David Wright's Blog (10)

After my move back to Glasgow last autumn to enter fatherhood, it seemed as if my EOTL days were over.  However, a brief visit to London offered the perfect opportunity to resurrect the project, albeit briefly.  (I must thank my wife, Eleanor, for granting me two days free of paternal responsibility).

Having visited all EOTL stations and officially completed the project, Dave and I were forced to think outside the EOTL box. We had to agree on a journey which would, at least, respect…

When I alight at Cockfosters, the scene is very different from that of 20 months ago when a deep blanket of snow covered the Piccadilly Line's northernmost outpost.  It's not the balmy late summer's evening we had been anticipating for our nostalgic return to where it all began.  However, the afternoon's torrential rain has eased to a fine drizzle.

I find Dave at our favoured table in the Cock and Dragon.  He has thoughtfully picked out a book from the pub's modest library…

Our taxi driver certainly enjoys a chat.  Iqual made the life-changing move from Pakistan to Chesham 17 years ago and has no regrets.  Like ourselves, he enjoys the occasional drink.  Sensing a high degree of local knowledge, we ask our friend what time the last train into central London is likely to depart from Amersham.  'Oooh, after midnight.  One o'clock, maybe.'  Even if we do suffer an EOTL first and miss the last train, fear not.  For a mere £50, Iqbal will take us all the way back to…

Expectations aren't high for our trip to South Ruislip, western extremity of the Central Line. According to work colleague and Ruislip resident, Ralph, the most interesting local landmark is the local Conservative Club. The 'Historic Events' section of the online guide to Ruislip reveal that 'no historic events have taken place'.…

A fine summer's evening and, for the commuters packed onto the Central Line train, the only way is Essex.  Epping to be precise, home to the first ever branch of Clinton's Cards, the very lovely Jessie Wallace and punk ideologues, Crass.

Beyond Debden we are travelling across lush green fields.  London feels like a long way behind us. Through the beautifully named Theydon Bois and we finally arrive in Epping.  The High…

I estimate a 50 minute journey time to travel the length of the Bakerloo from Elephant and Castle north to Harrow and Wealdstone. This would give me plenty of time for a spot of sightseeing before meeting Dave at the Weald Stone…

Late afternoon, my works Christmas lunch winding down, I stepped out of the cosy Bankside pub onto the cold, grey, riverside walkway and made my way along to London Bridge.  The Bakerloo north to Baker Street, change for the Metropolitan and I embark on EOTL’s most ambitious outing to date.  Uxbridge, 15 miles north-west of central London and home town of celebrated astrologer, Russell Grant, and the drummer from Bad Manners.   The one downside of tonight’s venture was that we’d be missing…

I arrived at Mill Hill East, a single-station branch of the Northern Line, in uncharacteristically good time. I took the opportunity to down a swift half pint in the Angel and Crown before heading on to our arranged meeting point, the grave of 1960’s rock ‘n’ roller, Billy Fury. Our pre-trip research revealed Fury’s resting place to be the closest thing to a landmark in this…

Wimbledon fortnight, week two. An opportune time to pay a visit to the southern edge of the District Line and soak up a bit of Murraymania before our would-be hero crashes out in the latter stages,…

‘Due to a volcanic dust cloud hanging over the United Kingdom, services from all London airports are severely disrupted.’

Despite the deadpan delivery of a weary TFL employee, the announcement in Waterloo Station left me with a feeling of unease. I hoped that this apocalyptic inconvenience would not affect the planned expedition to Stanmore, northernmost point of the Jubilee line. In fact a most pleasant journey lay ahead…