h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A really excellent Entry

An enjoyable and interesting read DDD

Emmily

oh yes, this is fantastic.

Really fab Entry - though, as mentioned, the title will need to be altered, as it is an advertising slogan (apart from not being fair to those of us who might be living under self-imposed bans...).

I'm really interested in what you say about the Earlham Road tunnels though - they became a tourist attraction in 1823 but now they're closed due to instability and access problems, have I read that right? (Or is it a different set of tunnels?) If so, it'd be good (and would give a bit more clarity) to add when they were closed, if that info is available.

Great stuff!

Thanks Natalie!

You have read it correctly - the tunnels became a tourist attraction when they were re-discovered in 1823. As far as I am aware they haven't been accessible to the public for many, many years. I can't find any information on the exact dates though. I know that Norwich City Council keep information regarding the tunnel entrances a closely guarded secret; the mines are considered extremely dangerous and although they need regular inspections, NCC need to ensure the public keep out.

So, fellow PR'ers, I could do with some assistance. Ideas for rewording that paragraph to make it crystal clear and suggestions for titles. I know the title will, probably, become something totally uninspiring like 'Dangerous chalk mines in Norwich, UK', but I'd like it relate to the 'fun' of the Entry if possible.

You're most welcome, DDD!

Regarding the pits being closed as a tourist attraction, I think it's fine to say what you've just said, after 'tourist attraction' - '...but they haven't been accessible to the public for many years. Information regarding the tunnel entrances is now a closely guarded secret; the mines are considered extremely dangerous and although they need regular inspections, Norwich County Council need to ensure the public keep well away from them.' That makes it clear that the tunnels that were open as an attraction are the same tunnels that were eventually shut down, which wasn't so clear to me before.

As for the title - I'd be really interested to see other people's opinions on this, but you really have to keep the vehicle in there! How about something like: 'Road Swallows Bus: Disused Chalk Mines in Norwich, UK'? I say that because it gets across the idea, yet makes it clear that there's a lot of info about the chalk mines in there.

Just a couple of minor things:

'Centuries old' > 'centuries-old'
'abyss' > 'hole' (just so the Entry remains factual!)

Title ideas;

'The Underground Bus - the tale of the Norwich Number 26'

'The Norwich Chalkmines Tourist Bus Experiment'

'The Number 26 takes a Detour'

Let me think on it some more, seeing as it was me who bought it up...

MJ

A10684703 for ease of reference

'The Number 26 Bus Takes a Hole New Route'

'Bus Routes in the UK - the Norwich Way'

'What's Big, Red and Lives in a Hole?'

I think these are very funny, but in the end we'd have to change it to something that incorporates the bus element with the chalkmines. Just so that anyone searching on chalkmines finds it easily!

Visiting Norwich Chalk Mines by Bus?

A guided tour of Norwich Chalk Mines by Bus?

Dunno...

Liked the suggestions MJ!!

I expected this to happen - titles, after all, need to be helpful and searchable but I'd rather not tell the full story in the headline. Natalie, your suggestion for rewording the paragraph tends to repeat the previous one, so I'll have a think on this. The other corrections I will do now...

I kind of like 'The Norwich Chalkmines Tourist Bus Experiment' which sort of covers all that, even if it is stretching the truth a bit...but here's a few more just in case;

'An Unscheduled Bus Tour of Norwich Chalkmines'

'Like Chalk and Cheese - The Number 26 Bus Takes a Detour'

'Chalk It Up To Experience - A Bus, A Chalkmine and A Hole in the Road'

'The Norwich Chalkmining Bus - An Unscheduled Stop'


I'm sure there'll be a few more suggestions somewhere along the line

'Chalk mine spells *whole* lot of trouble for double-decker bus.'

Or just 'The Double-Decker Bus and the Chalk Mines of Norwich'. It's still intriguing, without making the story too obvious.

Great entry.

The Bus that was Swallowed by a Hole

Nah, that's the film version...

Some fab suggestions there!

I wish I could contribute something funny, but the only vaguely humourous title I have in mind is "When Chalk Mines Go Bad - The Tale of a Double Decker Bus"

For the record, I really like 'Chalk It Up To Experience - A Bus, A Chalkmine and A Hole in the Road'

I think I will leave it to the subs and/or editors for the final decision should this one get picked. Sorry guys!

Thanks everyone for the brilliant suggestions!

Let's hope the sub reads the suggestions too, then

I loved the "when chalkmines go bad" one

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Fan-tastic Stuff Encore, sir, encore

and a big from me!