The Epping Ongar Railway at North Weald in Essex has released more details about its upcoming gala to be held on the weekend of Friday, 17th to Sunday, 19th April 2026.

The weekend will feature four majestic steam locomotives, including Great Western Railway (GWR) Modified Hall Class No. 6989 Wightwick Hall, which has a starring role in the Harry Potter television series. Wightwick Hall is famous for its red livery and was used in the TV series to transport the wizards to school at Hogwarts.

Three other locomotives will be in service during the weekend:

• GWR Prairie tank engine No. 4144.
• Hunslet 0-4-0 saddle tank No. 2409 King George, which is on loan from the Didcot Railway Centre. It was built during World War II and worked at a number of collieries in Nottinghamshire before being sold in 1980. Rescued from a scrap yard in 1981, it has since been restored and repainted in Royal Blue.
• GWR Hall Class No. 4953 Pitchford Hall, which looks resplendent in midnight black with gold and scarlet detailing. It is a resident at the Epping Ongar Railway, and will allow visitors to compare the differences between Unmodified and Modified Hall Class locomotives.

During the weekend, guests can enjoy refreshments from on-train bars, whilst on Saturday evening, there is the attraction of a Real Ale train serving locally sourced fish and chips.

A shuttle service is being laid on for visitors to the gala, with vintage buses from Epping station on London Underground’s Central Line, and Shenfield station on the East Anglia Main Line.

Tickets and further information about the event are available online at www.eorailway.co.uk.