notes.husk.org. scribblings by Paul Mison.

Three books by Capital Transport Publishing on the history of London’s underground maps: No Need To Ask by David Leboff & Tim Demuth, Mr Beck’s Underground Map by Ken Garland, and Underground Maps After Beck by Maxwell J Roberts.

Taken together, the three cover over a hundred years of maps of the Underground, from the different companies in the early part of the 1900s, through the pivotal 1933 Harry Beck diagram, and to the present day. The writers are all well qualified (Tim Demuth, co-author of No Need To Ask, designed the London Railways map of the 1970s; Ken Garland is a respected designer and writer; while Maxwell Roberts has designed his own maps aided by his primary study of cognition) and, despite some overlaps between the books, generally they cover the story very well.

Probably the most interesting is the middle volume, covering both the route to the Beck diagram, his many variations over the years as lines were extended (and management meddled), and the nearly decade-long fight to keep designing the map in the early 1960s. The book includes the worst diagram since 1933, the Hutchinson design, and a first look at the Garbutt diagram that came to succeed it.

The Garbutt diagram and its slow evolution (as opposed to the Cambrian explosion of variations that Beck produced) is at the heart of the final book, which I think I enjoyed more than many would; the story is one of subtle change, livened mainly by the changing landscape of the system (with the Victoria, Jubilee, and DLR lines expanding the scope of the map).

Overall, I’d recommend Garland’s book on Beck’s diagrams to anyone with even a passing interest in the Underground and mapmaking. Roberts is more for the completist, while those looking for history and more decorative design may enjoy No Need To Ask.

Two photos from the amazing, huge pickmix.co.uk site, collecting photographs from the London Transport Museum’s archive. On the left, in a 1977 colour print by Paul Proctor:

The experimental press-button Passenger Route Indicator machine installed in the ticket hall at Heathrow Central (now Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3) Underground station. The indicator incorporated a TV screen designed to display a diagrammatic route map of the chosen journey.

And to the right, a 1974 photograph by H J Hare & Son:

A passenger consults a route indicator machine at Oxford Circus Underground station. Oxford Circus services Central, Victoria and Bakerloo lines.

You can see more of my favourite images from the site. See also: a similar map in Paris.

The Chromatic London Underground Map by fdansv on Flickr:

The purpose of this map is chiefly aesthethic, as well as an attempt of providing an alternative visualization of our beloved network.

Buy your A2 numbered copy for £14.99 here or see the original post in my blog here.

stickersonthecentralline:

As the Westfield Mall complex in the small area of Shepherd’s Bush grows in popularity, changes are required to deal with the ever increasing influx of shoppers. Many find it hard to navigate themselves through leafy Shepherd’s Bush, the many quaint stalls in the market and the independent, family run restaurants that profligate the area. As a result, Shepherd’s Bush station has been renamed Westfield Mall station with the exit relocated inside the Debenhams flagship store.

There’s more at the original Tumblr. Some obvious targets (for example, this), but still, nice culture jamming, even if they didn’t quite get the right weight of Johnston. (via Andy Mcfarland and James Bridle).

Ah, the Underground celebrating the holiday in its own inimitable way.

Merry Christmas everyone (by alexandra666)

Crossrail - Liverpool Street Station design

A 3D diagram of the Crossrail routing under Liverpool Street (and, given the length of the platforms, Moorgate and Finsbury Circus too). Note the Post Office railway tunnel.

London Underground poster (by bowroaduk)

I saw one of these today at Warren Street (oddly, on the Northern (not Victoria) platforms). Now I’m saved the trouble of taking a photo myself.