Back in the 60's when I had a go round the Tube Network, there were two
records. One was for the use of public transport only and the other
was for using *any* means to connect between lines. This would involve
using fast cars and friends to pick you up at strategic places. The
fast cars record was, of course, that much quicker.

Visiting stations I think is quite clear - the train has to stop and
"visit" the station. Therefore the use of fast trains from Acton Town
to Hammersmith and from Finchley Road to Moor Park are definately not
allowed.

For the record, my attempt did not set out to break any records, but
merely achieve the trip. I never intended to visit Aldwych, Shoreditch
or Olympia, as it was on a Saturday and at that time there was no
regular service to either of the stations. I had to abandon North
Weald to Ongar, as my train from Hainault ran two minutes late and
missed a connecting train at Woodford that connected with the 40 minute
Ongar service at Epping. I also *had* to get to Upminster before 23:15
in order to catch the last train back to my home in Edgware, which is
where I started, so could not afford the time to wait for the next
Ongar train.

What the journey did tell me was that Edgware was not the best place to
start and for many years, I think, Ongar was considered to be the best.
I don't think I have ever seen a route which does not have Upminster
as the final destination.

So, in 18 hours dead - 05:15 to 23:15, I managed 267 stations,
including Watford Junction on the Bakerloo and not forgetting that then
there was no Victoria Line or Jubillee Line extension to add in to the
route! I estimated the journey times using the Underground Guide
publication. I gained a bit and lost a bit, but after 15 hours I was
on the *exact* train at Hainault at 20:15, that I had planned to be on.
I say that, as that is where it all went a bit wrong with the Ongar
problem.

Still, to this day I have never tried to do it agian and I never will.
The route is key and I don't go much on records that are set by just a
few seconds better than the previous attempt. Get the route right and
you can carve off more than a few seconds. Of course, delays, signal
failures and one unders will screw up your attempt. So pick a day
when these sorts of problems don't happen!! (As if....!!).

Ian