New York Challenge

[regoarrarr]

Actually, (and this may be the reason it didn't happen), it sounds like the World Trade Center station is closed (ever since 9/11/2001) and so a Guinness record might not be possible until it reopens?

[zeibura]

closed station = pass through allowed?

[tubeguru]

In the case of WTC there may be logistical difficulties with that:

1. they may have demolished the station and not rebuilt the tracks through it
2. is it me, or was it a terminus?
3. ignore me if the above is rubbish

[zeibura]

well if they've demolished the station surely that means you don't have to do it? when mornington crescent was closed all those years, you didn't even have to pass through it i don't think - it counted as one less station on the map.

[hwolge]

The World Trade Center station is open and the terminus for the E-trains. However Cortland St is temporariliy closed and is a pass-through (this is the one actually going under the ground zero area). So, there shouldn't be any problems from this.

It is however an interesting question whether the "traditional" NY rules (one token - not allowed to leave the system during the attempt) would apply or if Guinness would specify something similar to the London Underground rules (that are much more interesting - I think). I guess the way to find out is to ask Guinness, i.e. applying for a record attempt and see their response. Have you done that yet, Geoff?

[regoarrarr]

That is correct. I meant the Cortlandt St. station (that carries the 1, 2 and 3 lines).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortlandt_ ... ue_Line%29

I have to say it's a bit frustrating trying to come up with an "official" list of stations. The MTA claims 468 stations

http://mta.info//nyct/facts/ffsubway.htm

But I only can come up with 436. Supposedly someone called up the MTA asking for a list of stations and were told "look at a map"

[hwolge]

On the map it seems that only Cortland St for 1-trains is closed, while Cortland St for 2-3-trains is open.

Seems like there is a Shepherd's Bush/Paddington/Hammersmith/Edgware Road issue here as well!

[greatkingrat]

There is a list of stations here http://www.mentovai.com/tmp/nycta-stations-200209.txt which comes to the 468 station figure quoted by the MTA. It appears that the logic is for interchanges, each line is counted as a seperate station. The exception is when two lines share the same alignment, in which case the stations are only counted once.

So for example Times Square is counted 4 times for the Red 123, Yellow NQRW, Purple 7 and Grey S.

[regoarrarr]

very interesting. Is there a way that Guinness can be contacted to get an "official" ruling, similar to the rules listed on this site for the London version?

As for the "one token" rule, from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subway_Challenge

It appears that the "one token" version is separate from the version that Guinness certifies. In the Guinness version, you can walk / run from the end of one line to the other. Of course, the key to that is timing - so you don't have to walk through Spanish Harlem at 3 a.m.

[regoarrarr]

To reply to myself...

It appears that whether there are 468 stations or something like 424 would have to have analogous situations on the London Underground.

Forgive me if I'm asking silly questions - I'm not from London nor even from New York, and have never ridden either system So what is not clear to me may be crystal clear to someone with inside knowledge.

From the list, Consider Times Square
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Squa ... _Subway%29

On the list of 468 posted upthread, it has 4 "stations", one each to service the S Shuttle, the 1-2-3 trains, the 7 train and the N-Q-R-W trains. From the wikipedia article above, the relative depths of these stations are 20 feet, 40 feet, 60 feet and 50 feet below ground. So it seems like they are at the same physical location (2-dimensionally) but just at different depths and (obviously) different rail lines.

It would seem to the untrained eye that a similar situation on the Tube would be Baker Street. It too appears to have several different lines at different depths, but (as far as I can tell) is only counted as one station of the 275.

Does any of that make sense?

[jonny]

Yes, its just that the americans appear to have a different idea of what a station is to us.

Whereas we would say, for example, Embankment is one station, they would have Embankment District line station, Embankment Bakerloo, and Embankment Northern.

God knows how they'd do Euston, with Euston Northern Charing Cross Branch station, Euston Northern Line City Branch Northbound and Victoria Line Southbound station, and Euston Northern Line City Branch Southbound and Victoria Line Northbound station. (I think I've got the combinations right, there).

I have heard of people referring to the 'Deep Level' sections of stations as different stations to the 'Sub-surface' stations in London, although this is wrong.

[regoarrarr]

So I guess the real question is how does Guinness view things? There is already (supposedly) a record for the NYC subway - so how (wiith what station list) was that accomplished?

[regoarrarr]

Looks like a group of 6 folks just broke the Guinness record - check out http://www.rapidtransitchallenge.com

[Soup Dragon]

It looks like Geoff is going to have to get out there and claim the record for the UK then? Thats if Guinness verify this record attempt, I see that the witness statements just have the name and signature. I'm sure that for the London Underground record the witness statement must include a contact phone number or e-mail address in order that Guinness can contact the witness to verify the attempt?

[boylemj]

Hello all, this is my first post to this forum and I have enjoyed reading about the active Tube Challenge circuit in London. I was one of the six riders who set the new NYC Guinness record last month….pending certification of course. I am going to attempt to respond to some of the messages posted about the NYC Challenge, but I’m sure I won’t get to them all, and I am happy to engage in further discussion.

There are 468 stations in the system and 424 station complexes. We asked Guinness which list we needed to abide by and the answer was all 468. We requested and received an official list of the 468 from the MTA and this is posted on our website (http://www.rapidtransitchallenge.com/challenge.htm).

Someone mentioned that “doubling back is often impossible without leaving the station. Many stations are completely separate depending on direction.â€