Route Coverage

[ryan125hst]

Not too sure to be honest! I just added it as an attachment and there we were!

That's what I did, but it seems to have uploaded at a resolution that makes it impossible to read the text.

 

[ryan125hst]

Here's a higher resolution version of my route coverage now I know how to do it.

For those who, like me, are struggling to upload it in a resolution that is high enough that the text can be read, you need to upload it in the .gif format. If you upload it as a .jpeg (which is a compressed format), it uploads at a lower resolution.

The way I did this was to right clock on the file within my documents and select "open with". I then selected Serif Photo Plus which is the photo editing software that I have as I needed for my IT course last year. (Any good photo editing software should offer the same feature though.) I then clicked "Export" and selected the .gif option. I then uploaded it to the forum in the normal way and it worked

Thank you to bb21 for the suggestion as to how to get it to upload properly.

 

[Lrd]

After finally doing the parliamentary train that runs from Streatham Hill to Tulse Hill, I can now say that I have finished the entire Southern network. Which makes me very happy!

Just need Strawberry Hill to Fulwell to finish of the SWT network.

 

[bb21]

Still some way to go, especially in the home counties.

Have done both Skeggy and Barnstaple before but before I started recording my moves.

 

[ryan125hst]

Still some way to go, especially in the home counties.

Have done both Skeggy and Barnstaple before but before I started recording my moves.

Your route coverage makes mine look pathetic! Do you mind me asking how long it has taken you to cover all those lines?

 

[bb21]

That's my coverage map since January 2011.

Mind you I had a fair bit of spare time in the last couple of years but won't be quite so lucky from 2014 onwards. I have also been heavily chasing unusual TOC moves in the last few years, including almost every weekend for a good few months earlier this year. Over 100k miles amassed since January 2011 but also cost quite a fair bit in the meantime.

This rough coverage map is reasonably easy to do. It's the TOC maps and PSUL maps that have some bits which are PITA, even worse if, like me, you do PSUL maps by the TOC. I know some who do coverage by traction, but not many by TOC.

 

[ryan125hst]

That's my coverage map since January 2011.

That's a lot of track in just under three years!

Mind you I had a fair bit of spare time in the last couple of years but won't be quite so lucky from 2014 onwards. I have also been heavily chasing unusual TOC moves in the last few years, including almost every weekend for a good few months earlier this year. Over 100k miles amassed since January 2011 but also cost quite a fair bit in the meantime.

I wish I had enough spare time to do all that.

It must have cost you a fortune to do. What's the cheapest way to do it? I'm guessing area rovers (East Midlands Rover, Freedom of the North East etc.) where they exist, and All Line Rovers for the rest?

This rough coverage map is reasonably easy to do. It's the TOC maps and PSUL maps that have some bits which are PITA, even worse if, like me, you do PSUL maps by the TOC. I know some who do coverage by traction, but not many by TOC.

PSUL is Passenger Service on Unusual Lines.

What's PITA?

 

[LexyBoy]

What's PITA?

Passenger In Trespass Area. Only for the hardcore basher

(no, not really...)

 

[ryan125hst]

Passenger In Trespass Area. Only for the hardcore basher

(no, not really...)

While Pita bread is completely irrelevant, I'm guessing you are both referring to this: http://www.netlingo.com/word/pita.php?

 

[bb21]

It must have cost you a fortune to do. What's the cheapest way to do it? I'm guessing area rovers (East Midlands Rover, Freedom of the North East etc.) where they exist, and All Line Rovers for the rest?

Area rovers can be good value and I have done a number of them: North West 7-day; Heart of England 3-in-7; South West 8-in-15; Severn & Solent 3-in-7, etc. Some of the others can be quite poor value such as East Midlands 3-in-7 and Freedom of North East. Have a done a few BritRails in the last few years which helped, especially with expensive journeys which are awkward and had no Advance fares available.

I normally tend to use Advance fares. I am lucky that I have the choice of getting to Birmingham cheaply (XC Advance with a loophole), getting to London cheaply with LM, and getting to York cheaply (XC Advance with a loophole). EMT also runs promotions frequently so that helps. I am usually able to plan ahead so from York I have the option of using TPE to get to Newcastle for £3.45 if booking at least three weeks in advance generally speaking. Paying walk-up fares can be a very expensive matter.

Even so, I probably spent a good £3k on rail travel last year alone, and my Railcard probably saved me a good £1k in the process.

PSUL is Passenger Service on Unusual Lines.

Yes. This one.

While Pita bread is completely irrelevant, I'm guessing you are both referring to this: http://www.netlingo.com/word/pita.php?

Yes, lol.

 

[ryan125hst]

Area rovers can be good value and I have done a number of them: North West 7-day; Heart of England 3-in-7; South West 8-in-15; Severn & Solent 3-in-7, etc. Some of the others can be quite poor value such as East Midlands 3-in-7 and Freedom of North East. Have a done a few BritRails in the last few years which helped, especially with expensive journeys which are awkward and had no Advance fares available.

I normally tend to use Advance fares. I am lucky that I have the choice of getting to Birmingham cheaply (XC Advance with a loophole), getting to London cheaply with LM, and getting to York cheaply (XC Advance with a loophole). EMT also runs promotions frequently so that helps. I am usually able to plan ahead so from York I have the option of using TPE to get to Newcastle for £3.45 if booking at least three weeks in advance generally speaking. Paying walk-up fares can be a very expensive matter.

Even so, I probably spent a good £3k on rail travel last year alone, and my Railcard probably saved me a good £1k in the process.

I've not done any yet, but when I do have time to do rovers, I will probably do 7 day ones as they are probably the best value for money (unless I can't do 7 days in a row for some reason). How are you able to do BritRail? I thought it isn't for British citizens and your location is showing Leicester? I would be interested in hearing about those loopholes, although I'm sure you would have to PM me for obvious reasons. Advance tickets are excellent value (I've been to London and back with my parents and sister for £38.10 back when I was under 16 [and with a family and friends railcard]). The only problem is you do loose flexibility which is a good thing about the rovers. £3k is a lot! I wonder how much you have paid per mile though? It probably won't be too bad from that perspective.

Yes. This one.

I thought so. I've heard of it before.

Yes, lol.

I thought we were supposed to define any acronyms we use in the first instance (sorry, I couldn't resist. ) Unless you thought it inappropriate to post the exact meaning.

 

[bb21]

How are you able to do BritRail? I thought it isn't for British citizens and your location is showing Leicester?

For part of the year I live abroad so qualify on those grounds.

I would be interested in hearing about those loopholes, although I'm sure you would have to PM me for obvious reasons.

Yes, I am happy to PM if one is suitable for your journey requirements.

Feel free to ask if you want to know about loopholes. I don't always have an answer, but am happy to share in private if so.

£3k is a lot! I wonder how much you have paid per mile though? It probably won't be too bad from that perspective.

I did 47k+ last year in mileage for roughly £3300. So roughly 7p/mile.

I thought we were supposed to define any acronyms we use in the first instance (sorry, I couldn't resist. ) Unless you thought it inappropriate to post the exact meaning.

Most of the time.

 

[dcd]

This is my coverage up to yesterday 21/12/2013. Still go a lot to do.

 

[Cambus731]

Here is mine. A bit messy as I'm not familliar with this sort of thing , but I'm quite sure its accurate.

 

[Trainfan344]

Updated mine to include the WCML south of Lichfield trent valley and the line between Stone and Rugeley trent valley.

 

[Cletus]

Here's my route coverage map. London is a bit fuzzy due to the mess of line on the map.
Last weekend went along the line from Blackheath around to Slade Green and the Hayes branch from Lewisham for the first time.
Also from Eastleigh to Weymouth and up to Dorchester West for the first time.
Also attached is a copy of the London rail map with everywhere I've been erased.

 

[Lrd]

Haven't uploaded mine in a while so here it is.

Don't think I'm doing too badly.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Here's mine corrected and updated. Gradually adding the preserved/heritage lines on as I notice them.

 

[CallySleeper]

Updated the West Midlands with rare coverage!

 

[Techniquest]

For the benefit of forum members unknowing of the track CallySleeper refers to, this is Ryecroft Junction (just north of Walsall) to Water Orton West Junction (on the Birmingham to Derby mainline), also referred to as the Sutton Park line.

The above track is indeed quite rare for passenger trains, railtour or otherwise, and I too got this in on Monday. It's also available all week on Birmingham to Nottingham and Stansted Airport trains. The PSUL line (Whitacre Junction - just east of Coleshill Parkway - to Kingsbury Junction, on the Derby main line) is also achievable on the Birmingham to Nottingham trains currently, and those still after it the section from Lichfield Trent Valley to Burton-on-Trent is also available on North East-South West (and vice versa) CrossCountry trains this week I know this should have been covered elsewhere, but worth mentioning just in case

 

[Kite159]

My rather poor efforts to date, sorry for the mess of the TFL map

 

[Hyphen]

The attached is my UK coverage since I started using the railways in 2003.

I do also seem to recall changing trains at Basingstoke once, but as I can't figure out why or remember where I was going, I've opted not to mark that one.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

My updated version. I had to do it all again, so there may be lines I have done that are not blue. I did check thoroughly and I can't spot any, but there still may be a few stray bits of metal I have done but not marked.

Also not coloured in is the Sutton Park line and Ryecroft jn etc around Birmingham which I did the other week.

Edit: The pic doesn't seem to want to load, I will try again tomorrow.

 

[DarloRich]

How do you change the colours on the map? I might have a go at this!

Can i add bits i have done that aren't shown like Leamside, Redmire and Eastgate (All done when still part of BR!) plus places like Boulby

 

[Lrd]

How do you change the colours on the map? I might have a go at this!

You can do it in Paint, use the paintbrush tool to select the line you want to colour in by blocking paths to the other lines and then use the fill tool.

 

[Kite159]

Updated from the weekend's trip to Scotland.


Tube map looks a lot better now I've taken to using a felt tip marker

 

[Cletus]

Managed to go from Purley down to Tattenham Corner for the 1st time yesterday, followed by a swift walk to Epsom Downs, also for the 1st time to meet a connection back to Sutton. Pretty sure that train was a 377/6 due its shininess and 5 carriages.

 

[Rich_D3167]

Thought i'd make myself one of these maps. Here's my current track record. Still yet to do Thorne Junction to Gilberdyke, & Goole to Knottingley, despite living less than 30 miles away!

 

[Kite159]

Managed to go from Purley down to Tattenham Corner for the 1st time yesterday, followed by a swift walk to Epsom Downs, also for the 1st time to meet a connection back to Sutton. Pretty sure that train was a 377/6 due its shininess and 5 carriages.

It's a nice walk from Epson Downs to Tattenham Corner

 

[trentside]

It's a nice walk from Epson Downs to Tattenham Corner

When it's nice weather - I last did it on a cold winters evening, when the racecourse area was muddy