Although summer is nearly over, the Epping Ongar Railway is Essex still has plenty to look forward to.

Today, Saturday, 29th August, it is time for Teddy Bears to be in charge when the railway holds a Teddy Bears’ Picnic.

Everyone is invited to bring their favourite Teddy Bear, or other cuddly toy, along for a fabulous day out at the railway.

The Teddy Bears’ Picnic is an ideal day out for youngsters to enjoy the railway.

Tomorrow, Sunday, 30th August, will be a delight for bus lovers when the ralway holds its Golden Rover Classic Bus Running Day.

Anyone who is nostalgic for the days of green buses will be in for a treat, when there will be various vehicles will be giving demonstrations, and also offering vintage bus rides around the local area.

The railway couldn’t survive without its band of loyal volunteers, so has designated Saturday, 12th September as its Volunteer Day.

This day will give a chance for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer to find out what goes on behind the scenes at a heritage railway.

It will be the ideal way to find out about the surprising range of volunteering opportunities the railway has on offer.

The highlight of the autumn is the Autumn Diesel Gala from Friday, 25th to Sunday, 27th September.

Locomotives from the railway’s home fleet, including its shunting locomotives, will be in action, being put through their paces over some of the most challenging gradients on a preserved railway.

There will also be memories when everything on the railway was in corporate blue, with British Railways blue-liveried locomotives hauling blue-and-grey liveried carriages.

As well as the special days, other delights await, such as a railway journey with cream tea or a Dining Train experience, both of which provide plenty of excuses for taking a special trip along the line.

The Cream Tea Trains allow guests to sit back, relax and enjoy a delicious cream tea as a steam locomotive takes them through the Essex countryside behind.

Completely different is the Epping Signalling Museum at Epping, which is the only London Underground Signal Cabin on the entire tube network open to the public, or visitors can be part of movie magic as one of the railway’s carriages features in the brand-new film Practical Magic 2.

To round off the year, Santa Specials are lining up ready for Christmas.

These often sell out, so anyone who is thinking of booking a trip on one of the Santa Special trains should make their booking sooner rather than later, and tickets are already on sale.