All aboard

Trains are to small children like half eaten bananas are to fruit flies – they’re inexplicably drawn to them and they just cant seem to get enough.

Which is why last weekend the Wee Man, Bubby D, the Other Half and I were to be found checking out the Epping-Ongar railway along with one of the Wee Man’s friends and his family.

And for a day out with a toddler train enthusiast, it was pretty much perfect. Not one, but two trains make their way regularly along tracks which were once part of the central line (apparently one of the stations held the dubious honour of being the least used underground station in the country, so I suppose that was good justification for deciding to end the line at Epping instead).

The first train is a DIESEL (that’s the Wee Man shouting excitedly) and runs from North Weald down to Coopersale where it nestles among the trees for a short while (‘Where’s the Gruffalo Mummy?’ asked the Wee Man, as we pondered whether we were required to fling open the doors and leap from the train to invisible platforms) before returning back to North Weald. The train has old fashioned Hogwarts Express-esque compartments to sit in, and our pushchair was welcomed aboard into the Guard’s van. Whilst getting it aboard, we managed to drop the change bag onto the track – and thankfully this did not cause severe delays as it would have on the actual Central Line. ‘Hop on board and enjoy your journey’ said the friendly volunteer worker ‘and when you come back it’ll be sitting in the ticket office waiting for you’.

And it was!

Back at North Weald, we made our way across the level crossing to the STEAM TRAIN (yes, more great excitement) gently puffing on the other side of the tracks as it waited to make a move.

This time, we were off to Ongar, and felt extremely well-to-do as we sat at little tables surrounded by armchair style seats and adorned by a little fringed lamp, listening to the train merrily chuff-chuffing it’s way along the tracks.

Arrival at Ongar held another huge excitement, as there was the option of hopping on a heritage bus to get back to North Weald, should you wish to. Which of course the Wee Man did. Actually finding the bus proved a bit confusing, but by luck we chanced upon it whilst milling around at the entrance to the road the station was on, and hopped on board.

Heritage buses sadly weren’t made for an age of modern pushchairs, and so there was a bit of tussling with the iCandy getting it safely stowed on board. But once again, the friendly volunteer bus conductor lent a willing hand, and we were soon off down the road being driven by a man in a flat cap that was possibly older than the bus!

Arriving back at North Weald several minutes later, the Other Half thought it was about time to be heading home to the football since we had experienced the bus and both trains. Sadly for him, the Wee Man had other ideas…because a ticket entitles you to ride on buses and trains all day, as many times as you want – and so of course that’s what we did until 5pm, when the final train puffed out of the station.

The tickets aren’t the cheapest at £12.50 an adult (under 3’s are free) but the money all goes towards maintaining the railway – something that is definitely worth doing, as a day riding the rails was great family friendly fun.