Andi James: Round Four Write-Up
Walking up the escalator in Clapham South is bloody cold as the wind must have a rush straight down tunnel wise on to the station.
Everybody rushed down on to the platform. Presumably, I thought, seeing as it was on the edge of Zone 2, I thought northbound must be the way to go. This was before I even looked at the stations drawn out but I didn't need to as Team Rhys were giving a running commentary on them anyway.
So no surprise that everybody headed to London Bridge. On this change, everybody made the Jubilee line train Eastbound except for poor Myles who was left behind.
At Bermondsey, the teams decided to separate with some doing the double back (I had thought about it but decided against when I saw no train there although it turned up really quickly apparently) and others like me carrying on to Canada Water where we rose the escalator to a welcome site: Highbury & Islington, 1 minute: Rhys & Rhys going whoop whoop and bowing on the platform was the highlight of this change!
Whitechapel saw the departing Team Rhys whilst Tangy and I continued on to Shoreditch High Street and ran to Liverpool Street. I had a quick look at the Circle platforms and saw nothing there, so proceeded down to the Central line where I missed one by 10 seconds so ran back up to the Circle and rejoined with Tangy and Team Rhys who got lost on a Aldgate East to Aldgate run.
Departing at Moorgate, we ran down the corridors so fast - all I could hear was Team Rhys in the background: " God, he is so bloody fast!". I got on to a waiting train and shouted back up to the others who all got on. Using clever tactics got off at Arsenal checked the other side and decided it was better to stay and catch the Victoria back down.
We were in a different door position to Team Rhys at Finsbury park and were surprised that we actually came out in the same corridor as we were far apart! Bundling some people out of the way with a pushchair down the steps, we all got told off!
Highbury & Islington: we were in the front for King's Cross but Team Rhys were with us but a few doors out of position - why did they decide to get out there - I think cost them a better time? At King's Cross we made a nice transition on to the Northern line with a little wait, which gave me another time to figure out how to get across to Willesden Junction.
Discussing the option with Tangy seeing as we were obviously going to be on similar routes we discussed various options like Chalk Farm to Swiss Cottage, Belsize Park to Hampstead Heath, but finally decided on Hampstead to Finchley Road & Frognal (because it's downhill and very easy to remember it as one thinks of "open all hours"!).
Easily making the train, we had a little wait and got in the door position for Willesden Junction. A quick check: we had forgotten a simple trick of taking the corner. A quick look at my map and Kensal Green (at the back of the train) was the best idea so we walked to the back and ran down and made a lovely sexy change just right for a Bakerloo line train to Regent's Park.
Knowing the times for Kensington (Olympia) in and out, we came up with the doors that would give us the most success to double back Regent's Park to Edgware Road. We ran to the other Edgware Road with three stations left, joined by Myles, Kevin Brown, Andrew Chilcraft, and Peter (we all turned up there on 3 different trains though). Looking at the timings we knew it would be tight for the Kensington (Olympia) train out of High Street Kensington. We were in a reasonable door position for a bail at Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate, or High Street Kensington. Passing Notting Hill Gate, we decided against carrying on and legged it down to the Central line.
Catching a nice double back at White City, we alighted at Shepherd's Bush with (roughly) a 6 minute run. Probably the angriest run to Kensington (Olympia) from that side I have ever done! I ran into Kensington (Olympia), thinking: "It's got to go!". It didn't, I made it and I was surprised myself. Apparently, Kevin was on this train but as I was so knackered I didn't go up to his carriage. I pulled in to Earl's Court and stopped the watch at 2:48:13.
Written by Andi James and edited by Rhys Benjamin.
Everybody rushed down on to the platform. Presumably, I thought, seeing as it was on the edge of Zone 2, I thought northbound must be the way to go. This was before I even looked at the stations drawn out but I didn't need to as Team Rhys were giving a running commentary on them anyway.
So no surprise that everybody headed to London Bridge. On this change, everybody made the Jubilee line train Eastbound except for poor Myles who was left behind.
At Bermondsey, the teams decided to separate with some doing the double back (I had thought about it but decided against when I saw no train there although it turned up really quickly apparently) and others like me carrying on to Canada Water where we rose the escalator to a welcome site: Highbury & Islington, 1 minute: Rhys & Rhys going whoop whoop and bowing on the platform was the highlight of this change!
Whitechapel saw the departing Team Rhys whilst Tangy and I continued on to Shoreditch High Street and ran to Liverpool Street. I had a quick look at the Circle platforms and saw nothing there, so proceeded down to the Central line where I missed one by 10 seconds so ran back up to the Circle and rejoined with Tangy and Team Rhys who got lost on a Aldgate East to Aldgate run.
Departing at Moorgate, we ran down the corridors so fast - all I could hear was Team Rhys in the background: " God, he is so bloody fast!". I got on to a waiting train and shouted back up to the others who all got on. Using clever tactics got off at Arsenal checked the other side and decided it was better to stay and catch the Victoria back down.
We were in a different door position to Team Rhys at Finsbury park and were surprised that we actually came out in the same corridor as we were far apart! Bundling some people out of the way with a pushchair down the steps, we all got told off!
Highbury & Islington: we were in the front for King's Cross but Team Rhys were with us but a few doors out of position - why did they decide to get out there - I think cost them a better time? At King's Cross we made a nice transition on to the Northern line with a little wait, which gave me another time to figure out how to get across to Willesden Junction.
Discussing the option with Tangy seeing as we were obviously going to be on similar routes we discussed various options like Chalk Farm to Swiss Cottage, Belsize Park to Hampstead Heath, but finally decided on Hampstead to Finchley Road & Frognal (because it's downhill and very easy to remember it as one thinks of "open all hours"!).
Easily making the train, we had a little wait and got in the door position for Willesden Junction. A quick check: we had forgotten a simple trick of taking the corner. A quick look at my map and Kensal Green (at the back of the train) was the best idea so we walked to the back and ran down and made a lovely sexy change just right for a Bakerloo line train to Regent's Park.
Knowing the times for Kensington (Olympia) in and out, we came up with the doors that would give us the most success to double back Regent's Park to Edgware Road. We ran to the other Edgware Road with three stations left, joined by Myles, Kevin Brown, Andrew Chilcraft, and Peter (we all turned up there on 3 different trains though). Looking at the timings we knew it would be tight for the Kensington (Olympia) train out of High Street Kensington. We were in a reasonable door position for a bail at Bayswater, Notting Hill Gate, or High Street Kensington. Passing Notting Hill Gate, we decided against carrying on and legged it down to the Central line.
Catching a nice double back at White City, we alighted at Shepherd's Bush with (roughly) a 6 minute run. Probably the angriest run to Kensington (Olympia) from that side I have ever done! I ran into Kensington (Olympia), thinking: "It's got to go!". It didn't, I made it and I was surprised myself. Apparently, Kevin was on this train but as I was so knackered I didn't go up to his carriage. I pulled in to Earl's Court and stopped the watch at 2:48:13.
Written by Andi James and edited by Rhys Benjamin.