Good Friday - Epping Ongar Steam Railway Easter Hunt

Keeping with tradition our Easter Holiday starts on Good Friday and therefore the Easter Bunny visited Wick Palace last night. The kiddies were very excited when they woke up this morning to find they each had 6 Easter Eggs plus a box of little eggs for an Easter egg hunt in the garden.

 

After breakfast we also had a nice surprise for the kids as we had booked a family ticket for the Epping and Ongar Steam Railway Easter egg hunt. The steam railway often runs special events and it is somewhere we have been meaning to take them for a while, so I think I was just as excited as them.

 

We got on the steam train "Jennifer" at Ongar and then travelled through North Weald and on to Epping Forest (travelling in the First Class cabin). En route the kids had to hunt for 10 large Easter egg signs using clues provided and their reward for the hunt was to win yet another chocolate egg! The weather couldn't have been better for our day out with glorious blue skies and temperatures getting near to 15 degrees or so.

 

On the way back the kids decided they wanted to try riding the vintage 339 bus back from North Weald to Ongar instead of taking the train again. This was a traditional old style double decker bus and of course we had to ride upstairs.

 

The Easter Bunny did good in 2016 with a good array of chocolate eggs.

Our 3 little Easter Bunny rabbits getting ready for their Easter Egg hunt in the garden.

Happy Easter from the King's.

Joshua helping Holly to reach one of the hidden Easter Eggs.

Holly has got the hang of this Easter Egg hunt lark, 2 in one arm and one in the other hand!!!

We arrive at the Epping Ongar Railway.

While we wait for our steam train we have a little test of strength to see who can pull a locomotive.

Brandon having his attempt at pulling a train.

Me and the kiddies at Ongar control tower where we found the 3rd Easter Egg on the hunt.

Inside the control tower learning about how the conductor manages the tracks and signals.

Waiting on the Ongar platform.

Our steam train named "Jennifer" arrives to take us on our journey to Epping Forest.

Travelling First Class with rather nice comfortable and very bouncy seats.

The boys were very surprised at just home much smoke came out of the funnel of the steam train.

En route there was some stunning Essex countryside with the odd pheasant, rabbits and lots of wild deer's roaming around.

At North Weald the kiddies got to meet the Easter bunny. Holly was very brave and gave the bunny a high five.

Joshua enjoying the fresh air and sticking his head outside the train window.

The vintage 339 bus, but the wrong one as this was going back to Epping.

We eventually found the correct 339 bus which would complete our journey back to Ongar.

 

We had a really, really nice family day out at the Epping Ongar Railway and the hunt made such a change from the usual Easter activities. The cost was pretty reasonable as well at only £34 for a family of 5 for unlimited rides on the trains and buses plus the Easter Egg trail.