Oh, and according to "What's In A Name?" by Cyril M. Harris, the definitive guide to the origins of station names, the name of the Elephant and Castle (the pub) does *not*, as is popularly supposed, derive from "Infanta of Castile" after a Spanish princess, but from its original proprietors - the Cutlers' Company, whose use of the Elephant as their coat-of-arms derives from the ivory used for their craft: the first recorded appearance of the Elephant-and-Castle coat-of-arms is by the Cutlers, at the marriage in 1445 of King Henry VI to Queen Margaret, who was most certainly *not* Spanish. (One presumes that the Cutlers were at the time one of the more important of the ancient trade guilds, who would appear turned out in their best livery as part of important processions and ceremonial occasions.)

Royal Oak, continuing the licensed premises cascade.

Well, somewhat saddeningly forced to Mudchute.

[Tuj] And therefore, off you go to Willesden Junction. Heheh, I'm on a roll: you're next JLE! Scattering the fractals by reverse passing to Embankment on the Bakerloo Line.

[JLE] needs to get out more....Seven Sisters.

[Little Jim] needs to actually look at what's *around* him more... Walthamstow Central.

Gants Hill maintaining a northward drive with banked Notley Spin.

[JLE] needs a sense of humour;) heh, let's go Picadilly Circus for the clowns!

*splats Little Jim in the face with a custard pie* Oxford Circus. Clowns? Does anybody actually find them funny? :-)

[JLE - no - terrifying!] Circus Street. Always preferred sword swallowers myself....

[Angus Prune] No comment. Still ensconced in my powerful position, I redirect Little Jim to Northwick Park, place one teal token on my stack and move to Stepney Green.

Chalfont & Latimer, the standard riposte.

That has opened up Mansion House what a gift! I'll just reverse the flow on the Circle and the District to shunt Googolplex the Amazing Balancing Goat from Luxembourg to Upminster.

[Inkspot] You utter swine! Well that's my advantage gone. I am now very cross.

[Inkspot] That's a bit of a big shunt isn't it? "From Luxembourg to Upminster"... Blackwall.

I'm horribly confused - my Fronsky diagram and Becks calculator are giving me completely contradictory readings. Nothing for it, then but to * Farkle * until the situation has stabilised.

*whangs an egg nog at JLE* that's the spirit laddie! Chalk Farm via Rosemary Avenue and Morden. Dark, isn't it?

Chalk Farm shunting Little Jim to Amersham. [LJ] Dark enough for you?

... ... Camden Town (Bank to High Barnet Branch). Crossing points 20a & 20b very carefully... that's where the train derailed last October.