A handsome hand-drawn map of the entire D.C. Transit streetcar network from August 1958, less than four years before the system closed entirely. The map was drawn by Charles Wagner, who was an active member of the Washington, DC chapter of the Electric Railway Historical Society in the 1950s, an august body that still exists to this day. Source: Discover DC History archive (link no longer active)
Yes, it’s a cheap shot, but I just couldn’t resist. For those who haven’t heard, the Washington DC Metrorail will shut down entirely tomorrow for emergency inspection on its wiring after a previous fire. On a weekday, with less than a day’s advance warning.
Submitted by Edward Russell, who says: DC Streetcar has published a simple, straightforward strip map in the streetcars that began running a week ago in DC. Hopefully this is the beginning of a far larger streetcar renaissance in DC! Transit Maps says: I’m going to resist the temptation to comment on the protracted process that’s led to the delayed opening of this streetcar line. Nor am I going to enter into the whole streetcars in […]
Submitted by Nick, who says: Thanks again so much for your feedback and review of my Connecticut map (April 2015). I’ve been working on a few new maps, and I’ve finally gotten one in a place where I’d love to have your feedback. I don’t know if you’ve seen the West Wing, but there’s an episode where some characters have a meeting with the made-up Cartographers for Social Equality. The thrust of their argument is […]
Via: aaronginsburg: The 100 – S3 – Behind-the-Scenes In case it wasn’t already clear, our Props Dept. is incredible. Here is a close up of Roan’s map of tunnels and hideouts – an old subway map. Look closely, you can find clues to the greater world… A “near future” combined DC/Baltimore rail transit map from the TV series “The 100″. Looks like the Wyman design of the DC map won the day when WMATA and […]
Submitted by Mark Greenwald, this map shows the reality of trying to operate rail rapid transit after a major blizzard – it’s underground or nothing, it seems! Map by the erstwhile Peter Dovak. Source: Metrorail Info Twitter feed
Submitted by Edward Russell, whose photo of this map in situ can be seen here. Edward says: Virginia Railway Express (VRE) updated their map with the addition of the Spotsylvania station on the Fredericksburg (red) line in November. It’s much cleaner than their former map, which included the numerous meanders on the lines and lacked clean 90-degree or 45-degree angles. The new map is just straight lines with a clean 45-degree split where the Manassas […]
Submitted by James, who says: My redesign of the DC metro system, with the purple line and silver lines in their completed states. I wanted to do a Vignelli-style map of the system in DC, which I believe complements the relative simplicity of the system well. Regarding the abolition of the red line kink on the western arm: I think one bend to indicate the kink is still sufficient and recognizable. Transit Maps says: James […]
A very handsome map showing streetcar routes in the central part of Washington, DC in 1936. Beautifully drawn, especially the loops in the south-east corner of the map. The directional arrows are skillfully and thoughtfully integrated into the route lines. White House for scale! Source: Ghosts of DC
Here’s a fantastic bit of Washington Metro history that I hadn’t seen before: an original working drawing of the now-iconic map from 1974, two years before the system opened (see the opening day map here). Interestingly, it looks like Wyman was experimenting with textural treatments for the route lines at this time – stripes for the Red Line, stars for the Blue, etc. – an idea I’m ever so glad he abandoned, because it would […]
