The Epping Ongar Railway has now re-started operations after a long period which has seen the railway grow into Britain's newest steam attraction.
Friday 25th May saw the first steam-hauled services on the line between Ongar and North Weald for 55 years, although the motive power was very different. Instead of locomotives from the GER era, the railway has gained two Great Western Railway locos as well as a couple of Industrial saddle-tanks and a fleet of heritage diesels, DMUs and one of the former Lymington Branch EMUs.
For the railway's 're-opening weekend', the line's new flagship: GWR 4900-class 'Hall' 4-6-0 No.4953 "Pitchford Hall" was in action along with GWR 6400-class 0-6-0PT No.6430 (visiting from the Llangollen Railway). The 'Pannier' is currently on-loan until the overhaul of GWR 5101-class 'Large Prairie' 2-6-2T No.4141 is completed at Llangollen's workshops. Also in action were two of the line's large diesel locomotives: BR Class 31 'Goyle' A1A-A1A No.31438 and Class 37 'Growler' Co-Co No.D6729. On display in the yard were the two Class 03 0-6-0DE Shunters Nos.03119 and 03170 along with the latest addition to the fleet: former Colne Valley Railway-based 'Andrew Barclay' 0-4-0ST No.2199 "Victory".
Two services were in operation. "Pitchford Hall" and the 'Pannier' top 'n' tailed workings between North Weald and Ongar whilst the Class 31 and Class 37 top 'n' tailed with the former Lymington EMU from North Weald towards Epping.

This footage is from Saturday 26th May 2012.