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Breaking a subway record

by Benjamin Kabak

A few hours ago, two investment analysts became the time-honored attempt to break the world record for fastest time through the subway. Using a software simulation, Chris Solarz and Matt Ferrisi are attempting to reach all 468 stations in under 24 hours, 54 minutes and 3 seconds. “I think our record will probably hold up, but I don’t want to say that it’s not possible,” Bill Amarosa, the current record holder, said to The Daily News. As long as they don’t get slowed down by too many unavoidable delays, Solarz and Ferrisi might just make it.

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14 comments

kynes January 22, 2009 - 5:13 pm

I’ve always imagined the 7th ring of hell to be a never ending subway ride… Amarosa, Solarz and Ferrisi are stronger men then I

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rhywun January 22, 2009 - 5:58 pm

Fun story, if you ignore the usual idiocy in the comments….

PS. I wonder if they’ll share with us the route they take.

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herenthere January 24, 2009 - 4:57 pm

Think kynes was referring to Dante’s Inferno.

Did they break the record though?

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Benjamin Kabak January 24, 2009 - 4:58 pm

They broke the record. I’ll have a follow up on Monday.

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rhywun January 25, 2009 - 12:22 am

They’re done.

“‘The route is like our secret sauce,’ Solarz said. ‘We’re keeping it to ourselves.'”

That’s not very sporting.

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Josh Karpoff January 22, 2009 - 6:45 pm

Investment analysts seem to have a lot more free time on their hands as of late.

I hope their models for transit route planning work out better than the models used to invest my 401k.

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JP January 22, 2009 - 8:01 pm

Hope they’re not trying to hit the local stations on the F between west 4 and 34th tonight- there were a lot of delays!

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rhywun January 22, 2009 - 9:08 pm

@Josh,

Ha ha – true and true.

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Duke87 January 22, 2009 - 9:15 pm

Wonder why they’re starting at Far Rockaway. Stating at Rockaway Park makes more sense since you only have to change trains twice to get out of the Rockaways, as opposed to three times (unless they manage to snag one of those special rush hour As).

Also interesting is Canarsie as the endpoint. Usually Pelham Bay Park is the typical endpoint… makes sense, considering it’s the most remote station in the system in terms of how far you have to go before there’s a place to transfer to something else, making it the longest trip back and forth if you’re not beginning or ending there… especially considering that with the no express rule you have to switch trains at Parkchester in one direction unless you’re there later at night.

Incidentally, why does Guiness not allow the use of express trains? I don’t follow the logic there.

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Kevin January 22, 2009 - 10:42 pm

They want you to visit every single station perhaps?

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Benjamin Kabak January 23, 2009 - 1:21 am

Yup. I’m pretty certain that Guinness wants you to stop at every station for it to e a legitimate record.

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Duke87 January 23, 2009 - 3:50 pm

That part makes sense. But why then, can’t you use express when backtracking over sections you’ve already covered?

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Matt January 25, 2009 - 12:43 am

I would assume it’s because the first person to ever have their time recorded didn’t use express trains…so they have to keep it consistent with anyone that tries to break the record.

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Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog » Blog Archive » » Setting a new speed record January 26, 2009 - 12:00 pm

[…] Chris Solarz and Matt Ferrisi set out to break the record for fastest time through the subway, they knew they would succeed as long as the MTA’s system […]

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