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Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 07 Apr 2018, 06:43
by A Challenge
Surely its the same as buying a ticket for a bus (even though it may be capped on oyster) during a R15 in London?

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 07 Sep 2018, 10:33
by tufnellpark
#4 Strathclyde Challenge

I was in Scotland recently, so it would be rude not to spend a day travelling round Glasgow on a Daytripper for £12.30. The challenge is 181 Glasgow suburban stations on the 2008 SPT rail map. SPT are no longer involved in rail services, so the map hasn't been updated. The Daytripper starts at 09:00 so I needed a single ticket to get me on my way early.

On Tuesday 4th September, I started at Ayr and finished in Kilmarnock. First up the Ayrshire coast including the delightful station of Wemyss Bay. Go visit, next time you're in Glasgow. I then headed off to Lanarkshire (Coatbridge, Larkhall, Lanark, Shotts, Airdrie, Cumbernauld and Croy) and eventually back through Glasgow to Inverclyde, up to Balloch, Helensburgh and Milngavie. I got back to Queen Street at 22:41 and caught the last train to Kilmarnock, then back to Ayr by bus. A very long day but all the trains were on time (well done Scotrail) and the route worked well. Next time I will do this on a Friday, as there is a train one hour later to Kilmarnock, which gives me more time to do the Cathcart Circle.

I missed the two stations south of Ayr, as the line was closed due to a dangerous building at Ayr station, and the two stations south of Kilmarnock. I also missed the Cathcart Circle routes to Newton, Neilston and East Kilbride. So like my other rail challenges, a glorious but enjoyable failure. 137 stations visited this time. Another ideal place for a R15 weekend away.

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 11 Sep 2018, 22:39
by A2
So when are we doing the West Midlands away day / challenge then?

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 02 Oct 2018, 15:02
by tufnellpark
So South Eastern want to get in on the act. Unfortunately I can't make it.

https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/s ... r_Saturday

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 02 Oct 2018, 15:03
by tufnellpark
A2 wrote: 11 Sep 2018, 22:39 So when are we doing the West Midlands away day / challenge then?
I am doing the West Midlands Challenge this Saturday October 6th. Start at Northampton 06:16! Hope to see xcooler and A2 there.

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 07 Oct 2018, 08:31
by tufnellpark
#5 West Midlands Challenge (again)
A 06:16 start from Northampton saw me and xcooler visit Polesworth early on on our way to Crewe. The Wolverhampton stopper was delayed by a disabled passenger boarding, so we bailed out to do the Smethwick 1-2 involving four trains in 10 mins and much stair running. That woke us up.

At Worcester Shrub Hill, we decided that as the train was on time there was no point in running between the stations. We went to Tesco instead only to discover later that we could have made it as the train was held at Shrub Hill for 10mins to board a disabled passenger. A theme was developing here.

At Ledbury we missed our tight connection by seconds due to a late arrival because of (you guessed it) a disabled passenger. Seems that as most stations are unstaffed the guard has to board the passenger, which takes a few minutes each time. Buses do the job much quicker with their extending ramps.

After a restorative lunchtime pint and a visit to Redditch, where the yoof had the sickly smell of weed, we headed to Birmingham and then round the SW loop via Coventry, Leamington Spa (what a gorgeous Art Deco station) and Stratford-upon-Avon. We headed off on our final train to Shrewsbury after 17 hours of rail travel, visiting 102 out of 130 stations but missing out the Rugeley and Lichfield lines and annoyingly Worcester Shrub Hill.

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 23 Oct 2018, 23:39
by A2
Sorry I missed it all. Unfortunately I was a bit knackered after a few days in Munich... in October (draw your own conclusions) and so driving up to the Midlands wasn't really on the cards.
Look forward to the inaugural WM15 though!

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 08 Feb 2019, 13:34
by tufnellpark
#6 South Eastern Challenge
Armed with a 3 day Kent Rover and a Travelcard from Strood, I started at 05:18 from a very cold Dover, singing that Who song. OK it's about Brighton but it kept me warm. Faversham, Margate and Ramsgate were all ticked off on time. Unfortunately I arrived at Ashford 5 mins late, to see my connecting train depart. That just missed train put me one hour down.

I continued my journey ticking off Sheerness (#40) and headed into London via Rochester, Bromley South and a bus ride to Hayes. I changed at New Cross (#64) for a Cannon Street train round the loop via Sidcup and Greenwich. From Cannon Street I tubed over to Stratford and then HS1 to Ebbsfleet and back to St Pancras. Down to Charing Cross and a train to Dartford (#102), where I waited for a late running Thameslink train to Strood. This arrived 11 mins late, just enough to miss my connection down the Medway Valley line to Paddock Wood, which had left 2 mins earlier. Thanks for not holding that hourly train South Eastern.

With a potential 2 hours down, I rejigged my plan. I cut the Maidstone-Paddock Wood-Ashford-Maidstone triangle (14 stations) and instead wandered from Maidstone West to Maidstone East (#117) observing the Saturday nightlife. It seemed like I was the only sober one. A change at Otford on to Thameslink via Catford loop to London Blackfriars. From Victoria, I caught the 22:37 to Orpington and then the stopper to Tunbridge Wells where I had left my car.

I missed the Bromley North branch, Grove Park, the Hastings line and that Maidstone triangle. Oh and Bat & Ball which despite being only just over a mile from both Sevenoaks and Otford, I just couldn't fit it in to my timetable. 154 stations out of 184 covered in 18 hours 44 minutes and just two delays, although they cost me an hour each time.

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 08 Feb 2019, 13:38
by tufnellpark
This year I am planning the following "All the Stations" attempts:
March Southern
March GWR Devon and Cornwall
April South Eastern
April Wales (2 days)
September Scotland (2 days)
September Strathclyde
October West Midlands
October Anglia

I'll let you know how I get on.

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 08 Feb 2019, 15:28
by greatkingrat
I'd be very surprised if you could do all of Scotland in 2 days. Just the Far North and West Highland lines alone would take a large chunk of that time before you even start with the central belt.

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 08 Feb 2019, 19:41
by dstock17
greatkingrat wrote: 08 Feb 2019, 15:28 I'd be very surprised if you could do all of Scotland in 2 days. Just the Far North and West Highland lines alone would take a large chunk of that time before you even start with the central belt.
Unless Clive is willing to do my nuts strategy lol

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 11 Feb 2019, 14:41
by tufnellpark
greatkingrat wrote: 08 Feb 2019, 15:28 I'd be very surprised if you could do all of Scotland in 2 days. Just the Far North and West Highland lines alone would take a large chunk of that time before you even start with the central belt.
Indeed. The whole of Scotland in 2 days would be impossible. My plan is to do all the stations north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, excluding the Glasgow suburban lines. That includes Far North, West Highland, Highland, Inverness-Aberdeen-Edinburgh, Fife Circle and Central Scotland via Falkirk. That should keep me busy.

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 01 Apr 2019, 13:39
by tufnellpark
tufnellpark and xcooler123 are heading to scenic Wales, to visit all the rail stations with an Explore Wales pass. Thu 4th is Valleys day. Fri Cardiff-Porthmadog via Fishguard and Machynlleth. Sat Porthmadog-Gloucester via Holyhead and Wrexham. Wish us luck.

Re: Southern Daysave

Posted: 08 Apr 2019, 08:55
by tufnellpark
Unfortunately we had to cancel our trip due to a family emergency. We spent Thursday in the snowy valleys but I had to return to Sussex that afternoon as Mrs B was taken to hospital for an appendix operation. She's fine now. We'll attempt Wales again some other time.

Re: Rail Challenges

Posted: 12 Sep 2019, 17:50
by tubeguru
Topic title changed to "Rail Challenges" at the request of tufnellpark, although individual posts may retain the original title.