Month: July 2019

Historical Map: Compañía General de Ferrocarriles Catalanes, 1954

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Historical Maps

Here’s a beautiful map from 1954, showing the lines of the Compañía General de Ferrocarriles Catalanes (CGFC), the predecessor of today’s Llobregat–Anoia commuter rail line. The map is mainly notable for its restrained use of the four colours available to it: black line work with blue, red and yellow all performing precisely one function each. I also enjoy the economical depiction of Barcelona, which is represented solely by Montjuic, the port area and the towering […]

Fantasy Map: Los Angeles 2050 by Josh Vredevoogd

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Fantasy Maps, Future Maps

Submitted by Josh, who says: Hello! I’m a designer in Los Angeles excited by all the new rail infrastructure being built here. I decided to make a map showing what the Metro network might look like in 30 years assuming generous transit funding. It’s my first time designing a map this complex so I’m definitely curious for your thoughts. The new lines are mostly built from pieces and combinations of current plans, including a finished […]

Historical Map: Suburban Rail of Brisbane, Australia, c. 1980

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Historical Maps

A simple but effective map, probably dating from late 1980 as the green Ferny Grove to Ipswich line is shown as being electrified from end to end. This work was completed in September of that year, so that’s the earliest the map could date to. It’s a little hard to see, but there’s a black “catenary line” running down the middle of the green route line with an occasional lightning bolt icon to denote the […]

Historical Map/Infographic: History of the Kaiser Ferdinands-Nordbahn, 1838–1853

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Historical Maps, Visualizations

Every so often, I unexpectedly come across something that’s almost magical in its awesomeness, and this astounding data visualization/map from 1855 is one of those things. I mean, just look at how gorgeous these sample plates are: Designed by Joseph Stummer, these pages chart the history of the Kaiser Ferdinands-Nordbahn from its foundation in 1838 through to 1853. Each lithographic plate documents two years in astounding detail, with data shown for just about every aspect […]