Random 15 Challenge - Round 1 - 11th July 2009

[Edgemaster]

We also had a beautiful cross-platform interchange to get us back to Paddington (Bakerloo). How long were you waiting at Maida Vale? We might have caught up with you.

Maida Vale must be one of those nice places on the network, we also had a beautiful interchange there and I think several others mentioned it too?

[al]

As I mentioned on the day, I think this set of stations led more to what I term "micro-challenging" than normal challenging. By this I mean trying to work out little ways to differentiate yourself from the others who were with you who were all generally heading in the same direction.

Antony and I started from Queensway with a leisurely trip in the lift whilst working out some sort of early route. A NHG change for Paddington was agreed on, then we went H&C first which although the wrong way round for the run led to a very healthy 2 minute wait for a train to Royal Oak. A punishing walk/run to Warwick Avenue, passing joy54 en route and Kevin, Matt and Ryan at the ticket barrier. A short wait northbound, and a lovely change southbound meant we felt confident about being in the lead, based on where we passed everyone else, and the fact the joy54 should have just missed an H&C at Royal Oak. Had we been at Maida Vale at a slightly different time we would have continued to Willesden Jnc for an Overground to West Brompton, but we would have had about a 12 min wait on this occasion so went for the double back.

Our pleasure turned to dismay on the District platform however, where nothing was on the board for ages. We saw Edgemaster and Tom join us eventually, and then the first train was a Circle, which we took anyway. By NHG a District was showing a further 4 mins behind. We changed at HSK just in case a shuttle was there, but it had only just pulled in, so we joined joy54 for the following District.

When the District pulled in, Kevin et al had also caught us up so it was now a very clumped up challenge, with little chance of major route changes. Fulham Broadway to Chalk Farm passed with us (mostly) together. Then the big decision came to go for a Moorgate change. Even though there was a 3 min wait for an H&C the Central was waiting in the platform and was very busy, so we guessed we must have beaten Team BSB.

The original plan at Mile End was to go to Bow Church on the 25, but as always none were in sight. Instead we caught the 277 to Westferry (after seeing joy54 just catch a 323 to Devons Road). According to Journey Planner we should have been there in nice time for a Bank branch service to Lewisham, which we reckon would have beaten the other teams. Indeed it would have as it was pulling out while we were still on the road, a good 2 mins earlier than it should have been

With 7 mins on the board for the next one, we caught a Beckton train to Poplar, and then ran to West India Quay just in case something happened to the Stratford branch train. Although we looked for the others on the DLR, we couldn't see them, and so wondered what had happened. Finishing at Lewisham, all became clear as we went to the same South Eastern service to London.

So my best ever ranking in this competition, but tinged with mild dissapointment of what might have been if the District had run differently, or the DLR at Westferry had been more to time. Still enjoyable, trying to get away from the pack, though.

[joy54]

Yes, I must have, as I was completely out of place for the interchange onto the Bakerloo line! I had a sea of people in front of me, and when they cleared, I noticed Richie heading towards the escalators. I'm pretty sure we caught the next one as it pulled into the platform as we got there.

We also had a beautiful cross-platform interchange to get us back to Paddington (Bakerloo). How long were you waiting at Maida Vale? We might have caught up with you.

I also had a beautiful change, arrived, walked over past the escalators to hear the train arriving. So I reckon you must have been on the train behind mine at both Paddington and Maida Vale.

It is also quite interesting that Al and Antony didn't see me seeing as they changed there as well, although I did gun it ridiculously (had the perfect door position) on that run thinking that I'd messed up doing the Lancaster Gate double back.

[mps247]

Maida Vale must be one of those nice places on the network, we also had a beautiful interchange there and I think several others mentioned it too?

I also had a beautiful change, arrived, walked over past the escalators to hear the train arriving. So I reckon you must have been on the train behind mine at both Paddington and Maida Vale.

Maida Vale seems to be a perfect place to double-back! I remember having the same luck during the Spring R15 earlier this year when I turned around at Maida Vale.

Actually, looking at the times, had we arrived at Bow Church 5 minutes before we did, we would have ended up on the same DLR service as the leading pack. We had a 5 minute wait at Bow Church where there's a train every 10 minutes. I assume that Kevin, Ryan and Matt went to Westferry and caught the DLR service from there to Lewisham which is why they were 5 minutes ahead of us, and 5 minutes behind the leaders.

Even if we had taken the train instead of the bus at Hammersmith, I don't think we could have caught the DLR 10 minutes before everybody else. However, there is a good chance we might have all ended up on the same train in the end.

So close...

[tangy]

Route 295 is not the only bus route to link H'smith with Fulham Broadway- there are others!

[mps247]

Route 295 is not the only bus route to link H'smith with Fulham Broadway- there are others!

I know about the 211 and the 391. The 211 leaves from the same bus stand as the 295 on the upper level bus stop in the Broadway Centre. However, the 391 leaves from another stand in the opposite corner. The 295 showed up before the 211.

Concerning the 391, I was not so happy to take it as it goes to Fulham via Olympia. It also passes through North End Road Market, which, from my childhood memories, is gridlock on a Saturday afternoon (in fact, it's gridlock whenever the market is open).

Having said that, Fulham Palace Road isn't much better at the same time of day. Is there another bus route I don't know about tangy?