Cravens Heritage Trains exists to promote the preservation of London Underground
rolling stock in working order. Two trains of former Central Line stock are owned;
one has operated private tours.In the future we hope to expand our activities and preserve the signaling heritage
of the Underground by leasing and maintaining Epping signal cabin.
Cravens Heritage Trains began in 1994 as the Craven Preservation Group. The intention was the preservation of the three car 1960 tube stock unit, which in September 1994 had worked the last train between Epping and Ongar. Sufficient funds were raised to purchase the unit in May 1995. At this time it was hoped that the Ongar branch would soon re-open as a preserved railway with electric operation between Epping and North Weald. Further fund raising permited the purchase of a four car unit of the Metro-Camell 1962 tube stock that had operated on the Central line. Since July 1995 the Cravens unit has operated railtours on the Underground - the only privately owned train to have done so. Restoration of the 1962 stock unit continues at Hainault Depot.
During the Summer of 2001 a lease on the Signal Cabin at Epping was agreed and work begun.