All posts filed under: Historical Maps

Submission – Historical Map: The Routes of Imperial Airways and of Associated Companies, 1936

September 15, 2015
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Submitted by Mattias Lq, who says: I know how you don’t like many airway maps trying to be schematic, but this one is a rather successful combination of a simplified geographical map and a schematic inset showing frequencies throughout the year. Although it has some minor beauty flaws here and there, it is really a beautiful map, especially considering the five colours used to print the map! What do you say? Transit Maps says: Mattias, […]

Historical Map: Railroads of Latvia, 1938

September 9, 2015
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A fairly bare-bones map of existing (black) and new (red) rail lines in the Baltic State of Latvia from 1938. It’s mainly interesting because it shows the five different railroad gauges in use at the time. Five! (Which is right up there with Australia’s infamous “gauge muddle”). Source: Wikimedia Commons – Latvia

Historical Diagram: Piccadilly Circus Tube Station by Renzo Picasso, 1929

July 24, 2015
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We all know that I love a good cutaway diagram, and this example – drawn by Italian architect and urban designer, Renzo Picasso (no relation) – is just superb. Drawn in 1929, coinciding with the opening of Charles Holden’s sub-surface circular booking hall which replaced the original 1906 above-ground Leslie Green-designed station building. The unusual perspective, halfway between the platform level and the (invisible) roads above, permits a wonderful level of clarity in the drawing.  […]

Historical Map: Hong Kong MTR “Modified Initial System”, c. 1978

July 17, 2015
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Here’s a fantastic old map of the first segment of Hong Kong’s now extensive rapid transit system. The original source dates the map to 1978, which seems reasonable to me – the route was well under construction at that time, with the segment from Kwun Tong to Shek Kip Mei opening in October 1979. The route was extended to Tim Sha Tsui in December of that year, and the initial section was completed in February […]

Historical Map: New York “New Subway Routes” Map, 1967

July 9, 2015
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the-nycta-project: “New Subway Routes” Map Possibly 1967? Yes, this is the 1967 “New Subway Routes” map produced by the New York Transit Authority, designer unknown. The diagram was produced to show only the eight routes that had been changed with the opening of the tunnel under Chrystie Street. It’s an interesting piece because it was produced some three years before even the first draft Unimark/Massimo Vignelli diagram, but has seemingly been influenced by his approach to […]

Historical Map: Polish Airlines LOT Route Map, 1939

June 16, 2015
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An absolutely phenomenal airline route diagram from 1939, which is both map and schedule in one.  The thicker route lines represent the routes that belong to Polish Airlines LOT – one of the oldest continually operating airlines in Europe; they still use the beautiful flying crane logo today – with thinner route lines representing partner or connecting airlines. Red lines show daily service, black lines show weekday or irregular service. The departure and arrival times […]

Historical Map: Cutaway View of Berlin’s Hermannplatz U-Bahn Station, c. 1929

June 11, 2015
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Here’s a lovely cutaway view of Hermannplatz station, at the intersection of what is now U7 (the lower platform here, running east-west) and U8 (the platform above, running north-south).  The map also shows the pedestrian tunnels that connected the station directly with the basement of the monumental Karstadt department store, then one of the largest in the world. However – probably for reasons of clarity – the diagram places the entrance in the first basement […]