Ongar Station

Ongar Station, at the Eastern end of the Epping Ongar Railway and formerly at the end of the Central Line, and before that, long ago, at the end of the branch in rural Essex of the Great Eastern Railway, has many stories to tell. One of these is the heroic but tragic story of an Ongar resident, one Father Thomas Byles (1870-1912) on the "Titanic". He had a place on one of the limited number of lifeboats, but gave his place to someone else; he went down with the ship.

Ongar Station in 2012,
the Centenary of the Sinking of "The Titanic".

When Father Byles left Ongar Station in April 1912, his local station will have looked similar to the way it looked in 2012, with only a few differences. The diligent restorers of England's railway heritage have worked hard to bring back as much as possble of times past.

The Titanic

The "First Sailing" of the "Titanic" was proudly announced in Britain, including in the form of typical pre-WWI "Enamel on Metal" advertisements. The "Titanic" was the latest addition to the White Star Fleet. She was similar to, but just slightly heavier than, her two sisters, and so, at the time, the largest passenger liner in the world.

"The Titanic"
Proudly announced on Ongar Station.
"First Sailing of the Latest Addition to the White Star Fleet".
"The Latest, Largest and Finest Steamer Afloat".
This was a typical pre-WWI "Enamel on Metal" Advertisement.

A Heroic Deed

Father Thomas Byles was travelling from Ongar, to New York, to conduct his brother's wedding ceremony. He borded the "Titanic" at Pier 10 (the White Star Dock, Berth 44) in Southampton. Little did he and his fellow travellers know that the "Titanic" would never reach the American shores. When disaster struck, Father Byles gave his place on a lifeboat to someone else. Father Byles was to die, assisting and comforting others, as the "Titanic" started to sink beneath the surface of the Atlantic, eventually reaching her final resting place on the sea bed, 2⅓ miles (about 3800 Km) below the surface of the ocean.

"Commemorative Plaque" with a short recognition.

The history of the "Titanic" lives on, no less on Ongar Station in Essex, where visitors and day-trippers are reminded of the momentous happening a century and more ago.