Reshaping and Beyond - Bus Event

This year's bus event, centred on North Weald station, marks 50 years since the Reshaping Plan that heralded the advent of new one person operated buses to London. This event features many of the new vehicle types that followed, together with many traditional ones from the "old order".

A large number of single deck AEC Merlins entered service on 7th September 1968, and the event will include the largest line up of Merlin and Swift vehicles to have been seen for decades.

The event will not just feature vintage buses from the era but will also provide opportunities to ride on many of them as we recreate former London Transport routes in the local area.

The day will start off with services operated by the 'old order', such as RT, RTL RTW types but from lunchtime onwards, many of these will run in for the last time and operations will switch to the new generation of buses that were set to replace them. In addition to the appearance of MBA and SM types in service, other buses representing the new generation of London vehicles will be operating on a series of special routes around the area.

The range of vehicles will also include representatives from the London Country era, that took over operation of LT's country and Green Line services on 1st January 1970.
Vehicles and routes

The event will be centered around the Railway's North Weald Station and will feature routes operating to a number of local towns and villages. It is anticipated that vehicles from the following classes will be running in service: RT, RTL, RTW, RF, RM, CRL, RMA, XF, RP, MBA, SM, DM, T, GLS - and possibly a surprise or two! It is hoped to include the unveiling of a highly relevant vehicle, a rare survivor from a class that hasn't been seen since the 1980's.

The final line up is still to be confirmed. Watch out for some fantastic rides and updates on this page.

The regular route 339 bus service will run as normal, linking Epping Underground and Shenfield Rail stations with North Weald station, in addition to our scheduled steam and diesel train services.
Additional Chingford Services

Due to engineering work on the Central Line on 9 September, we will operate two feeder services on Route 718 from Chingford Station to North Weald, departing Chingford at 10.00 and 10.45. These services will be operated using former Green Line vehicles and are available to those with pre-paid tickets or passengers can purchase a ticket on the Coach (cash only).

Return trips to Chingford will depart North Weald at 16.15 and 16.50. Passengers are also reminded that our usual 339 services will operate to and from Shenfield Station.