Visiting EVERY National Rail station

[Techniquest]

I also did Weymouth Quay by walking there and also features in my count. Sadly I've had to take North Woolwich and Silvertown out of my counts due to closure of the NR route some years back.

Cheers to pne who confirmed lack of access to Lympstone Commando, the same rule as applied to Redcar British Steel will indeed apply to this one.

IBM I did by alighting from one of the evening Glasgow to Wemyss Bay services that crosses a Wemyss Bay to Glasgow service in the loop on that line, therefore not leaving the platform. Whether that one still counts as a 'private' station or not I do not know.

 

[37038]

Is 1721 NR/Light Rail/Pres stations still the official count or has it changed since? Still, I'm a long long way off the finishing and only on 379

 

[Buttsy]

Quainton Road IS NOT a National Rail Station. It neither appears on National Rail's website, or on the ORR Station Usage spreadsheets, since their inception in 1997/98. (ORR Station Usage spreadsheets in xls. format are freely available to download from the ORR website).

It is, however, a station on Network Rail (binliners to Calvert pass it regularly) and that is the basis I am using for my system. I have also done Leyburn and Redmire, but as the line is leased from Network Rail, I do not include those.

I have visited Quainton Road since the 70s and it has regularly had services operated by BR or Chiltern to Aylesbury on some open days. The fact that it does not appear in National Rail stats doesn't mean it is not a station which is open (albeit infrequently) on Network Rail. I believe it is unique in this regard.

 

[Hornet]

It is, however, a station on Network Rail (binliners to Calvert pass it regularly) and that is the basis I am using for my system. I have also done Leyburn and Redmire, but as the line is leased from Network Rail, I do not include those.

I have visited Quainton Road since the 70s and it has regularly had services operated by BR or Chiltern to Aylesbury on some open days. The fact that it does not appear in National Rail stats doesn't mean it is not a station which is open (albeit infrequently) on Network Rail. I believe it is unique in this regard.

As you can see from my earlier post that Quainton Road does not satisfy Rules 1 to 5 inclusive for my project. What are your criteria on the following? Brockley Whins, East Boldon and Seaburn. Also how would you approach the following Stations? Liskeard, Portsmouth & Southsea, Crystal Palace, Highbury & Islington, St Pancras, Willesden Junction, Bushey, Retford, Tamworth, Lichfield Trent Valley, Shotton, Liverpool Lime Street, Earlestown, Meadowhall, Glasgow Central. (Those are just a sample of around 50 Stations that have similar considerations to take into account). Would you also include preserved lines that have had at least 1 scheduled working from Railtrack/Network Rail metals? (I'm thinking of the Bristol Temple Meads to Minehead Trains for Butlins Holidaymakers that ran in the Summer of 2007).

 

[Buttsy]

As you can see from my earlier post that Quainton Road does not satisfy Rules 1 to 5 inclusive for my project. What are your criteria on the following? Brockley Whins, East Boldon and Seaburn. Also how would you approach the following Stations? Liskeard, Portsmouth & Southsea, Crystal Palace, Highbury & Islington, St Pancras, Willesden Junction, Bushey, Retford, Tamworth, Lichfield Trent Valley, Shotton, Liverpool Lime Street, Earlestown, Meadowhall, Glasgow Central. (Those are just a sample of around 50 Stations that have similar considerations to take into account). Would you also include preserved lines that have had at least 1 scheduled working from Railtrack/Network Rail metals? (I'm thinking of the Bristol Temple Meads to Minehead Trains for Butlins Holidaymakers that ran in the Summer of 2007).

My criteria doesn't have to be your criteria and yours doesn't have to be mine. I didn't re-read your posting before making my Quainton Road post. Your comment regarding Quainton Road is fine that it doesn't meet your criteria. I assume that Weymouth Quay doesn't either.

If Network Rail 'own' the track, then I count that as a station that I need to 'tick off' (my rules) or appears in Baker on a black or red line, so as you indicate, I need to do stations from Heworth to Sunderland on the T&W Metro.

I am sorry, but I am missing your point about the 50 stations, some of which you list. You state similar considerations, but I am missing your point I think. :-? (Have done Liskeard, Portsmouth & Southsea, Crystal Palace, Highbury & Islington, St Pancras, Willesden Junction, Retford, Tamworth, Lichfield, Lime Street, Meadowhall and Glasgow Central on mulitple routes if that's what you refer to).

Stations in Great Britain, served in GBTT and any other station with an open platform on Network Rail is my aim, marking them off in Baker's atlas.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Out of interest Buttsy how do you count combined stations or split stations? Just curious how we all do it, I'm not going to moan that you're doing it wrong

Me, for example, I go by the Baker's way, which it looks like you use that too, so Paddington for example, I'd count the station if arrived by National Rail or Tube including the Praed Street platforms. Down the line at Edgware Road however, or Bethnal Green for that matter, I count them separately, so my list has Edgware Road (SLL) and Edgware Road (Bakerloo) as they are not linked despite having the same name. Bethnal Green is also separate in the map, so I have Bethnal Green (NR) but have yet to do Bethnal Green (Central).

I also don't do station's like the tube challenge, get off, photo of the sign, back on, I would have nearly done all the stations ages ago if that was the case! I can either arrive at the station and depart on a train or vice versa, or just visit the station and go elsewhere. If I get off a train then I have to get another train back out that's on a different service. Sometimes I just get off at one stop and swap over to the other platform for a train back, sometimes to another station I need, then swap back etc.
I can get on/off the same train only if it changes headcode/service, like the terminals of branch lines or something.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I use the same rule. It's not my mission to visit every station (I know realistically I will not achieve that) but I keep a record of all the stations I have visited and if possible I will try and do as many as possible. So far I am up to 854.

The walking between stations is something I do as like others have said lessens the wait.

However, good luck Statto95 with this mission.

Yeah you are right, only if you can of course, or a bus as I mentioned above. I did Belmont recently, problem was a long wait for the 455 to trundle on to Epsom Downs and then waiting for it to trundle back. Had I thought about it, I could have seen if there was a bus to Sutton or Croydon

 

[Buttsy]

Out of interest Buttsy how do you count combined stations or split stations? Just curious how we all do it, I'm not going to moan that you're doing it wrong

Me, for example, I go by the Baker's way, which it looks like you use that too, so Paddington for example, I'd count the station if arrived by National Rail or Tube including the Praed Street platforms. Down the line at Edgware Road however, or Bethnal Green for that matter, I count them separately, so my list has Edgware Road (SLL) and Edgware Road (Bakerloo) as they are not linked despite having the same name. Bethnal Green is also separate in the map, so I have Bethnal Green (NR) but have yet to do Bethnal Green (Central).

I also don't do station's like the tube challenge, get off, photo of the sign, back on, I would have nearly done all the stations ages ago if that was the case! I can either arrive at the station and depart on a train or vice versa, or just visit the station and go elsewhere. If I get off a train then I have to get another train back out that's on a different service. Sometimes I just get off at one stop and swap over to the other platform for a train back, sometimes to another station I need, then swap back etc.
I can get on/off the same train only if it changes headcode/service, like the terminals of branch lines or something.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Yeah you are right, only if you can of course, or a bus as I mentioned above. I did Belmont recently, problem was a long wait for the 455 to trundle on to Epsom Downs and then waiting for it to trundle back. Had I thought about it, I could have seen if there was a bus to Sutton or Croydon

I would count the Edgware Road and Bethnal Green stations as separate. As for Bank - Monument and Paddington, as having done both of these as a kid, I haven't though about how these should be treated.

I did Drumgelloch and Bathgate before they were rebuilt and so when travelling taht route, I stepped off and back on the train I was on to 'update' that I had stood on the platform. I am very flexible in my requirments in that if a service calls at a station sufficiently long enough for me to walk around for a minute, I take that as 'doing' the station. Have done that at Evesham and Honiton awaiting passing services.

I'm more of a line basher than a station basher, stations give me something else to think of when visiting an area for rare track. I actually prefer to walk from one station another as a keen walker.

Ended up at Belmont when trying to walk from Tattenham Corner to Epsom Downs (got lost), so then took the train down to Epsom before coming back up.

 

[Statto95]

A wonderful walk along the canal! Seriously, for the more scenic locations (Yorkshire Dales, Scottish Highlands etc) you will get much more out of your experience by also soaking in some of the surrounding countryside too! And it's a good way to keep your legs in good shape when they'll otherwise be stuck in a seat all day!

I certainly will be walking between where I can. My love of photography will see to that!!

 

[Buttsy]

I think the whole thing is that you make up your own rules and go with them.

 

[Hornet]

My criteria doesn't have to be your criteria and yours doesn't have to be mine. I didn't re-read your posting before making my Quainton Road post. Your comment regarding Quainton Road is fine that it doesn't meet your criteria. I assume that Weymouth Quay doesn't either.

If Network Rail 'own' the track, then I count that as a station that I need to 'tick off' (my rules) or appears in Baker on a black or red line, so as you indicate, I need to do stations from Heworth to Sunderland on the T&W Metro.

I am sorry, but I am missing your point about the 50 stations, some of which you list. You state similar considerations, but I am missing your point I think. :-? (Have done Liskeard, Portsmouth & Southsea, Crystal Palace, Highbury & Islington, St Pancras, Willesden Junction, Retford, Tamworth, Lichfield, Lime Street, Meadowhall and Glasgow Central on mulitple routes if that's what you refer to).

Stations in Great Britain, served in GBTT and any other station with an open platform on Network Rail is my aim, marking them off in Baker's atlas.

I did Weymouth Quay in June 1983 (06:40 Weymouth Quay to Waterloo), and as Weymouth Quay has never had a Formal Closure notice it is a bona fide Station in my project. The point re the other Stations is that there are split Platforms, ie on separate routes, and in the case of Liverpool Lime Street and Glasgow Central, two separate TOC's manage different parts of the Station. As someone else said you make the rules to satisfy you own personal preferences. For example at Earlestown I have all three sides of the Station photographed with services passing through, at Tamworth and Retford both High and Low Level Platforms are included in photo's. As of today I have recorded photographs of Trains at 2654 BR/Railtrack/Network Rail Stations since 1980 (including separate images at split Platform Stations, Stations closed since that date and the VoR, which was part of the BR network in the 80's). Less than 10 to do now, (all recent additions to the Network).

 

[Sprinter]

I am doing this very thing myself... and I too do not count jumping off (and back on) the same train, that is cheating. I also count stations where one has to exit one set of barriers then enter another as separate, so Paddington is counted three times (mainline, H&C and Bakerloo/District) platforms. However stations like Stratford (London) with one common barrier line is counted as one whole station.

Therefore I have had some exercise doing the "awkward" ones.

Walked the 6 miles from Shippea Hill- Littleport (in the dark along the main road)!
Walked between Eccles Road and Harling Road (around 5 miles, took just over an hour)
Walked between Ascott and Shipton (again in the dark and with snow on the ground) similar did Hanborough- Combe the same way.

Also done walking Hartford- Greenbank, Liskeard- Coombe Junction, Swineshead- Hubberts Bridge and attempted Runcorn East- Runcorn but got hopelessly lost and never invisaged the two would be 5 and half miles apart!!!! Eventually did reach Runcorn after finding the Busway!

My most recent "awkward" station was Tees-side Airport. Got there by train, but upon getting there knew I needed to walk to Dinsdale/Middleton St. George for the next train or bus back to Darlo (about 40 minutes walk). Researched this before setting off.

I have done Finstock by bus (route X9 does serve the station from Witney or Charlbury) but when I did it from Witney only had two minutes between bus and train!!

Reddish South and Denton I did on the same train. Get to Stockport, board route 203 to Reddish South, get on the parliamentary train and get off at Denton, then by bus (numerous) into Central Manchester.

Barnstaple line was fun, got on train towards Barnstaple, requested x station, got off. Waited to train to return (if north of Eggesford), get back on and request station y. Repeat as required.

Had luck at Berney Arms as the same train I got off, went to Great Yarmouth and called on the way back. Had about 90 minutes to kill at Thornford though and those stations where trains pass such as Eggesford, Ridgmont etc. where you cannot get across the line in time due to a lack of footbridge!

My current station count is 1,810 but includes everything (NR, light rail, Tube, preserved and even stations I visited before they closed such as the old Shoreditch and the old South Quay (before the resiting). Mainly though a NSE/Westcountry bias, due to my location as a Londoner.

Several challenges lay ahead for me though like Far North line or Cambrian Coast (neither of which I have even route bashed, let alone station bashed). Shocking I know!!

 

[Techniquest]

I need to read your post again later, due to time restrictions, but welcome back Sprinter to the forum, not seen you here in a long time!

 

[andyb2706]

You'll need written prior permission from the MoD to do Lympstone Commando, but they do grant it if the reason is given clearly to them - there are a couple of people on this forum who have done just that and have posted about it in the past year or two.

This does seem a silly situation with Lympstone Commando station because if they do not want anyone getting off a train there and to keep civilians away from the camp why is it do you have The South Coast Path going straight between the railway station and the entrance to the camp? Can't figure that one out.

Anyhow goodnluck with your challenge and a tough one to.

 

[Techniquest]

Sprinter: 1,810 stations? Not bad at all, I believe you're well ahead of me there still, although I'm catching up slowly!

Lympstone Commando, for me at least, I will happily count if the train calls there. Same as Redcar British Steel, only way to do them really!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

This does seem a silly situation with Lympstone Commando station because if they do not want anyone getting off a train there and to keep civilians away from the camp why is it do you have The South Coast Path going straight between the railway station and the entrance to the camp? Can't figure that one out.

Anyhow goodnluck with your challenge and a tough one to.

Agree - the path makes the restrictions on station use a bit pointless.

It's not my challenge, by the way.

 

[crispy1978]

It would be an enormous (and expensive!) undertaking to do it where you physically alight/board at every station.

Be hard enough merely calling at every station!

Fantastic achievement for anyone who does it, or already has!

 

[crehld]

I have a mate who's visited Lympstone Commando and all it took was a friendly letter to the base.

Also came across this after a brief internet search: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/lympstone_commando_railway_stati

 

[Kite159]

I have a mate who's visited Lympstone Commando and all it took was a friendly letter to the base.

Also came across this after a brief internet search: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/lympstone_commando_railway_stati

Seems strange with the path in between station and camp fence, so it's not that secure if you decide to alight (I assume the entrance to the station is barred by the use of a gate?)

So in theory someone could alight, wait on the platform for the same train to come back ~ 15 minutes later.

Probably something similar with Longcross, where the only public access is along a unlit unmade mile long path along the side of the MOD base, the main way out is into the MOD base.

 

[Techniquest]

Be hard enough merely calling at every station!

I've almost done that, only about 40 all in that I've not stopped at. Almost all of them in Scotland as well!

 

[Cletus]

It's probably under a 10 minute walk back to Exton or about 20 minutes to Lympstone Village so I would think Lympstone Commando station isn't really so much a problem as in the past.