I'd planned two similar routes for this challenge, one starting at Pimlico (so catching the bus from Vauxhall to Battersea), and the other starting from Battersea and finishing at Vauxhall. The Pimlico start was less trains, stops and duplicate stations, but starting from BPS avoided both the bus and the delay of waiting on a stationary train at the end of the extension ... but more trains, changes and duplicate stations. Which would win?!
From KGX, we rode the Victoria line to Pimlico with Chris starting his stop watch as the doors closed at 09:34. Off at Vauxhall and out to catch a Wimbledon bus (which Chris thankfully spotted!) at 09:39. It dropped us further from BPS than usual which was strange but we ran through the rain to and got onto the northern line departing at 09:52, which was when I started my stop watch. We were already 19 mins into the challenge from starting at Pimlico and the train leaving Battersea.
Nine Elms - Kennington - Waterloo (lovely glide on the travelator!) to get onto an east bound Jubilee train at 10:04. We'd been worried about this one as all the way down from Leicester and on the tube we'd heard of "severe delays on the Jubilee" but luckily, it didn't affect us.
Southwark - London Bridge for Northern train south which departed at 10:10, Borough 10:11 and then jumped onto a waiting Bakerloo at E&C which departed at 10:15 ... although Chris and I jumped into different carriages as tried to get to the right one before it left - queue quick change at Lambeth North at 10:17. Rode this all the way to Paddington for 10:36 and then that horrible change to the H&C line via the station concourse and the statuesque commuters. I was hoping the first train would be a circle to Aldgate but it was a H&C which left at 10:43. I guess 7 minutes for a Paddington change isn't that bad?
We were held at Baker St (dep 10:50), for a met train in front - and as we passed the Met line we could see another in the tunnel so we got off at Great Portland St and took that Met train (dep 10:53) to ride it to Aldgate for 11:08. Ran up to Aldgate East to catch a District at 11:14 and I don't think 6 mins is that bad for that change either! Stayed on the District all the way to Earls Court where we got a train to Bayswater at 11:43. A very wet run up the road to Queensway where we had to wait for a lift down, catching an east bound train at 11:54 - a train which was then delayed for 5 mins at Marble Arch due to a problem up the line. Grrr.
Off at Tottenham Court Road for one of my favourite changes; back of the train, long open corridors and jumping down steps ... back up to the Northern Line, cross platform and onto an incoming at train which left for Euston at 12:10. Front of train this time for Euston change to the Bank branch which left at 12:18. Down to Bank for a lovely uphill travelator jog to the Central line leaving for Holborn at 12:34. Down to the Picadilly and the back of an east bound train for the Russell Sq double back, departing at 12:43. As usual, we just made it up & over the line to see a westbound train pulling out
We departed RS at 12:48, back through Holborn 12:50 and the run down to Knightsbridge where we stepped on to the platform at 13:00, completing all 67 of the Pimlico start in 3h 25m 11s. But it wasn't over, we needed to get to Vauxhall to complete the start from Battersea.
Back onto the same train down to South Kensington (13:04) and came up to the District to catch a train to Victoria. Sloane Sq at 13:06, and down to a Victoria train leaving at 13:08, Pimlico at 13:10 and stepped off the train at Vauxhall at 13:11, completing it in 3h 19m 49s.
Pimlico Start
Trains 15
Buses 1
Stops 75
Duplicates 8
Time 3h 25m 11s
Battersea
Trains16
Buses 0
Stops 78
Duplicates 10
Time 3h 19m 49s
I know there are those that could easily run between Vauxhall and BPS but even when you're lucky with a bus, (as we were), it takes so much time so I think I'm going to scrub that from now on. For us, it was quicker to ride more trains and pass through stations twice, some of which are unavoidable, to gain a faster time. If I tried it again, I think I'd try a Victoria-Vauxhall double back when doing the southern half of the District line, rather than tagging it on at the end.
When we started the day, I wanted to beat my previous best time of 3h 20m 37s and not doing it with the Pimlico start (3h 25m 11s) was disappointing but to get it (just!) under 3h 20m with the Battersea start and doing 3h 19m 49s made up for it. I've recently lost 7 stone and unlike any other time I've attempted a challenge I was easily walking / running up stairs & escalators, and running between trains. I was expecting to feel banjaxed on Saturday but I was fine, so that's good news and means I'm keen to try again ... but I've no idea how I can shave more time off. Sometimes, you're in the hands of the Tube Gods with delays!
No matter the time, no matter the weather, I had a fantastic and hugely enjoyable day with my nephew and I hope he'll do it again with me one day ... I just hope he can plan a better route than me!