How many forum users have travelled over the whole public passenger rail network? And how many lines do you need to complete it?

[The exile]

Just out of interest how do you all record the lines/ stations travelled to/ through?
Thanks

As stated elsewhere, for track it's Baker (though tbh now I require so little, the list of what I need sits easily in my head and I often don't get round to inking in) For stations visited it's a database - though I'm still trying to find a usable (and free) way of incorporating photos (more precisely a single photo per station).
For European track it's the ERA - not quite as detailed as Baker but good enough - plus the handy map that DB produce (used to produce) on the wall!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

This chap is a hero of mine. There's a thread about him, started by me, on "Railway History and Nostalgia": title The Man Who Went Everywhere -- OP 6 / 1/ 2016: I'd link to it, except that I'm a computer-imbecile whose linking attempts never work. Per my info, completion of his task was in 1932; but, "details" ! What truly amazes me, is that he covered everything that was running, in Ireland as well as Great Britain -- no weekend flights over there, in those days ! (Re how he might have managed Ireland: I have a theory of my own, which -- if true -- would not redound greatly to his personal credit; but to best of perception -- nobody knows, or will ever know now.)

If only some diaries of his could be found in an attic trunk somewhere .....

 

[Techniquest]

A yellow highlighter pen in the Rail atlas is the default method. Hence the term "yellow penning".

Not to be confused with "red penning"; the act of underlining the number of a locomotive you have scratched for haulage. Using a red biro.

I used to use green highlighters in my atlas! First Class would be done in blue. Never ever used yellow for route coverage colouring in!

 

[Calthrop]

If only some diaries of his could be found in an attic trunk somewhere .....

Hey ! Fiction-writing possibilities here? George MacDonald Fraser did it with Flashman; mind you, much more of a potential readership pool for those tales ...

 

[bingleybong]

I started as a child by drawing in biro on the old system maps BR used to give away, then yellow highligter on the old sectional maps and later Baker. I also used blue highlighter for closed lines walked for a while. As the yellow faded badly I now use green permanent markers. Forgot to note I have all of Ireland except the diverted route in the north which changed after I finished NIR. Outside the UK I used highlighter on a Thomas Cook map for a while but generally don't bother now and I have not done enough outside Europe to bother.

 

[xotGD]

green highlighters

green permanent markers

Green is the new yellow!

 

[Techniquest]

Green is the new yellow!

I don't know why anyone would ever choose yellow, it defies logic to me. Green makes more sense from a rail perspective, to colour a line in green would suggest it's clear. It's done, whereas yellow would suggest (to me at least) that it's done but there's bits to go. I don't know if I'm explaining that too well!

 

[Calthrop]

I don't know why anyone would ever choose yellow, it defies logic to me. Green makes more sense from a rail perspective, to colour a line in green would suggest it's clear. It's done, whereas yellow would suggest (to me at least) that it's done but there's bits to go. I don't know if I'm explaining that too well!

You're explaining it fine -- your mistake, is being sensible and rational about a thing of this kind ....

 

[bingleybong]

I know I originally used yellow just becase I had a yellow marker! Mind you line bashing and indeed station photographs are just an excuse to have an aim for what would otherwise be totally pointless travel.

 

[Techniquest]

You're explaining it fine -- your mistake, is being sensible and rational about a thing of this kind ....

Oh good, I'm very aware I'm not good at explaining (or at being concise!) my view on things so that's good news

I guess perhaps I have too much time on my hands to consider it all

 

[The exile]

I don't know why anyone would ever choose yellow, it defies logic to me. Green makes more sense from a rail perspective, to colour a line in green would suggest it's clear. It's done, whereas yellow would suggest (to me at least) that it's done but there's bits to go. I don't know if I'm explaining that too well!

I think that in the early days of highlighters, yellow was one of the few colours (if not the only one) you could get. It was certainly less likely to bleed.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

I used to use green highlighters in my atlas! First Class would be done in blue. Never ever used yellow for route coverage colouring in!

It doesn't count then. You'll have to do it all again...

 

[Techniquest]

I think that in the early days of highlighters, yellow was one of the few colours (if not the only one) you could get. It was certainly less likely to bleed.

Ah now that would make sense. I guess in the 21st Century we are fortunate to have all sorts of colours available!

It doesn't count then. You'll have to do it all again...

Already made good progress to doing it all again but in First Class


Now there's a thought, engineering works aside, I wonder how much of the mainline network has First Class currently available. I say currently due to Southeastern abandoning it soon, so as it stands before the timetable change I wonder how many routes one can do in First Class. Regardless of how good or bad it is, then if it is officially First Class accommodation then it counts. Obviously on diversions that makes things different again, then there's the declassified First Class such as earlier this year, when 180s went to Skegness.

I'm actually really curious to find out now!

 

[davetheguard]

This chap is a hero of mine. There's a thread about him, started by me, on "Railway History and Nostalgia": title The Man Who Went Everywhere -- OP 6 / 1/ 2016: I'd link to it, except that I'm a computer-imbecile whose linking attempts never work. Per my info, completion of his task was in 1932; but, "details" ! What truly amazes me, is that he covered everything that was running, in Ireland as well as Great Britain -- no weekend flights over there, in those days ! (Re how he might have managed Ireland: I have a theory of my own, which -- if true -- would not redound greatly to his personal credit; but to best of perception -- nobody knows, or will ever know now.)

The Man Who Went Everywhere

Thoughts generated after a recent thread in which I mentioned in passing, the 19th / 20th century British railway enthusiast T.R. Perkins, who is renowned for having travelled during his long life, allegedly over all passenger rail routes throughout the British Isles (and recorded much about his...

www.railforums.co.uk

Will this do?

 

[Calthrop]

That's the thread I mentioned in post #28, as cited. Thank you !

 

[Turbo004]

I've travelled on most lines in England, Scotland and Wales now. The two main ones left to do are the Kyle of Lochalsh line and Eurostar out of St Pancrass. In terms of PSUL lines those within a days travel of home are Doncaster Flyover East Junction - Loversall Carr Junction, Werrington Diveunder and Northallerton avoiding lines (Southbound only). As for what pen to use always a green highlighter for me.

 

[Cambus731]

I have been track bashing, probably a bit too half heartedly since 1990. I still have loads to clear.

Some time ago, I suggested we should have a thread on this website dedicated to advice and news about difficult to do bits ot track, curves etc, eg curves that only get 2 or 3 trains z day, or bits of track that become temporarily available to ride on, during times of engineering works or altered workings.
But I was told there was no need of such a thread as the information is on the Internet. That may be so, but I do think there is a case for having such a thread on this site.

 

[JonathanH]

Some time ago, I suggested we should have a thread on this website dedicated to advice and news about difficult to do bits ot track, curves etc, eg curves that only get 2 or 3 trains z day, or bits of track that become temporarily available to due during times of altered workings. But I was told there was no need of such a thread as the information is on the Internet. That may be so, but I do think there is a case for having such a thread on this site.

Nothing wrong with asking questions about altered workings.

That said, the primary places to look for such information are elsewhere - eg Passenger Services over Unusual Lines - https://www.branchline.uk/PSULintro.php and Gensheet - http://www.gensheet.co.uk/.

 

[TheBigD]

Covered nearly all of the current passenger network (including the obscure curves and such like) except...

Welwyn flyover
Yeovil Town to Pen Mill
Barry to Bridgend
Crossrail and associated bits
Tilbury Riverside
Aylesbury to Aylesbury Parkway
Bicester curve
Werrington diveunder
Airdrie to Bathgate
Alloa

4 of those I should get done next year...

 

[JonathanH]

Tilbury Riverside

4 of those I should get done next year...

Pretty sure you won't be going to Tilbury Riverside.

 

[D6130]

Tilbury Riverside

Barking Riverside?

 

[TheBigD]

It is indeed Barking Riverside. God knows why I typed Tilbury!

 

[D6130]

It is indeed Barking Riverside. God knows why I typed Tilbury!

Thinking back to the good old days probably!

 

[Train Maniac]

I started my rail adventures in 2013 (only 14 at the time!). Covered almost all the London & South East map (bar the West of England Main Line) as well as covering the whole of the Welsh Valleys system before its converted to Metro, North Wales Coast (excl Conwy Valley), a very large chunk of the railways around Liverpool and an assortment of various lines caught on an 'as and when' basis. Favourite bits so far has got to be West Highland Line (cliche i know) and North Wales Coast.

Towards the end of 2019 i discovered the joys of cycling and have found visiting lines with sparse services much easier, as well as covering ground that would on the train need to go the long way round. Having a 16-25 railcard is an absolute godsend and makes rail travel somewhat financially feasible (less so nowadays it seems...).

While Rovers are great they can be a bit of a faff to purchase and sometimes are of the bog roll vairety. I find its just as easier when doing urban route bashing to do a pay as you go sort of thing. For the Welsh Valleys i think it might have worked out cheaper in the end. These days i will look online and find a cheap advance fair, find a corresponding cheap Travelodge (preferably in a central location) and work from there. Once the weather starts improving in the new year my next stop is going to be Scotland!

 

[NorthWestRover]

Favourite bits so far has got to be West Highland Line (cliche i know) and North Wales Coast.

I think the North Wales Coast is underrated. I am biased of course from my time bashing 40s there, but I still love it as a line to travel on.

 

[xotGD]

I think the North Wales Coast is underrated. I am biased of course from my time bashing 40s there, but I still love it as a line to travel on.

And you can still travel along the coast 9n a loco hauled train today.

Scenery and thrash(ish).

 

[Train Maniac]

And you can still travel along the coast 9n a loco hauled train today.

Scenery and thrash(ish).

Honestly? I think ive had more fun with the droplights (safely i hasten to add) on the 43 HST's from Bristol to Cardiff and Edinburgh to Alnmouth
Norwich to London Liverpool St 90 was also good fun though!