View Full Version : Those of you semi-familiar with London - want to help me with a project?
I'm doing a typographic project at the moment with the title "Where in the world", and I drew some maps of what I remember of the world (poorly!). One of the most interesting ones was the London Underground map. I thought it would be interesting to see which bits other people remembered of the tube map as a kind of spinoff project.
Would any of you be willing to draw as much of the tube map as you can remember from memory (as much as you can remember - no cheating!) and scan it in and email it to me at books@laurabarnard.co.uk as a fairly high resolution file? If you could include your name, age and occupation that would be fantastic as well. If you'd rather upload it to Imageshack or something that would fine too.
It can be as vague as you like - the bits missing and misnamed and misplaced stations are as interesting as the ones in the right place. In a way, the more bits that are wrong, the more interesting it is.
I'd be eternally grateful, and I'll owe you all a pint. :o :)
p.s. I'll attach mine later, but I don't want to influence anyone by posting it before anyone's drawn one.
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 06:47 AM
Do you just want the tube map or the DLR included as well?
I'm not at work today and am looking for ways to avoid doing the cleaning! I'm on it now...
Ooh, blimey, the DLR! Yes, if you know it that would be great. Thanks very much for doing it. :)
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 06:51 AM
Ooh, blimey, the DLR! Yes, if you know it that would be great. Thanks very much for doing it. :)
I live in the east so I know almost the entire DLR! My Tube memory is less good...
Now, you see that's the kind of interesting thing that comes out - like your memory of the network shows where you live and work, and yet other people will know the North-West end really well, and so on. Good stuff - cheers Robbie. :) (I presume that's your real name ;) )
Applespider
Mar 7, 2006, 07:00 AM
Sure - I'll give a go when I'm at home tonight with access to coloured pencils!
And I'll try not to cheat by memorising the Tube poster on the way home. I suspect it will be drawing the lines so the intersections meet in the right places that will be the tricky bits.
As a matter of interest, would it be useful to know which lines we regularly travel(ed) on when we're doing this and which stations - so you can see which bits are accurate/not based on personal experience? For example, I don't think I've ever been on the northern parts of the Jubilee/Metropolitan lines so my drawings of 'North London' will be highly inaccurate but I'd be more alarmed if my knowledge of parts of the Victoria/District Line was off since I get on that almost every day.
Ooooh this sounds like a cool idea. Aaargh I've got a really busy work day today though :( I'll have to find some time later...
I think my knowledge of the underground is pretty good so this'll certainly be an interesting test! I've always lived around west London (zone 1 & 2) so I should be able to draw in all the Hammersmith & City, District, Circle, Central & Piccadilly line stations anyway... might struggle a bit with the Northern, East London & the rest though...
There's a scanning function on my printer but I've never tried it and no idea how to use it over Airport. Hmmmm. Might have to try to draw it with my graphics tablet instead (this will certainly provide entertainment as I can't control the damn thing) :o
Thanks (ooh - coloured pencils!) ;) That sounds great. Actually, I'm kind of hoping that it'll show from the map which lines people use a lot. On mine for instance, I used to live in South London, so that whole bit of the Northern Line is perfect, but North West London is just a big line with one station on it! :o And I grew up in Essex, so my East side is ok as well. So hopefully it will just sort of show peoples memory of the city by where they know the tube stations are, so don't worry.
Thanks for doing it. :)
(And yes, the intersections are the hard bit - I kept drawing merrily away, and realising that that these two stations should meet, and I thought one was further north, and the other south, and so on....:p )
Edit - thanks as well DCV but don't worry if you're too busy! - any form of input is fine. Scratched into a piece of wood, drawn on a napkin, you know, anything. :D If anyone would rather post it to me the old school way, that's fine too. Just ask me for my address (I won't post it here due to scary mad stalker types. :eek: )
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 07:17 AM
I have put my effort here (http://www.robbieduncan.net/TubeDrawing.png). I'm a but disappointed. I looks nothing like the real map and I could not remember the names of stations I'm sure I know. If I spent longer I think I could do a lot better.
I've just realised why the Northern and Jubilee lines don't work on my map too. I forget London Bridge!
Oops! Just seen you wanted it mailed. I have just mailed it to you...
That's perfect! Cheers - that's just what I'm looking for. And in spite of me travelling through it for a year, I forgot London Bridge on mine too. :o
Thanks - I owe you a pint. :)
Edit - no mailed or uploaded is fine, whatever gets it to me and is easiest for you all....
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 07:22 AM
Thanks - I owe you a pint. :)
Once we have all drawn our maps we can work out which station we all agree exists and go for a drink there!
It's a deal! Although London Bridge is out already....;)
edesignuk
Mar 7, 2006, 07:31 AM
(I won't post it here due to scary mad stalker types. :eek: )I promise you that was just a one off incident! http://upload.yo-momma.net/uploads/smilies/dogeyes.gif
Jaffa Cake
Mar 7, 2006, 07:34 AM
If you'd like a contribution from a non-Londoner, I'll draw up a map of how I remember it tonight.
I promise you that was just a one off incident! http://upload.yo-momma.net/uploads/smilies/dogeyes.gif
<Runs away> ;)
If you'd like a contribution from a non-Londoner, I'll draw up a map of how I remember it tonight.
Contributions most welcome from non-Londoners - hell, from non-UK residents as well! Thanks, that would be great.
OK well I got bored of work so decided to have a go in Photoshop since I can't be bothered figuring out that scanner and I have no coloured pencils to hand!
It's here (http://img422.imageshack.us/img422/6574/dcvtubemap800px2uh.png)... that's as much as I could fit onto the page as I originally sized it to fit on A4 paper, but then had to resize it as the file size was HUGE!
So as you can see I know west and central London pretty well :cool: - no cheating I promise - I've probably missed a few stations out though. Don't know much of the top or bottom of the Northern line, also not sure about the northern bit of the Bakerloo. I couldn't be bothered trying to draw in the DLR. Is there a prize up for grabs? :D
edit: oh dammit i just remembered another station...
edesignuk
Mar 7, 2006, 10:24 AM
It's here (http://img422.imageshack.us/img422/6574/dcvtubemap800px2uh.png)...Holy ****! :eek: Photographic memory anyone?
Holy ****! :eek: Photographic memory anyone?
Hehe, maybe it's because I'm a Londoner :p
Remember I don't have a car, so I know the tube pretty well ;)
Oh crap, I've just thought of about another 5 stations...
geese
Mar 7, 2006, 11:58 AM
Well, heres my piss-poor effort. I thought i did well until i realised i forgot about the bakerloo and picadilly lines. It only took me 10 mins though.
an extra mark for putting in Waterloo and City though?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skhan/109262696/
You'll note i;ve deliberatly denied the existance of West London- this is deliberate.
an extra mark for putting in Waterloo and City though?
Aarrrgh! dammit, I forgot about that :o
(the stations are there though :p)
All I have to say about yours DCV is :eek:.... !
But also - thank you :)
And thank you to you too geese - also a stellar effort. :)
This is turning out really interesting. I'll give it another day and put them all up somewhere so we can compare them all.
XIII
Mar 7, 2006, 01:04 PM
I'll have a try later on, as a break from work, as a very much non londoner. :p
Jaffa Cake
Mar 7, 2006, 02:16 PM
Right, if you're wanting a laugh here's (http://img389.imageshack.us/my.php?image=downthetubes7wn.jpg) my dodgy effort. I've cheated a bit and knocked it up in Illustrator, as I only have black and red pens at home. I haven't a clue if any of the colours are accurate (except maybe the Thames), I know there are a load more stations and a couple more lines... but this is the best you're going to get from Northern Boy here!
So... where does Walford need to go, exactly? :D
Right, if you're wanting a laugh here's (http://img389.imageshack.us/my.php?image=downthetubes7wn.jpg) my dodgy effort. I've cheated a bit and knocked it up in Illustrator, as I only have black and red pens at home. I haven't a clue if any of the colours are accurate (except maybe the Thames), I know there are a load more stations and a couple more lines... but this is the best you're going to get from Northern Boy here!
So... where does Walford need to go, exactly? :D
Good stuff - thanks Jaffa Cake! :)
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 03:46 PM
Right, if you're wanting a laugh here's (http://img389.imageshack.us/my.php?image=downthetubes7wn.jpg) my dodgy effort. I've cheated a bit and knocked it up in Illustrator, as I only have black and red pens at home. I haven't a clue if any of the colours are accurate (except maybe the Thames), I know there are a load more stations and a couple more lines... but this is the best you're going to get from Northern Boy here!
So... where does Walford need to go, exactly? :D
I love the fact that you've used whatever colours you want! It makes it kind of hard for us Londoners to read it as we see red and think Central! Also Canning Town is on the other side of the river (but well done for even putting it on).
XIII
Mar 7, 2006, 03:50 PM
You need to be aware mine will be Central London (around Regent Street Apple Store), and North London (around Highbury). Thats kinda it. :p
Jack, that's absolutely fine, because that means it will show the bits of London you remember and know, and so shows what bits are important to you, if that make any sense. Even the different ways people have drawn it is great - some people have done an accurate depiction of the tube map, whereas others have drawn how the stations link up, or how they're laid out on the ground. It's all good.
If it's any help/consolation to anyone, my mate from college did it and knew six stations. :D But that's interesting too.
Once I get a few more I'll get them all uploaded, and we can see them all. :)
Jaffa Cake
Mar 7, 2006, 04:05 PM
I love the fact that you've used whatever colours you want! It makes it kind of hard for us Londoners to read it as we see red and think Central! Also Canning Town is on the other side of the river (but well done for even putting it on).Well like I say I don't know which colours are used where on the real map, or indeed what the lines themselves are called, but it's good to know I'm confusing a few Londoners!
A word of advice – if any of you ever wind up lost on the Tube, don't come asking me for directions to Canning Town... :p
floriflee
Mar 7, 2006, 04:27 PM
I've only used the London Underground once back in December when the hubby and I had a 12 hour layover at Heathrow. We studied the map several times, but for the life of me all I can remember of the map is this....
I've only used the London Underground once back in December when the hubby and I had a 12 hour layover at Heathrow. We studied the map several times, but for the life of me all I can remember of the map is this....
You forgot Canning Town! ;)
I've only used the London Underground once back in December when the hubby and I had a 12 hour layover at Heathrow. We studied the map several times, but for the life of me all I can remember of the map is this....
Hahaha, that's the best effort yet!
Jaffa Cake
Mar 7, 2006, 04:41 PM
You forgot Canning Town! ;)Don't worry, I know where it is! :p
Just as an aside... the BBC is currently running a poll (http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/cultureshow/designquest/vote/) to determine the best example of 20th Century British design – and the Tube map has made the final three, alongside Concorde and the Spitfire. As a graphic designer I'm pinning my hopes the map ends up as the final winner, and have voted accordingly! :D
Don't worry, I know where it is! :p
I know! ;)
I voted for the tube map as well, even before this project. It rocks my socks. :)
Just as an aside... the BBC is currently running a poll (http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/cultureshow/designquest/vote/) to determine the best example of 20th Century British design – and the Tube map has made the final three, alongside Concorde and the Spitfire.
Oh thanks for the link... I remember Blue Velvet or someone posted this before but I didn't vote then. Just voted for the Tube Map. When you try to reproduce it yourself, it makes you realise what a brilliant design it really is!
edesignuk
Mar 7, 2006, 04:52 PM
Well I'm going against the grain, Concorde! :o I'm just such a rebel you see :p
XIII
Mar 7, 2006, 04:54 PM
Oh thanks for the link... I remember Blue Velvet or someone posted this before but I didn't vote then. Just voted for the Tube Map. When you try to reproduce it yourself, it makes you realise what a brilliant design it really is!
Sorry, but I have to say Concorde. :) That was so ground breaking, so stunning. The underground map is impressive, but I reckon if you gave me enough time, I could figure it out. ;)
floriflee
Mar 7, 2006, 04:55 PM
You forgot Canning Town! ;)
Oh, you probably couldn't see it on my map because it was so small... Here.. I've pointed it out for you....
Jaffa Cake
Mar 7, 2006, 04:57 PM
Well I'm going against the grain, Concorde! :o I'm just such a rebel you see :pShameful. Absolutely shameful. :rolleyes: ;)
Applespider
Mar 7, 2006, 04:57 PM
OK... Here's mine although no coloured pencils. The ones I needed were broken and my sharpener is borked.
Anyhow... this was really tough to get them all to line up (I don't know how many layers I ended up with in Photoshop!) and make them interchange at the right spot. I have new appreciation for the simplicity and design of the Tube map (and yes, I've voted too).
Incidentally, floriflee's one is in excellent company. There was a man across from me earlier today reading the mini-Underground map that they give out free and that's almost identical to how the front cover looked.
Now I can go and look at everyone else's! And I remembered both the Waterloo & City and Canning Town - before reading this thread! :p But very west and north london are beyond me aside from where I know the odd station from visiting someone (or calling them to collect me when I hit a certain stop!)
XIII
Mar 7, 2006, 04:58 PM
Well I'm going against the grain, Concorde! :o I'm just such a rebel you see :p
Here here.
BTW, does anyone else's Safari get crashed when they try to vote on that poll? Or is it another MacTel problem?
floriflee
Mar 7, 2006, 05:00 PM
Incidentally, floriflee's one is in excellent company. There was a man across from me earlier today reading the mini-Underground map that they give out free and that's almost identical to how the front cover looked.
Ah, man... and all this time I was thinking that that was how the map really looked on the INSIDE. To come to find out that it was only the cover I was remembering... shameful! :(
cslewis
Mar 7, 2006, 05:08 PM
I'm one of those dumb 'Murricans. Anyone want to explain what/where Canning Town is? :o
OK... Here's mine
I *knew* yours was gonna be good! ;)
Thanks Applespider - that is also damn impressive! Thanks very much for that.
Here here.
BTW, does anyone else's Safari get crashed when they try to vote on that poll? Or is it another MacTel problem?
Mine died as well. :( I'll try it tomorrow, you Concorde voting weirdo.... ;)
edesignuk
Mar 7, 2006, 05:10 PM
I'm one of those dumb 'Murricans. Anyone want to explain what/where Canning Town is? :oStation on the Jubilee (tube) line ;)
Applespider
Mar 7, 2006, 05:15 PM
Thanks guys... too much time spent hunting for something to read when I finish a book, I guess!
Concorde? Sure but I don't get nearly so much use out of that as the Tube map... so in my experience, the tube map wins!
R.Youden
Mar 7, 2006, 05:16 PM
I would have to vote for the tube map.
BTW, hw can anyone vote for Concorde, as an egineer I appreciate what a fantastic thing of beauty it is, but it was half designed by the French! Sorry but that really gets to me! I will have a go at a tube map, again as a non-Londoner and I will try and post it tomorrow.
cslewis
Mar 7, 2006, 05:17 PM
Station on the Jubilee (tube) line ;)
I've picked that up. :D
I would have thought that there was a neighborhood/industry/event in history associated with the stop names. If not, 'Canning Town' is pretty much the randomest name ever.
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 05:17 PM
Station on the Jubilee (tube) line ;)
Also on the DLR. The starting point for the new London City Airport DLR extension. A bit of a **it hole to be honest. I used to live in the area (although in a nicer bit).
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 05:19 PM
I've picked that up. :D
I would have thought that there was a neighborhood/industry/event in history associated with the stop names. If not, 'Canning Town' is pretty much the randomest name ever.
This is Canning Town (http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=51.514725,0.007811&spn=0.0086,0.022509&t=h). As you can see still a bit industrial. The factory just left and down from the station on the little island bit is the Pura margarine factory (a cheap pikey brand of marg) and makes the whole area stink!
cslewis
Mar 7, 2006, 05:22 PM
Wow. Are there any 'ghettoes' in London?
(Had to ask, I live near Philly and Camden.)
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 05:30 PM
Well, there's always Brixton (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Brixton,+Greater+London,+SW2&ll=51.461187,-0.11585&spn=0.008904,0.029504&t=h) which used to be pretty rough and is now just dangerous (especially if you are driving)!
Camberwell (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=camberwell&ll=51.474159,-0.093181&spn=0.008901,0.029504&t=h) has (or had till recently) the highest murder rate in London.
And we have the original Camden (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Camden&ll=51.539129,-0.142393&spn=0.008889,0.029504&t=h). It has it's problems but is actually a pretty cool place, especially all the markets at the weekend.
Applespider
Mar 7, 2006, 05:32 PM
Yup... although they tend to be council estates where lots of problem families have been sent because no-one else wants to live there. This means the areas get even worse...
You can find small pockets all over but the East gets a particularly bad rap, as do parts around Kings Cross, North Peckham Estate.
I'd always thought that Canning Town must originally have had a canning factory there... I'm thinking dog food rather than sardines (a la Cannery Row at Monterey) but have no idea why
Brixton's not that bad. I'd rather come out the Tube there than get off a train at Peckham.
Jaffa Cake
Mar 7, 2006, 05:32 PM
I suppose you could say Brixton – take a look at my map if you want to see exactly where it is! :p
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 05:41 PM
For those with an unhealthy interest in Canning Town you can read about it's history (http://apps.newham.gov.uk/History_canningtown/page3.htm).
Some strange facts here too (http://www.moderngent.com/site/hiddenhistorycanning.php).
Peterkro
Mar 7, 2006, 05:44 PM
London is full of ghettos (loaded word) from the consumerist ones of north london to the greed is good ones in the far east.Brixton for anyone who's spent time there is probably the most mixed of anyplace on the planet,if you think its full of poor people you ain't been there.
robbieduncan
Mar 7, 2006, 05:46 PM
London is full of ghettos (loaded word) from the consumerist ones of north london to the greed is good ones in the far east.Brixton for anyone who's spent time there is probably the most mixed of anyplace on the planet,if you think its full of poor people you ain't been there.
No it's just full of young gents in BMWs who have never bothered to learn to drive!
geese
Mar 7, 2006, 07:06 PM
The next challenge would be to draw the National Rail network from memory!
Come on, i dares ya!
The next challenge would be to draw the National Rail network from memory!
Come on, i dares ya!
I'm working on it as part of the project, actually! :o
Applespider
Mar 8, 2006, 04:22 AM
The next challenge would be to draw the National Rail network from memory!
The London one? Not a chance... I might be able to make a stab at the main intercity routes but aside from that it would be tough.
Peterkro
Mar 8, 2006, 04:32 AM
How about The beebs server network from memory.:)
Kernow
Mar 8, 2006, 05:21 AM
Is there a deadline for this - I have tomorrow afternoon off & I'll have a pop at it then. I was thinking of doing something similar, but not for a project, just because I'm sad :o .
I should know south-west London pretty well, as I've lived round in various spots around there for the last 8 years. North and east London are a bit of a mystery though.
Applespider
Mar 8, 2006, 05:39 AM
I love Jaffa's version of London. Would be much easier for my journey to work and several friends.
It's funny how the colours of the various lines become engraved on the brain but I can see how non-Londoners get them muddled. As a child, when questions on Tube line colours came up in Trivial Pursuit, it was always a guess; "blue" was a good one since it could be the right answer to two lines ;)
Is there a deadline for this - I have tomorrow afternoon off & I'll have a pop at it then. I was thinking of doing something similar, but not for a project, just because I'm sad :o .
I should know south-west London pretty well, as I've lived round in various spots around there for the last 8 years. North and east London are a bit of a mystery though.
No deadline (well, not soon anyway!). I look forward to it.
dcv
Mar 16, 2006, 06:24 PM
Oh well the tube map didn't quite win... it came second in the Great British Design Quest. (first was Concorde)
Jaffa Cake
Mar 16, 2006, 06:28 PM
Well, that's ruined my evening! Fancy losing out to a French plane... :(
Lau
Mar 16, 2006, 06:33 PM
I know, me too. :( Bloody plane.
edit: I was thinking - how the hell did a half French* plane that benefitted a select few rich people win over the very British and very democratic Tube map??
*May I say I have nothing against French people whatsoever (unlike my granny!), it's just in a contest of British design, it's a disadvantage to be half made by them. They could have designed all the good bits for all I know. :D
Jaffa Cake
Mar 16, 2006, 06:46 PM
...it's a disadvantage to be half made by them. They could have designed all the good bits for all I know. :DI'm sure all the important planey bits (wings, engines and the like) were designed by us, the French were probably in charge of seat fabrics and stuff like that.
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