{"id":3789,"date":"2024-02-19T02:35:06","date_gmt":"2024-02-19T02:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/confusing-cartographic-colours\/"},"modified":"2024-02-19T02:35:06","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T02:35:06","slug":"confusing-cartographic-colours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/confusing-cartographic-colours\/","title":{"rendered":"Confusing Cartographic Colours"},"content":{"rendered":"

Harry And The Amazing Technicolour Tube Map<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
It is not generally known that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber were very dedicated London Underground enthusiasts. When the idea of a map including national rail lines …\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

… was mooted, Andy and Tim were aghast with the complexity of too many colours; and they set about writing a musical based on the life of Harry Beck, ‘inventor” of the iconic diagram.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

Unfortunately the promoters thought that such a story would not be “commercial” and the idea was dropped. Some of the songs were re-written and became part of an LP record and later a show, believe it or not, about an obscure character from the Book Of Genesis in the Bible.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
There have been suggestions that the original book and lyrics should be revived, particularly now that transport for London is intending to change the distinctive Overground orange for multi-coloured lines.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
fbb has been able to obtain the lyrics for this re-write and up-date of one of the original songs.<\/div>\n\n
Harry’s map was elegant,<\/span><\/div>\n
it looked so fine<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
The tasteful style was<\/span><\/div>\n
the ultimate in good design<\/span><\/div>\n
And this is why it caught the eye<\/span><\/div>\n
We all would stop and stare<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
Harry loved his map of many colours<\/span><\/div>\n
In a class above the rest<\/span><\/div>\n
It really was the very best<\/span><\/div>\n
Such a stunning map of many colours<\/span><\/div>\n
How he loved his map of many colours<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
It was red and yellow and green<\/span><\/div>\n
and brown and blue<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
London Transport<\/span><\/div>\n
weren’t too pleased with what they saw<\/span><\/div>\n
They had never<\/span><\/div>\n
seen\u00a0<\/span>a style like that before\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
But now this map<\/span><\/div>\n
Had filled a gap<\/span><\/div>\n
They gave it just one try.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
And when posters graced the scene<\/span><\/div>\n
The bosses turned a shade of green<\/span><\/div>\n
The astounding graphics\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
took the biscuit<\/span><\/div>\n
From Metropolitan to the District<\/span><\/div>\n
It was handsome, it was smart<\/span><\/div>\n
It was a gorgeous work of art.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
But the redrawn map of many colours<\/span><\/div>\n
Does it now have just too many colours?<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
It\u2019s now red and yellow<\/span><\/div>\n
and green and brown<\/span><\/div>\n
And scarlet and black and\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
ochre and peach<\/span><\/div>\n
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn<\/span><\/div>\n
And lilac and gold and\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
chocolate and mauve<\/span><\/div>\n
And cream and crimson and\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
silver and rose<\/span><\/div>\n
And azure and lemon and\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
russet and grey<\/span><\/div>\n
And purple and white and\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
pink and orange<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
It’s just too cluttered\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
and tough for me and YOU!<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
So what is all the fuss about?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
A year or so back we were told that the Overground lines were to be given separate names …\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

… but the orange colour <\/span>of the lines on the map would stay the same<\/span>. For those less familiar with the London rail set up, here is a chunk of the Overground map showing several of the indistinctly separate services.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

See, all orange<\/span>! Confusing, innit?<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
But then came the announcement that the lines would get new names\u00a0and new colours<\/span>.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
So, here we go.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The Watford Line<\/span> (a name used since before the flood) …\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

… is to be known at the Lioness<\/span>\u00a0line. A silly name that may well become more meaningless if the footy playing girls start being beaten!<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The frequent suburban service from Liverpool Street to …\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

… Enfield, Cheshunt and Chingford, known on-and-off as the Jazz Service<\/span>) is to be the Weaver<\/span> line.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The\u00a0G<\/span>ospel O<\/span>ak to B<\/span>arking lin<\/span>e (always called\u00a0Goblin<\/span>) …\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

… will become the Suffragette<\/span> line.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The East London<\/span> line with its multiple destinations …\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

… becomes the Windrush<\/span> line.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The West London<\/span> cum North London<\/span> lines …\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

… takes the strangest of all the names, the Mildmay<\/span> line.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Which leaves the tiny illogical offshoot from Romford to Upminster<\/span>\u00a0which …\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

… has to have a name. Why? It is called the Liberty<\/span> line.<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Actually, fbb thinks these names are all poor. They have been chosen mostly to be “politically correct” but they have no geographical or historical justification whatsoever.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It would appear that there is to be no “consultation” on the names.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Many commentators have offered suggestions, so fbb will add his few ramblings tyi the mix.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The City branch of the Northern line – Angel<\/span><\/div>\n
(colour as close to gold as possible)<\/div>\n
London Underground have been threatening this Northern line split for years.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The Circle, Hammersmith and City\u00a0<\/div>\n
and Wimbledon lines<\/div>\n
become the City Link<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
East London lines – Circle East<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
North\/West London lines – Circle West<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Gospel Oak to Barking – Goblin<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Liverpool Street lines – Jazz<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Watford line – Bakerloo<\/span><\/div>\n
There is some sense in making the Watford line part of the Bakerloo – especially if there is a decision to extend Underground trains from Harrow and Wealdstone to Watford again<\/span>!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Romford to Upminster – Emerson Link<\/span>\u00a0<\/div>\n
coloured as the Elizabeth Line line.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Thaneslink<\/span> <\/span>– no change of name.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Next to tackle is the knitting that is the Docklands Light Railway. The routes actually operated by reall physical trains are complicated and there are timetabled “short workings” on two of them. Perhaps the best starter is to use the TfL “official” map. So we have:-<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Lewisham to Stratford via Bow OR\u00a0 to Bank\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p><\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n
Woolwich to Stratford via West Ham OR to Bank\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p><\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n
Beckton to Tower Gateway.\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p><\/span><\/div>\n

Other cartographers offer routed D1 to D8<\/span> which seems excessive in detail and confusing in colour. Multiple blues are, again, applied to all 8.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Should something like the Overground change be considered?<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Then there is the Croydon Tram network of four routes.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
A Simple Solution?<\/span><\/div>\n
Go to Paris.\u00a0<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Direction signs for all public transport are thoroughly consistent wherever you are. Here are some samples.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

M<\/span> is Metro (lines 1 to 14), <\/span>RER<\/span> is suburban trains (lines A B C D E) with the other letters (e.g. H, K) denoting SNCF suburban routes. BUS services are shown in rectangles …<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

… and in the centre of the city, colour coded and even internally illuminated at the stops.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

Further out, you have trams, currently numbered T1 to T13.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p><\/div>\n

In London we would have :<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
U – Underground<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
S – Frequent suburban<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Overground\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Thameslink<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Elizabeth<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Crossrail 2 ???<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
other “S’ lines can be added as appropriate.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
T – Tram (wil we ever get any more?)<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0T1 to T4 in Croydon<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
D – Docklands<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 D1 to D5 ???<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
Slowly but surely, the older names can quietly fade away.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
It will never happen because the present Underground names are so interwoven into the capital’s psyche that removing them will be impossible and very unpopular.<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
Maybe a subtle approach might work.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

ANYTHING<\/span> but the new Overground names!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0Next London blog : Tuesday 20th February\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Harry And The Amazing Technicolour Tube Map It is not generally known that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber were very dedicated London Underground enthusiasts. When the idea of a map including national rail lines … … was mooted, Andy and Tim were aghast with the complexity of too many colours; and they set about writing a musical based on…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camcab"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3789\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}