fantastic day that I hope they will remember and have fond memories of now and...