Author: Cameron Booth

Historical Map: 1970 Map Showing Proposed Rio de Janeiro Metro in 1990

August 1, 2019
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Future Maps, Historical Maps
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A map from 1970, somenine years before the Metro opened, showing what the network was meant to look like in 1990. As things have turned out, not quite. Although the initial segment and the “Linha Prioritária” correspond very closely to the current Metro Line 1, and parts of the dashed “Linha 1” on the map correspond somewhat to the current Line 2, the remainder is very different indeed. A crossing to Niteroi on the other […]

Historical Map: Compañía General de Ferrocarriles Catalanes, 1954

July 29, 2019
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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

July 25, 2019
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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

July 10, 2019
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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

July 9, 2019
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Historical Maps, Visualizations
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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 […]

Submission – Official Map: Bus Network of Bad Zurzach, Switzerland

May 29, 2019
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Submitted by Diego, who says: What do you think of this bus map from Bad Zurzach, Switzerland? In my opinion, Swiss transit maps are generally very readable and well designed, but this one just looks impractical. I find it to be very difficult to follow the routes of the lines (line 2 in particular, which also stops at Thermalbad three times). It also lacks a title and a legend. Still, I have to hand it […]

Unofficial Map: Berlin Rail Network by Niklas Lobmayr

May 27, 2019
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Submitted by Niklas, who says: Hi! I’m a student currently living in Berlin. I’ve always been fascinated by maps and recently I started to design one of my own. I hope you would review it on the blog, and give me some pointers as to where it can improve. I wanted to redesign Berlin’s Transit Map in a different style (or rather my own). The map shows all U-Bahn (Metro), S-Bahn (Urban Rail) and Regional […]

Historical Map: Tourist Map of Adelaide, South Australia, 1917

May 24, 2019
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A lovely little map of central Adelaide from a 1917 pamphlet issued by the South Australian “Intelligence and Tourist Bureau”, clearly showing the lines of the then-extensive electric tram network. Full conversion from horse trams to electric had only been completed a few years prior in 1914. Oddly enough, the only remaining tram route in Adelaide – the line out to Glenelg – is shown here as a steam railway starting at the corner of […]

Submission – Fantasy Map: International Development Agency Map of our Support and Field Offices

May 22, 2019
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Submitted by Mark Field, who says: Like everyone on this site, I too have always been fascinated by transit maps, and have always wanted to make one but never had a reason. Recently I had opportunity to create one that actually serves a purpose. I work for an international relief and development agency, and our Canadian headquarters recently moved to a new office that had among other things, a bank of offices with glass frontage […]

Fantasy Map: Portland MAX in the Style of the Vignelli New York Subway Map

May 17, 2019
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I missed this when it was released yesterday, but those TriMet designers (who really do seem to have too much time on their hands!) have released another mash-up map, this time riffing off the (in)famous 1970s New York Subway diagram by Massimo Vignelli. It’s probably the best one so far, mimicking the style almost perfectly. If you’re going to do a homage, you may as well go all in, and that’s exactly what’s been done […]