Introducing a twist on the FNC - Termini Challenge

[The Orange One]

Hoping this hasn't yet been thought of...

The aim of the Termini Challenge is to visit all the London Underground Termini - in most cases they will be at the ends of branches. Visiting is defined as per usual - either arrive or depart by train - with a twist. The train must be a terminating service - Barking must be visited by H&C, Stratford must be visited by Jubilee, Elephant and Castle by Bakerloo.

You need not visit stations such as Stonebridge Park or Seven Sisters - although trains commonly terminate there, these are just short workings.

Uxbridge, Hammersmith (H&C/Circ), Ealing Broadway and Edgware Road (Circle) must be visited twice though - for example in the case of Uxbridge it must be visited by both the Met and the Piccadilly.

Stations such as Wimbledon don't have to be visited twice (you don't have to use both Wimbleware and Wimbledon-Upminster), as both are District services running the same track. Woodford must be visited through the Hainault loop though as this is a completely different part of the Central. Likewise Heathrow T123 must be visited through T4.

I'm undecided over Hainault - although it's more than likely you'll go there anyway doing the Hainault loop. Your opinions please!

You have to complete the Waterloo and City line. Don't forget! Ken O and MHE are also compulsory, I know you hate me now.

This should give a nice opportunity to think of some interesting new connections! (Hint: London Bus A10 could come in handy)

[The Raven]

I remember seeing a YouTube video that claimed to do the FNC in 14 hours or something. I assume they did a variant of this challenge.

The slight problem with this challenge is that if you're going to visit every terminal, you might as well do the whole network.

[The Orange One]

scrxisi - Thanks for pointing this out. I think I've covered most of the points in the discussion, but I can see some interesting things I've missed. I'll try and make a decision!

Kennington - I'll label this as "short working", since there are through trains to Morden.

Woodford and Hainault - I will actually remove Hainault from the list. Though as I said it's more than likely you'll go there anyway. Woodford I must keep as Woodford via Hainault services always terminate in Woodford.

HSK - How did I forget about this? This does bother me a lot more than other early terminators (Tower Hill or Seven Sisters for example) as the Olympia shuttle is different. I'll say HSK is no longer necessary though.

Circle line - No longer a circle so normal rules apply.

Heathrow - Ruling T4 is the terminus.

I still think you should visit all termini by the correct service. Can see this being a headache at Uxbridge and Barking but I'd imagine at Elephant and Castle and Stratford it's actually helpful.

Full list of stations:

Bakerloo: Harrow and Wealdstone, Elephant and Castle
Central: Epping, Woodford, West Ruislip, Ealing Broadway
Circle: Hammersmith, Edgware Road
District: Ealing Broadway, Richmond, Wimbledon, Ken O, Edgware Road, Upminster
H&C: Hammersmith, Barking
Jubilee: Stanmore, Stratford
Met: Amersham, Chesham, Watford, Uxbridge, Aldgate
Northern: Edgware, High Barnet, MHE, Morden
Piccadilly: Uxbridge, Heathrow T4, Heathrow T5, Cockfosters
Victoria: Brixton, Walthamstow Central
W&C: Waterloo, Bank

That makes 35. Not 35 stations technically, but 35 visits.

The Raven - the reason this is better than a FNC? You don't have to visit all the pesky stations inbetween. For example, going from Chalk Farm to Burnt Oak doesn't fill me with delight - 8 stations where nobody ever does anything but wait until Edgware (even on alternative challenges we never really try to link them up with other lines). There's still enough variety here to make it interesting though.

[Sam]

The Raven - the reason this is better than a FNC?

There's no GWR for this though so therefore can never be better than a FNC in my opinion

[tractakid]

An alternative definition of terminus may be "a station at which there are no through London Underground services'. The stations by this definition would be Amersham, Chesham, Watford, Harrow & Wealdstone, Stanmore, Edgware, Mill Hill East, High Barnet, Cockfosters, Walthamstow Central, Epping, Upminster, Brixton, Morden, Wimbledon, Richmond, Heathrow Terminal 5, Ealing Broadway, Uxbridge, West Ruislip, Hammersmith (H+C), Kensington (Olympia).

[The Orange One]

The Raven - the reason this is better than a FNC?

There's no GWR for this though so therefore can never be better than a FNC in my opinion

How very materialistic. But then, aren't we all?

An alternative definition of terminus may be "a station at which there are no through London Underground services'. The stations by this definition would be Amersham, Chesham, Watford, Harrow & Wealdstone, Stanmore, Edgware, Mill Hill East, High Barnet, Cockfosters, Walthamstow Central, Epping, Upminster, Brixton, Morden, Wimbledon, Richmond, Heathrow Terminal 5, Ealing Broadway, Uxbridge, West Ruislip, Hammersmith (H+C), Kensington (Olympia).

Possibly a better idea - I'm quite fond of including Aldgate, Elephant and Castle and the like. Central London stations make things more interesting! Though in your challenge we wouldn't have to do Barking, which is one station I would rather not have to stop off at. Ruins the c2c to and from Upminster entirely.

[tractakid]

The other definition that has merit is 'every station at which at least one timetabled tube service starts or terminates'. The problem is, this might be an 'almost FNC' that might reset frequently with the change of timetables.

I'm not sure I'd attempt this challenge.

[Sam]

The Raven - the reason this is better than a FNC?

There's no GWR for this though so therefore can never be better than a FNC in my opinion

How very materialistic. But then, aren't we all?

You're learning about me very quickly...

[GuyBarry]

Materialistic? Is there a prize for getting a GWR then?

[The Orange One]

That lovely certificate!

[Sam]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater is what it's all about!

[tubeguru]

I've got one of those too.

[Sam]

I've got one of those too.

Good for you, I also have ANOTHER one

[tubeguru]

One is enough. It's one more than most people ...

[tractakid]

I don't have one, which doesn't really bother me.