I’m going to be the youngest person to visit all railway stations in Great Britain

[Will HS]

I’m 14 and live in the Merseyside area. I’m planning on visiting every railway station in the Uk by getting off at each station and waiting for the next train. Am I posting in the right place, I’m new to this.

 

[185143]

I’m 14 and live in the Merseyside area. I’m planning on visiting every railway station in the Uk by getting off at each station and waiting for the next train. Am I posting in the right place, I’m new to this.

I started when I was a bit younger than you, and finished when I was 20. Granted, I could have finished a couple of years earlier if I'd properly gone for it.

Start with Merseyrail would be my advice. But certainly don't expect them all to be that easy! I'd suggest either the Borderlands line and North Wales, or Manchester/Lancashire next, depending on your local line.

Some people have done it by getting off at stations and making their own way to another if the services were infrequent, but by my rules I had to board and alight as you're planning to.

For lines such as the Heart of Wales and the lines North of Inverness, you are going to spend a LOT of time staring at fields, trust me!

To give you an idea of the contrast, I'm not too far from you geographically. I've done over 50 London Overground stations in a day before, going to and from home. I've also driven down to Crewe for the 04:xx TfW service to go and do Heart of Wales stations, got back to Crewe after 01:00 the following morning having done about 5 stations. It's certainly a challenge but an excellent experience. Once I turned 18, I started ticking Wetherspoon pubs too, so that slowed my progress somewhat. Both hobbies are an excellent way to see one hell of a lot of the country!

I would advise making the most of the 50% discounted fares while you can, that's for certain. The likes of Avanti occasionally have sales which have some really good fares, but don't include railcard discounts. So try and snap them up when they come round before you turn 16.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[Will HS]

Thanks for the advice and I was wondering whether it would be a good idea to keep anyone interested posted on how I’m doing but also the rules on how to take pictures of the station because I have a plain picture of the totem pole thing, the main building sign and the platform sign

 

[185143]

Thanks for the advice and I was wondering whether it would be a good idea to keep anyone interested posted on how I’m doing but also the rules on how to take pictures of the station because I have a plain picture of the totem pole thing, the main building sign and the platform sign

For me, I just got (and indeed still do when there's a new opening) a picture of the platform sign.

Such as this. But it's a bit of a novelty thing these days, so I do tend to take a picture of the train too.

There's stations in London, Bickley and St. Mary Cray spring to mind where I've hopped off a SouthEastern train rolling into, say, P3, quickly got a picture of the station sign and jump onto a ThamesLink that's just released the doors on P4.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I’m planning on visiting every railway station in the Uk by getting off at each station and waiting for the next train.

@Will HS. Welcome to the forum. Great idea, but you may wish to tweak the plan when visiting some of the more obscure, little served, stations around the GB rail network. For example, Polesworth, on the Trent Valley line between Rugby and Crewe, has the one train calling at 06:48 in the morning. The next one is not until the same time the following day! And not if it's a Sunday!

 

[185143]

@Will HS. Welcome to the forum. Great idea, but you may wish to tweak the plan when visiting some of the more obscure, little used, stations around the GB rail network. For example, Polesworth, on the line between Northampton and Crewe, has the one train calling at 06:48 in the morning. The next one is not until the same time the following day! And not if it's a Sunday!

And keep an eye out for disruption working in your favour!

Polesworth, for example, I noticed the Northbound train was cancelled one Saturday. Stop order on the one an hour later that I could make from home.

West Midlands Day Ranger very quickly obtained and alighted a train at Polesworth! With regards to boarding there, I drove down and dumped my car in the station car park, then got on the train.

 

[The exile]

Thanks for the advice and I was wondering whether it would be a good idea to keep anyone interested posted on how I’m doing but also the rules on how to take pictures of the station because I have a plain picture of the totem pole thing, the main building sign and the platform sign

Definitely keep us posted on how you’re doing. You may want to allow yourself to either arrive or leave by train as some stations have a very poor service (but it’s easy to walk /catch a bus to a different one). I would suggest you try to take a variety of interesting photos that still “prove” you were there - a collection of close-ups of station name boards will not really inspire you (probably) or anyone else. Plenty of stations have interesting and distinctive features to discover and record. Also - don’t be frustrated when things go wrong - they always will. Forgot to add - make up your mind early on as to exactly what you mean by “railway station”.
I assume you know the “Shack Attack” thread.

 

[Kite159]

Good luck

There are some very awkward stations out there which have anything calling which are not best connected to other stations, i.e. Shippea Hill, where it is linked with Littleport, the road isn't the nicest to walk along.

 

[Will HS]

Definitely keep us posted on how you’re doing. You may want to allow yourself to either arrive or leave by train as some stations have a very poor service (but it’s easy to walk /catch a bus to a different one). I would suggest you try to take a variety of interesting photos that still “prove” you were there - a collection of close-ups of station name boards will not really inspire you (probably) or anyone else. Plenty of stations have interesting and distinctive features to discover and record. Also - don’t be frustrated when things go wrong - they always will. Forgot to add - make up your mind early on as to exactly what you mean by “railway station”.
I assume you know the “Shack Attack” thread.

I was wondering if you could explain what you mean by ‘shack attack’ as I made my account today

 

[The exile]

I was wondering if you could explain what you mean by ‘shack attack’ as I made my account today

Look through this section - somewhere you’ll find a thread called “Shack Attack 2026” where nutters like me (and you, I hope!) post our latest achievements… At this moment it’s about 14 threads below this one.

 

[The exile]

I was wondering if you could explain what you mean by ‘shack attack’ as I made my account today

Have a look about 14 threads below this one! It’s where we fellow “nutters” post our latest achievements in running rare stations to earth! Sorry didn’t mean to duplicate - something weird was going on on the bus home!)

 

[sh24]

Good luck! I'm just under 2/3 of the way through so a couple of points I've learned

* if you are planning a tight connection, research the station layout. I was mostly used to large stations or those in the south and west where there is almost always a footbridge or subway. Stations like Wood End which require you to ascend and descend a small mountain were a bad shock and resulted in several disappointing, unfulfilled days
* Try and get out of one station to explore, if only to visit a lovely pub or cool cafe. I've seen a lot more of the UK through doing this
* dress accordingly. shack bashing in winter can be perishingly cold!
* make friends with Traksy and Realtimetrains as you will use them a lot

 

[Haywain]

Good luck! I'm just under 2/3 of the way through so a couple of points I've learned

* if you are planning a tight connection, research the station layout. I was mostly used to large stations or those in the south and west where there is almost always a footbridge or subway. Stations like Wood End which require you to ascend and descend a small mountain were a bad shock and resulted in several disappointing, unfulfilled days
* Try and get out of one station to explore, if only to visit a lovely pub or cool cafe. I've seen a lot more of the UK through doing this
* dress accordingly. shack bashing in winter can be perishingly cold!
* make friends with Traksy and Realtimetrains as you will use them a lot

I think a 14 year old might find pub visits a bit tricky.

 

[Will HS]

Good luck! I'm just under 2/3 of the way through so a couple of points I've learned

* if you are planning a tight connection, research the station layout. I was mostly used to large stations or those in the south and west where there is almost always a footbridge or subway. Stations like Wood End which require you to ascend and descend a small mountain were a bad shock and resulted in several disappointing, unfulfilled days
* Try and get out of one station to explore, if only to visit a lovely pub or cool cafe. I've seen a lot more of the UK through doing this
* dress accordingly. shack bashing in winter can be perishingly cold!
* make friends with Traksy and Realtimetrains as you will use them a lot

I’d assume that you've been through the merseyrail stations and thats were ive started my journey and if you've not been I can show you pictures if you want

 

[sh24]

I think a 14 year old might find pub visits a bit tricky.

It didn't stop me in the late 80's but times have changed.

 

[Hornet]

I’m 14 and live in the Merseyside area. I’m planning on visiting every railway station in the Uk by getting off at each station and waiting for the next train. Am I posting in the right place, I’m new to this.

You will be waiting a long time at Denton and Reddish South! I started off by travelling the entire British Rail Network during 1978/1979 before embarking on photographing all the British Rail Stations from 1979. My project aims were simple. The station had to be in the BR All Line timetable, and have at least one BR service a week (for the likes of Denton, etc), or for the likes of Dunrobin Castle or Loch Awe, have a regular service when they were open during the summer season. Stations which were on heritage lines that might have had an occasional BR shoppers service (Quainton Road for example) were not included. Each Station photo included a Train (Passenger, Freight, LE) arriving, departing or passing through.

Took me 14 years to do it, (primarily weekends, as work got in the way during the week). Had the benefit of regular night services to travel on, so no overnight Hotel stops. Planning was pen, paper and the BR Passenger Timetable (No Mobile Phone, websites or Google Maps, etc), and huge slices of luck. I did some remote Scottish Stations in Winter, but I wouldn't recommend it. Started the Project at New Holland Pier Station in 1979 and finished in March 1994 at Taplow.

One thing I do remember is that I only came across 1 'Jobsworth' at all the Stations I visited (Holmes Chapel), this at the time the IRA was conducting its bombing campaign across the UK. Contrast to today, where it seems that even being on a Station and whipping out your camera is likely to send 'security' into meltdown in some places. Glad i've been there, done that and got the tee-shirt.

Also ensure you have your flash turned off if photographing on any platform. Good Luck.

 

[185143]

I think a 14 year old might find pub visits a bit tricky.

Indeed. It does help if you're closer to 16/17, look older and obviously stick to soft drinks mind.

Strathcarron was particularly memorable. Did it on a Sunday with about a 4 hour wait. Aged 19, for the record! Had a few beers and some food. Got talking to the barman about what I was doing, and I'd eaten and supped up about 25 minutes before the train. He offered me another and I declined as the train was due fairly soon. Once the words "it's on me like..." were used, get it poured mate

I certainly popped in a couple of pubs on the Esk Valley line before I was 16 (again, soft drinks only!), no one was bothered. But that's obviously going to be easier in rural areas! I think it was Commondale where the landlord even turned the lighting up a bit so I could see the paper timetables I had a bit easier and match things up with my plan.

And for the record, I was born this century, I'm not THAT old!

 

[185143]

You will be waiting a long time at Denton and Reddish South! I started off by travelling the entire British Rail Network during 1978/1979 before embarking on photographing all the British Rail Stations from 1979. My project aims were simple. The station had to be in the BR All Line timetable, and have at least one BR service a week (for the likes of Denton, etc), or for the likes of Dunrobin Castle or Loch Awe, have a regular service when they were open during the summer season. Stations which were on heritage lines that might have had an occasional BR shoppers service (Quainton Road for example) were not included. Each Station photo included a Train (Passenger, Freight, LE) arriving, departing or passing through.

Took me 14 years to do it, (primarily weekends, as work got in the way during the week). Had the benefit of regular night services to travel on, so no overnight Hotel stops. Planning was pen, paper and the BR Passenger Timetable (No Mobile Phone, websites or Google Maps, etc), and huge slices of luck. I did some remote Scottish Stations in Winter, but I wouldn't recommend it. Started the Project at New Holland Pier Station in 1979 and finished in March 1994 at Taplow.

One thing I do remember is that I only came across 1 'Jobsworth' at all the Stations I visited (Holmes Chapel), this at the time the IRA was conducting its bombing campaign across the UK. Contrast to today, where it seems that even being on a Station and whipping out your camera is likely to send 'security' into meltdown in some places. Glad i've been there, done that and got the tee-shirt.

Also ensure you have your flash turned off if photographing on any platform. Good Luck.

Not these days!

Get the bus to Denton, train to Reddish South. Sit there for 30 minutes or so, back to Denton and up to the bus stop.

 

[Will HS]

Indeed. It does help if you're closer to 16/17, look older and obviously stick to soft drinks mind.

Strathcarron was particularly memorable. Did it on a Sunday with about a 4 hour wait. Aged 19, for the record! Had a few beers and some food. Got talking to the barman about what I was doing, and I'd eaten and supped up about 25 minutes before the train. He offered me another and I declined as the train was due fairly soon. Once the words "it's on me like..." were used, get it poured mate

I certainly popped in a couple of pubs on the Esk Valley line before I was 16 (again, soft drinks only!), no one was bothered. But that's obviously going to be easier in rural areas! I think it was Commondale where the landlord even turned the lighting up a bit so I could see the paper timetables I had a bit easier and match things up with my plan.

And for the record, I was born this century, I'm not THAT old!

I can’t help but notice but a lot of these are about pubs which I find funny with the fact I wrote that I’m 14 in the first line

 

[Haywain]

I can’t help but notice but a lot of these are about pubs which I find funny with the fact I wrote that I’m 14 in the first line

Quite.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Not these days!

Get the bus to Denton, train to Reddish South. Sit there for 30 minutes or so, back to Denton and up to the bus stop.

Or if the rule is both arrive and leave by train, do each arriving from Guide Bridge, and wait for it to come back
Would need to do each on a different Saturday

 

[Haywain]

I’m 14 and live in the Merseyside area. I’m planning on visiting every railway station in the Uk by getting off at each station and waiting for the next train. Am I posting in the right place, I’m new to this.

I would just ask if you have considered that this will involve an enormous amount of time waiting at bleak stations in the middle of nowhere? I have done that at a small number of stations over the years and nothing will ever make me want to do it at all of them!

 

[Will HS]

I would just ask if you have considered that this will involve an enormous amount of time waiting at bleak stations in the middle of nowhere? I have done that at a small number of stations over the years and nothing will ever make me want to do it at all of them!

I have a lot of patience and I see no reason not to admire my surroundings and why stop now if Ive already made a 45 minute journey 5 hours

 

[185143]

Or if the rule is both arrive and leave by train, do each arriving from Guide Bridge, and wait for it to come back
Would need to do each on a different Saturday

You are arriving and leaving by train the way I suggested.

For example:
Bus Manchester-Denton
Train Denton-Reddish South
Train Reddish South-Denton
Bus Denton-Manchester.

I did it when it was Fridays only which was a lot more difficult as a teenager.

I ended up travelling from Reddish South to Denton with a mate a couple of years ago. We got an Uber from Reddish North as it was tight timewise, for virtually the same as the bus fare. Driver was a very interesting guy who had previously been a Northern guard, but shift work and family life didn't go well for him.

I also had a taxi from Carnoustie to Barry Links when it was one a day each way with a driver who was a former Mobile Operations Manager. But was clearly getting on in years and presumably looking for a more casual job. Which is fair enough.

 

[185143]

I have a lot of patience and I see no reason not to admire my surroundings and why stop now if Ive already made a 45 minute journey 5 hours

You say that now...

Do you like your own company? That's a must for this kind of thing. Trust me!

 

[185143]

I can’t help but notice but a lot of these are about pubs which I find funny with the fact I wrote that I’m 14 in the first line

Bit of a double edged sword if I'm honest...

You make a plan as an under 18 and you have no real distractions, so do the stations you planned barring disruption.

Then you turn 18 and you bail out somewhere and see a pub...

 

[Will HS]

You say that now...

Do you like your own company? That's a must for this kind of thing. Trust me!

I don’t know what you mean sorry

 

[185143]

I don’t know what you mean sorry

Are you happy being on your own for many hours at a time and potentially far away from home?

 

[SuspectUsual]

I have a lot of patience and I see no reason not to admire my surroundings and why stop now if Ive already made a 45 minute journey 5 hours

Just thinking this through.

Using Dingwall to Kyle as an example, there are 12 stations and 4 trains a day, so it’s going to take a long time.

Perhaps for the really rural lines or those with infrequent services you could hop off at each station, take a photo or two, and hope back on?

One of my friends has done something similar with his son and with one exception in Birmingham the guards were universally helpful

 

[Will HS]

Are you happy being on your own for many hours at a time and potentially far away from home?

Yes I find it peaceful as I live with two younger brothers