First attempt – first completion!
Posted: 08 Dec 2014, 14:36
I’ve just joined the forum, but have to confess I’ve been interested in the Challenge for at least a couple of years, and have found many of the posts, hints and tips here to be invaluable. I felt though that I didn’t want to join until I’d had a go, and had something to offer.
On Thursday last week (4th December) I made my first FNC attempt, and amazingly managed a completion. The time was slow (19:46:10) but I achieved my main goal – to get round all 270 in the day.
The route was a T4 start, Chesham finish. I did a lot of planning myself, but ultimately I used a tried and tested route published on this forum (by Andi I think) – no point in reinventing the wheel to get a first completion I thought. The Tube Exits iPhone app was also invaluable for planning, as well as Journey Planner obviously.
I’ve read from several on the forum that even after many attempts you always learn something each time, so here are my main highlights and things I learned:
• Starting from T4 I got the 06:15 District from Ken O with no problems, even knocking out West Kensington in the process, and after a smooth MHE connection by mid-morning I was 6 minutes ahead of plan and full of confidence that I knew what I was doing
• This is in contrast to later in the day when I was getting tired, was 50 mins behind plan and I learned that I’m prone to mistakes – eg. I took a wrong turning on the Kenton to Northwick Park run, despite having done it half a dozen times before
• I also learned that I need to be fitter! The ability to sustain a pacey run for half a mile or so would be invaluable - I‘m not as young as I used to be and tend to break down after about a quarter of a mile. Seb Coe could have been a great Tube Challenger…
• There were minor delays on the District to Upminster, and I learned I should have taken the c2c out and District back rather than the opposite – the trains tend to stack up going into a terminus whereas they are back to schedule earlier coming out
• The northern end of the Bakerloo also let me down, but a late running Overground from Queens Park came to the rescue and I only lost 10-15 minutes overall
• In the evening rush hour trains consistently ran slightly behind Journey Planner times. I guess it makes sense as there are more people and more trains than at other times, but I was finding I lost up to 3 minutes per train versus what I had planned despite no apparent hold-ups in the service
• The on-platform toilets at Northwick Park and Preston Road annoyingly close at 21:00 hrs, necessitating the use of an empty water bottle (another tip I’d learned from the forum – thanks)
The one secondary goal I didn’t achieve was to finish in Watford. Why would I plan that? Well until 2 years ago I lived directly opposite the station, and now live only 200m down the road. The old house was so close that I was kept awake in the late evening by the beeps from the Oyster barriers. I had the idea that I would step off my last train at Watford, punch the air in celebration at my completion, and then be home in less than 5 minutes with a beer in my hand! As it turned out I was running too late and had to knock out Watford before heading up to Amersham and Chesham. I did manage to get the last train back from Chesham to Rickmansworth though, so just a £10 taxi home for my beer.
Obviously I’m pleased with my first time completion, but intrigued as to how many others have completed in 2-3 hours less than me. I had maybe 40 minutes of delays total, I can see that faster runs could save 30 minutes or so, but where would the rest of the difference come from? Presumably it has to be in the route and the detailed planning. So back to the drawing board – I’m never going to break the GWR but would like to improve my time. Does that mean I’m hooked?
Thanks a lot, Peter.
PS. Before anyone asks I did Gloucester Road on the District Line even though Piccadilly would have been easier (but ‘illegal’)
On Thursday last week (4th December) I made my first FNC attempt, and amazingly managed a completion. The time was slow (19:46:10) but I achieved my main goal – to get round all 270 in the day.
The route was a T4 start, Chesham finish. I did a lot of planning myself, but ultimately I used a tried and tested route published on this forum (by Andi I think) – no point in reinventing the wheel to get a first completion I thought. The Tube Exits iPhone app was also invaluable for planning, as well as Journey Planner obviously.
I’ve read from several on the forum that even after many attempts you always learn something each time, so here are my main highlights and things I learned:
• Starting from T4 I got the 06:15 District from Ken O with no problems, even knocking out West Kensington in the process, and after a smooth MHE connection by mid-morning I was 6 minutes ahead of plan and full of confidence that I knew what I was doing
• This is in contrast to later in the day when I was getting tired, was 50 mins behind plan and I learned that I’m prone to mistakes – eg. I took a wrong turning on the Kenton to Northwick Park run, despite having done it half a dozen times before
• I also learned that I need to be fitter! The ability to sustain a pacey run for half a mile or so would be invaluable - I‘m not as young as I used to be and tend to break down after about a quarter of a mile. Seb Coe could have been a great Tube Challenger…
• There were minor delays on the District to Upminster, and I learned I should have taken the c2c out and District back rather than the opposite – the trains tend to stack up going into a terminus whereas they are back to schedule earlier coming out
• The northern end of the Bakerloo also let me down, but a late running Overground from Queens Park came to the rescue and I only lost 10-15 minutes overall
• In the evening rush hour trains consistently ran slightly behind Journey Planner times. I guess it makes sense as there are more people and more trains than at other times, but I was finding I lost up to 3 minutes per train versus what I had planned despite no apparent hold-ups in the service
• The on-platform toilets at Northwick Park and Preston Road annoyingly close at 21:00 hrs, necessitating the use of an empty water bottle (another tip I’d learned from the forum – thanks)
The one secondary goal I didn’t achieve was to finish in Watford. Why would I plan that? Well until 2 years ago I lived directly opposite the station, and now live only 200m down the road. The old house was so close that I was kept awake in the late evening by the beeps from the Oyster barriers. I had the idea that I would step off my last train at Watford, punch the air in celebration at my completion, and then be home in less than 5 minutes with a beer in my hand! As it turned out I was running too late and had to knock out Watford before heading up to Amersham and Chesham. I did manage to get the last train back from Chesham to Rickmansworth though, so just a £10 taxi home for my beer.
Obviously I’m pleased with my first time completion, but intrigued as to how many others have completed in 2-3 hours less than me. I had maybe 40 minutes of delays total, I can see that faster runs could save 30 minutes or so, but where would the rest of the difference come from? Presumably it has to be in the route and the detailed planning. So back to the drawing board – I’m never going to break the GWR but would like to improve my time. Does that mean I’m hooked?
Thanks a lot, Peter.
PS. Before anyone asks I did Gloucester Road on the District Line even though Piccadilly would have been easier (but ‘illegal’)