Full Network Challenge - 272 stations - Successful First Attempt
Posted: 06 Sep 2023, 12:23
Here is the report from my successful FNC. It was my first attempt. The ducks seemed to line up for me.
Date of challenge: Tuesday 5 September 2023
Start: Chesham, departed 05:16:38
Finish: Hammersmith (District/H&C), arrived 00:44:24
Elapsed time: 19:27:47
Number of stations visited: 272 (current full-network configuration). This includes a pass-through of Kentish Town, which is closed long-term.
Ticketing: Contactless for the Metropolitan line north of and including North Harrow; Day Travelcard loaded onto a Smartcard for Z1-6.
Network Status on day of challenge: fortunately there were no problems, save for 'minor delays' on the Jubilee line, which didn't affect me. I was incredibly lucky that there were no points failures, fires, suicides, staffing issues etc to mess things up as there had been on the previous day. Much depends on being fortunate enough to get a clear run.
Weather: fine, sunny and very hot. Not great for running but at least I could use my phone for navigation and my paper remained dry.
Closeness of actual FNC to plan: amazingly close - largely because of the lack of network problems.
Navigation off-network: I found the Citymapper app great for running. Definitely better than Google/Apple for this purpose.
My route is based on the Labyrinth route but with a number of 'refinements'. Since it was developed from principles found on this site I am more than happy to share all the details of my route for anyone who wants them.
I didn't want the expense and hassle of overnight accommodation so I persuaded my wife to drive me to Chesham for the 0516 departure. Using the Working Timetables I planned every change for the first, critical, phase which would get me to Kensington (Olympia) for the last morning train but after that I didn't plan the timings in advance, on the basis that it would be likely to drift. If I do another FNC, I might reflect on that decision.
I obsessed throughout my planning about Olympia. I decided that it might be very difficult to plan to hit one of the two evening trains, so decided to go for a morning one. In practical terms, the only possibility was the 0752 departure from Olympia, which I made with 30 minutes to spare. This is why my route, whilst I think it is a reasonable one with some interesting tweaks to the Labyrinth template, probably would never work for a GWR attempt. So, I took the 0516 from Chesham, changed at C&L for Amersham then changed at Rickmansworth for the 0608 North Curve direct service to Watford (I thought this might save a bit of time and I have always wanted to ride the North Curve!). Then Watford to North Harrow and the H9 bus from just outside the station to Rayners Lane. The bus was the first point at which I tapped my Day Travelcard (loaded onto a Chiltern Smartcard). Rayners Lane to Park Royal then an easy run to Hanger Lane, then Central Line to Shepherds Bush, where I changed to the Overground for a short hop to Olympia. It was a great relief to be able to catch the last morning Olympia-Earls Court service but I arrived well early, which will obviously have impacted on my overall time. Olympia to Earl's Court, then Earls Court to Richmond. Richmond to Gunnersbury then a short run to Chiswick Park. Up to Ealing Common then back to Acton Town, from where I did the Heathrow section of the Piccadilly Line. Folk often finish at T5 but I was anxious about not being able to complete the FNC due to the last train to T4 being rather earlier than for other termini, so I decided to do Heathrow whilst in the SW area. To avoid the long drag back up the Heathrow branch I used the Elizabeth Line from T5 to Ealing Broadway, conveniently ticking off that station. Then one stop to West Acton and a short, pleasant run up to North Ealing, then back to Park Royal, from where I made my second (!) run of the day to Hanger Lane.
I felt I was going well, despite having done two runs from Park Royal to Hanger Lane. From Hanger Lane I followed the Labyrinth Route: West Ruislip/run to Ickenham/Uxbridge/Preston Road/run to Kenton/whole Bakerloo Line/London Bridge/Southwark/West Ham then District to Upminster. At Upminster I was able to do a one-minute change from the District Line to the Overground, which took me at high speed and in air-conditioned comfort back to West Ham in no time. Then H&C to Aldgate East/run to Aldgate/Circle to Sloane Sq/Brixton/Kennington and at this point I did the Battersea PS branch, all the way out and all the way back. I considered carefully running from Vauxhall to Nine Elms but doubted that this would be worthwhile, given the time lost in descending and ascending to the deep-level lines. Morden/long run to Wimbledon, then a questionable decision: I was on an Edgware Road train from Wimbledon and vacillated along the branch before alighting at West Brompton for the Overground to Shepherd's Bush (a station I was getting to know rather well). The idea was to avoid back-tracking to pick up Holland Park by doing West Brampton to Shepherd's Bush then the eastern part of the Central line. In the event I just missed the Overground train that was waiting when I alighted from the District and had to wait 10 minutes. I would suggest that if on an Earls Court train from Wimbledon, stay on it to Notting Hill Gate then back-track to pick up Holland Park.
At Holland Park I had only a short wait before the Hainault train I was expecting arrived and that was fine until the Hainault branch when a signal held us for long enough to miss the Woodford shuttle which, alas, is apparently not a connecting service. That meant an unwelcome wait at Hainault for the next Woodford train. That delay, plus the OIympia early arrival, would certainly have cost me a record had I been going for one. It was a hell of a drag up to Epping and back but I didn't have to wait at Epping for more than a few minutes (and there are toilets there, unlike at Hainault). Incidentally I did download the TfL summary of toilet facilities and found it useful to know what was provided when planning ahead. I'd advise anyone doing an FNC to get that - there is no time to dither searching for facilities once you're in full swing. I suspect that the 'perfect' FNC would start at Chesham and end at Epping, but that would require either a tolerant hotel/BnB or a supportive spouse or friend prepared to pick one up in the middle of the night. I will keep thinking about this but I can't see at the moment how to create an efficient route ending at Epping but if there is one it would save a long drag back from Epping to Snaresbrook.
Snaresbrook to Walthamstow is quite a haul and there is no direct bus. I considered running to Wood Street then Overground to Walthamstow Central, but the service is not regular enough, so I tried to run instead. About half way I caught up with a 20 bus and got onto that, so the transfer was reasonably quick. I was tired by now and after joining the Victoria Line I made my only real blunder of the day, and the first deviation from my plan, which was to change at Euston for Warren Street rather than staying on the Victoria Line. This would have cost a few minutes, but it saved the change between the Victoria and Northern at Warren Street to pick up Goodge Street.
Goodge Street to Edgware, bus 142 direct to Stanmore (I had originally planned to run to Canons park but it was dark, I was tired and 'minor' delays were shown on the Jubilee line, so I thought it best to go to Stanmore). Stanmore/Baker Street/Moorgate/just missed the Mill Hill East train I was going for so took a High Barnet train to West Finchley Central and changed for Mill Hill East (5 minute delay). Time at MHE to visit the Co-Op at the bottom of the station approach for food and much-needed water then same train back to Finchley Central. Couple of minutes' wait for a High Barnet train. I didn't relish the 2.3-mile run to Cockfosters but there is no direct bus and the best alternative is a bus to Oakwood then wasted time from there to Cockfosters. So I ran it. The first half or so is downhill and overall it wasn't too much of a struggle. Cockfosters to South Kensington/Circle to Edgware Road (Circle Line)/H&C to Hammersmith (END).
I'm probably the only successful FNC'er to finish at Hammersmith and, comparing my time with the other known times for 272-station FNC I would probably want to look at that again if I have another go. But the last train there is later than the last one to Heathrow and my aim was always to get a completion, not a world record. Although I could get to Hammersmith, I couldn't get out as, by the time I arrived there were no more east-bound trains . So, after a frantic bit of research on my phone, I gave up and paid £35 for a taxi to King's Cross, from where I set off for home.
LESSONS LEARNED
When downloading the Working Timetables at home, delete the pages you won't need otherwise you'll struggle to get to the information you need during the Challenge. I downloaded the abridged pdf versions to my phone. I think an iPad would have been too bulky to carry around all day, especially during the runs.
It helps if you are used to running. I do Parkruns each week (around 22:00-22:30, aged 58, which isn't exceptional but is enough to make the FNC runs comfortable).
Use Citymapper.
It is incredibly tiring. Don't underestimate that. Drink plenty. Eat frequently.
It would help enormously to have a 'support car' to take you to the start point and, more importantly, collect you from the finish point, allowing for the possibly that your finish point might change. Few of us have that luxury.
A lot depends on luck - getting lucky with transfers, there not being service issues during the day (keep checking the TfL Service Status page during your FNC), and being able to make the most tricky connections, such as for the Hainault - Woodford branch. I am sure that had I chosen Monday 4th instead of Tuesday 5th I would have been unable to complete, due to the reported service issues.
Take a damp flannel if the weather is hot and you will be running a lot. It really does help.
Use the TfL list of toilet locations and opening times.
Get a battery-pack for your phone (I might have got away without one but a full charge before the evening gave me some comfort).
I have heard rumours that the Day Travelcard might be abolished. So get on with it if you re considering an FNC.
Date of challenge: Tuesday 5 September 2023
Start: Chesham, departed 05:16:38
Finish: Hammersmith (District/H&C), arrived 00:44:24
Elapsed time: 19:27:47
Number of stations visited: 272 (current full-network configuration). This includes a pass-through of Kentish Town, which is closed long-term.
Ticketing: Contactless for the Metropolitan line north of and including North Harrow; Day Travelcard loaded onto a Smartcard for Z1-6.
Network Status on day of challenge: fortunately there were no problems, save for 'minor delays' on the Jubilee line, which didn't affect me. I was incredibly lucky that there were no points failures, fires, suicides, staffing issues etc to mess things up as there had been on the previous day. Much depends on being fortunate enough to get a clear run.
Weather: fine, sunny and very hot. Not great for running but at least I could use my phone for navigation and my paper remained dry.
Closeness of actual FNC to plan: amazingly close - largely because of the lack of network problems.
Navigation off-network: I found the Citymapper app great for running. Definitely better than Google/Apple for this purpose.
My route is based on the Labyrinth route but with a number of 'refinements'. Since it was developed from principles found on this site I am more than happy to share all the details of my route for anyone who wants them.
I didn't want the expense and hassle of overnight accommodation so I persuaded my wife to drive me to Chesham for the 0516 departure. Using the Working Timetables I planned every change for the first, critical, phase which would get me to Kensington (Olympia) for the last morning train but after that I didn't plan the timings in advance, on the basis that it would be likely to drift. If I do another FNC, I might reflect on that decision.
I obsessed throughout my planning about Olympia. I decided that it might be very difficult to plan to hit one of the two evening trains, so decided to go for a morning one. In practical terms, the only possibility was the 0752 departure from Olympia, which I made with 30 minutes to spare. This is why my route, whilst I think it is a reasonable one with some interesting tweaks to the Labyrinth template, probably would never work for a GWR attempt. So, I took the 0516 from Chesham, changed at C&L for Amersham then changed at Rickmansworth for the 0608 North Curve direct service to Watford (I thought this might save a bit of time and I have always wanted to ride the North Curve!). Then Watford to North Harrow and the H9 bus from just outside the station to Rayners Lane. The bus was the first point at which I tapped my Day Travelcard (loaded onto a Chiltern Smartcard). Rayners Lane to Park Royal then an easy run to Hanger Lane, then Central Line to Shepherds Bush, where I changed to the Overground for a short hop to Olympia. It was a great relief to be able to catch the last morning Olympia-Earls Court service but I arrived well early, which will obviously have impacted on my overall time. Olympia to Earl's Court, then Earls Court to Richmond. Richmond to Gunnersbury then a short run to Chiswick Park. Up to Ealing Common then back to Acton Town, from where I did the Heathrow section of the Piccadilly Line. Folk often finish at T5 but I was anxious about not being able to complete the FNC due to the last train to T4 being rather earlier than for other termini, so I decided to do Heathrow whilst in the SW area. To avoid the long drag back up the Heathrow branch I used the Elizabeth Line from T5 to Ealing Broadway, conveniently ticking off that station. Then one stop to West Acton and a short, pleasant run up to North Ealing, then back to Park Royal, from where I made my second (!) run of the day to Hanger Lane.
I felt I was going well, despite having done two runs from Park Royal to Hanger Lane. From Hanger Lane I followed the Labyrinth Route: West Ruislip/run to Ickenham/Uxbridge/Preston Road/run to Kenton/whole Bakerloo Line/London Bridge/Southwark/West Ham then District to Upminster. At Upminster I was able to do a one-minute change from the District Line to the Overground, which took me at high speed and in air-conditioned comfort back to West Ham in no time. Then H&C to Aldgate East/run to Aldgate/Circle to Sloane Sq/Brixton/Kennington and at this point I did the Battersea PS branch, all the way out and all the way back. I considered carefully running from Vauxhall to Nine Elms but doubted that this would be worthwhile, given the time lost in descending and ascending to the deep-level lines. Morden/long run to Wimbledon, then a questionable decision: I was on an Edgware Road train from Wimbledon and vacillated along the branch before alighting at West Brompton for the Overground to Shepherd's Bush (a station I was getting to know rather well). The idea was to avoid back-tracking to pick up Holland Park by doing West Brampton to Shepherd's Bush then the eastern part of the Central line. In the event I just missed the Overground train that was waiting when I alighted from the District and had to wait 10 minutes. I would suggest that if on an Earls Court train from Wimbledon, stay on it to Notting Hill Gate then back-track to pick up Holland Park.
At Holland Park I had only a short wait before the Hainault train I was expecting arrived and that was fine until the Hainault branch when a signal held us for long enough to miss the Woodford shuttle which, alas, is apparently not a connecting service. That meant an unwelcome wait at Hainault for the next Woodford train. That delay, plus the OIympia early arrival, would certainly have cost me a record had I been going for one. It was a hell of a drag up to Epping and back but I didn't have to wait at Epping for more than a few minutes (and there are toilets there, unlike at Hainault). Incidentally I did download the TfL summary of toilet facilities and found it useful to know what was provided when planning ahead. I'd advise anyone doing an FNC to get that - there is no time to dither searching for facilities once you're in full swing. I suspect that the 'perfect' FNC would start at Chesham and end at Epping, but that would require either a tolerant hotel/BnB or a supportive spouse or friend prepared to pick one up in the middle of the night. I will keep thinking about this but I can't see at the moment how to create an efficient route ending at Epping but if there is one it would save a long drag back from Epping to Snaresbrook.
Snaresbrook to Walthamstow is quite a haul and there is no direct bus. I considered running to Wood Street then Overground to Walthamstow Central, but the service is not regular enough, so I tried to run instead. About half way I caught up with a 20 bus and got onto that, so the transfer was reasonably quick. I was tired by now and after joining the Victoria Line I made my only real blunder of the day, and the first deviation from my plan, which was to change at Euston for Warren Street rather than staying on the Victoria Line. This would have cost a few minutes, but it saved the change between the Victoria and Northern at Warren Street to pick up Goodge Street.
Goodge Street to Edgware, bus 142 direct to Stanmore (I had originally planned to run to Canons park but it was dark, I was tired and 'minor' delays were shown on the Jubilee line, so I thought it best to go to Stanmore). Stanmore/Baker Street/Moorgate/just missed the Mill Hill East train I was going for so took a High Barnet train to West Finchley Central and changed for Mill Hill East (5 minute delay). Time at MHE to visit the Co-Op at the bottom of the station approach for food and much-needed water then same train back to Finchley Central. Couple of minutes' wait for a High Barnet train. I didn't relish the 2.3-mile run to Cockfosters but there is no direct bus and the best alternative is a bus to Oakwood then wasted time from there to Cockfosters. So I ran it. The first half or so is downhill and overall it wasn't too much of a struggle. Cockfosters to South Kensington/Circle to Edgware Road (Circle Line)/H&C to Hammersmith (END).
I'm probably the only successful FNC'er to finish at Hammersmith and, comparing my time with the other known times for 272-station FNC I would probably want to look at that again if I have another go. But the last train there is later than the last one to Heathrow and my aim was always to get a completion, not a world record. Although I could get to Hammersmith, I couldn't get out as, by the time I arrived there were no more east-bound trains . So, after a frantic bit of research on my phone, I gave up and paid £35 for a taxi to King's Cross, from where I set off for home.
LESSONS LEARNED
When downloading the Working Timetables at home, delete the pages you won't need otherwise you'll struggle to get to the information you need during the Challenge. I downloaded the abridged pdf versions to my phone. I think an iPad would have been too bulky to carry around all day, especially during the runs.
It helps if you are used to running. I do Parkruns each week (around 22:00-22:30, aged 58, which isn't exceptional but is enough to make the FNC runs comfortable).
Use Citymapper.
It is incredibly tiring. Don't underestimate that. Drink plenty. Eat frequently.
It would help enormously to have a 'support car' to take you to the start point and, more importantly, collect you from the finish point, allowing for the possibly that your finish point might change. Few of us have that luxury.
A lot depends on luck - getting lucky with transfers, there not being service issues during the day (keep checking the TfL Service Status page during your FNC), and being able to make the most tricky connections, such as for the Hainault - Woodford branch. I am sure that had I chosen Monday 4th instead of Tuesday 5th I would have been unable to complete, due to the reported service issues.
Take a damp flannel if the weather is hot and you will be running a lot. It really does help.
Use the TfL list of toilet locations and opening times.
Get a battery-pack for your phone (I might have got away without one but a full charge before the evening gave me some comfort).
I have heard rumours that the Day Travelcard might be abolished. So get on with it if you re considering an FNC.