tubechallenge.com

leamfarrar wrote:Just going through some test draws with the generator and some of the draws I'm coming up with are crazy. There are so many possibilities I'm looking forward to this

The generator has now been updated and supports north / south of the river selections, as well as being updated with the latest changes to London Overground and the existence of TFL Rail. As always any errors are my fault, but please let me know if you spot any.

4 hours 57 minutes theoretical for my latest draw - and this is relying on rugby trains to keep time, three rather obscure (all right, none of them were that obscure) bus connections and two out of station runs!

I'll run the stupid settings again. Thanks A2! Buses to the rescue...

The Orange One wrote:4 hours 57 minutes theoretical for my latest draw - and this is relying on rugby trains to keep time, three rather obscure (all right, none of them were that obscure) bus connections and two out of station runs!

I'll run the stupid settings again. Thanks A2! Buses to the rescue...

TBH, I was going with "Google maps and the National Rail app to the rescue"

Usual conditions apply, there will be mistakes in the database and they will all be my own (berate / notify me at your leisure). If you happen to get a set of stations where the starting station appears in the list of additionally chosen stations then just refresh. I do think this bug only occurs when you refresh and shouldn't happen on the first set of results generated ever, and just haven't tracked it down yet, but I will do. Coming soon* a brand new look for the website!


*when I get round to it.

So our timers start at 12, not when doors close on our first train?

agerj001 wrote:So our timers start at 12, not when doors close on our first train?

Yes, exactly at 12:00 (unless the BERC is late...), when you rip the envelope open

agerj001 wrote:So our timers start at 12, not when doors close on our first train?

P.S. you can now get examples of what might come out at www.challengegenerator.co.uk

Yes, time starts at 12 BEFORE envelopes are opened. We all start together - it looks like this time quite a few of us will be standing there working out where everything is for the first 10 minutes!

Looking at the timetables, if Barnes Bridge pops up in the draw (and, say, Battersea Park, Queenstown Road and Earlsfield do not) it could well be 17 minutes before any of us move at all...

EDIT: Just got 4 hours 46 minutes draw. I have a feeling we'll all come to hate the Charing Cross situation...

tangy wrote:Closures affecting the challenge:
...
--East London: South of New Cross Gate
...
--Southern: No local trains via Honor Oak Park- limited fast services between Norwood Junction and London Bridge (trains via South Bermondsey will still operate).

Are there stations in this area that are closed and so not in the challenge? Can we get a definitive list?

Closed:
East Putney
Southfields
Wimbledon Park
Brockley
Honor Oak Park
Forest Hill
Sydenham
Penge West
Anerley
Abbey Wood

Restricted:
London Bridge (Charing Cross trains do not stop, no Southern main line trains)
New Cross Gate (LO to/from the north only)
Crystal Palace (Only trains via Gipsy Hill to Norwood Junction/Birkbeck)
Norwood Junction (Only trains via Crystal Palace or Uckfield reversers)
Wimbledon (SWT and Thameslink only)

Thanks TOO.

I've done a few draws from the generator (thanks A2). They were kinda tough. Should be great fun!

37 at Beckton last week, seems we may "swell" their numbers

Warning to those using the Central Line to get to the challenge/parkrun/pub this weekend - it's suspended between Holborn and North Acton.

Can I ask those that have generated a set of stations and worked timings out... Did you do this under R15 conditions (quickly circle the stations and plan a route within a few minutes) or did you actually sit down and go through timetables etc for some considerable time?

Generally, in most cases it is fairly obvious which station to head for first, and that gives you a bit of time to sit on the first train and go through the timetables planning the rest of the route.

I noted down the first trains to depart from Clapham Junction in an earlier post on here - I will have these in my head on the day. When I generate a set of stations, I quickly scan it for the stations I plan to visit first (e.g. Wandsworth Town - as a visit to Wandsworth Town will invariably involve me passing through Clapham Junction, should it come out I plan to go there first). I then start scanning timetables - once I am on my first train (to Wandsworth Town or elsewhere) I will have time to do this. I have paper copies of the timetables and the relevant bus maps on hand.

I have been through Clapham Junction subway several times on a rugby day, and know how fast I can get through it.