|
Post by angelislington on Jan 7, 2010 7:10:44 GMT
Accessibility - good design makes things accessible to anyone. The tube was never intended to be exclusive or prohibitive but I can bet the complexity of the system put some people off. The map removes that.
Clarity - great use of shape and typography mean that it's reproducible (is that a word?) at any size or in any colour combination (think of the early two-colour or three-colour versions) or mono. This is carried through so that every platform, sign and area is colour-coded for ease of reference.
Fitness for purpose - It Just Works. Granted, the system has got so sprawling nowadays that to glance at a hand-held map is quite frightening, but due to the clarity, the large wall posters remove the cramped feeling and are easy to read and follow.
It's interesting how some people feel comforted or reassured by the map, in a way - it represents the system (in the same way the roundel does) to such an extent people know of it the world over - that must give you a bit of a comfort blanket when you arrive for the first time as a nervous and overwhelmed tourist at Heathrow or KingsX or somewhere.
It's interesting also to note that not all design classics have been adopted by the public so seamlessly as this one - perhaps that's a reflection of the sheer volume of people who were exposed to the map to begin with. How many people, for instance, were interested in cars or in buying a new car, when the Mini came out?
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Jan 3, 2010 23:46:32 GMT
We went to the LT Museum yesterday and picked up a couple of DVDs: - 2 DVD set: Yesterday's Britain No 41 "Fifties Underground" and "Building London's Victoria Line" - Tube trains - all change - 100 years of London Underground trains
Fifties U'd is an absolute hoot with four little safety and trackside shorts, inc one of how not to hold a shovel when working in the 4ft with the juice still on! The Vic line one was full of 'ooh' and 'ahh' moments for himself, 'very enjoyable actually' are his exact comments. Very detailed. About an hour long The tube trains one was great, with some really good footage; some of it's a bit ropy in quality but the content more than makes up for it. I found the sound a bit fuzzy for my poor rubbish ears. It was fun trying to work out where the footage was shot.
Well worth a go if you like that kind of thing!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Jan 3, 2010 19:03:02 GMT
Well, I emailed the guy who made it (the presenter), Jay Foreman. He said this: Yay!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Jan 3, 2010 17:21:09 GMT
oooooh! <excited>
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Jan 3, 2010 17:15:42 GMT
If you really need to see the diagram the same way round as the train, always look at the one on the North side! Now just which side is that right here?.......! Heh, that's easy - it's the opposite side to where the doors open, innit! ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 31, 2009 17:08:39 GMT
Welcome, benkda01; I think it's fab! I would like to know, will it just update the date and time, or will the lines change status too? Not sure if you could do that without a feed from T fL, but hey - I'd have it even if the only thing that changes is the time As for the colours, you can get specific info from here: www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/tfl-colour-standard-issue03.pdfEnjoy!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 31, 2009 16:09:46 GMT
This is a fantastic vid about why the Northern Heights extension was never built. Really, really well done (with some great comedy too - check out the 'Green Belts' letter!). It's cool even if you're not a Northern Line fan
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 26, 2009 23:10:47 GMT
Hey, norbitonflyer's got what I was thinking - although MRFS42 says that lnwrelectric's answer is pretty darn cool! Great ideas and thanks for playing Over and out!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 26, 2009 20:52:47 GMT
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 26, 2009 0:40:59 GMT
I'm amazed at how much everyone scrutinised each pic as it was revealed - but as is often the case, the devil is in the detail. There were so many 'nearly-rights', and some details which turned out to be pertinent and were dismissed - and vice versa, thinking about it - that it's been just as enjoyable an experience for me as I hope it has been for all of you. Thanks to all who participated and congrats to the winners! So - is there an odd one out? and if so, which one, and why?Calendar 1: District: between East Putney & Southfields
to the left is signal W363, the home signal on the down/westbound road approaching Southfields. The bridge crosses the road named Granville Road. Winner: TMBA Photo taken by Colin the admin Calendar 2: also District: between East Putney & Southfields
W360 is the home/junction signal on the up/eastbound road just before East Putney. Winner: lnwrelectric Photo taken by Colin the admin Calendar 3: Northern: Finchley Central station
Taken on the road bridge over the line (Regents Park Road) looking south Winner: Yerkes Photo taken by Ducatisti Calendar 4: District/Circle: Westminster - street-level entrance
Winner: DStock7080 Photo taken by Ruth Geach
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 25, 2009 0:53:09 GMT
(please get the spacing right - London's dialling code has been 020 for nearly ten years now, and was never 0207) Absolutely! I'll stop before I say another word, otherwise I'll have to move this thread to the Rants area ;D Either way, I'd never phone TI after having worked with some of them when we were in Customer Services together (inc one who told people to come out of the station and turn right to get to Head Office... she was totally flummoxed when I asked what if people were coming from the westbound?) And besides, how hard is 020 7222 1234 to remember? Dead easy. What's the other one? No way is it as easy to remember. Oh. It's starting to get a bit ranty already! I'll remember my Christmas spirit and reel my neck in now!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 25, 2009 0:05:17 GMT
As a special bonus, I have this extra question: Is there an odd one out? And if so, which one, and why? I'll give you until 9 p.m.-ish on Boxing Day (26th) to have a think! Put your answers below... none by PM for this one
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 20, 2009 1:13:10 GMT
Hello folks!
A wee question for you all...
You will of course see all the complete pictures on Christmas Day; if any are still unidentified by then, would you like me to reveal the answers, or to give you another day to have a go and let you all know the actual answers on Boxing Day?
I'm easy either way!
{Edit} Duh! I put this in a locked thread. What a numpty! Well, it was quarter past one in the morning.
I've had three PMs saying 'full pics on 25th, answers on 26th' but if anyone else would like to 'vote' this thread is now unlocked!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 13, 2009 23:02:01 GMT
Evening folks!
Seen the M&S advert a couple of times - - where is the tunnel around 0:05?
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 13, 2009 22:59:01 GMT
I have no idea what you're talking about Can you explain?
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 13, 2009 22:57:42 GMT
Northern! Mad line, full of interesting nooks and crannies. And the first deep-level bits. And the first electrified bit. And some superb architecture.
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 13, 2009 22:54:45 GMT
Vinyl? They're sticky on the back. Unfortunately the Northern car diag I have is a) from the 70s and b) framed, so I can't check!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 8, 2009 7:01:19 GMT
The advent calendars have been going for a week now, so I thought I would round up and summarise... All of them are on the Underground! #1 It might have something to do with visitors Neither is it the bottom of the lift shaft at King William Street after a hefty snow storm blew snow down it - and I have no idea if Greathead wore size 7 DMs ;D ;D - but what a fantastic suggestion! #2 StuartP suggests Kew Gardens area 'because it looks quite pastoral' and Chris M is wondering if it's a signal - you're both righter than you might think! #3 Colin D suggests Chigwell, which it's not. #4 ChrisM is right, it's not Canning Town!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 7, 2009 23:26:59 GMT
How cool is that! Ahem. I mean. Take it there will be no slaps on wrist? Next you'll hear about it in the subStandard all about endangering passengers & the like
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 7, 2009 14:56:34 GMT
LOL I wish. MRFS and I have designed the 'Canterbury Cross' network (those who know the area might be interested in the route but I shan't bore others) but that's purely hypothetical!
No - I just wanted to have a good come-back for [non-tube geek] folks who say 'why can't they just build another tube along such-and-such a route' - they might be a bit shocked to know how much it actually costs.
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 6, 2009 11:01:22 GMT
... to dig a tunnel? ;D
I seem to remember (though my Google-fu is weak today, so I can't say where I heard it or read it) that it costs around a million quid *per metre* to dig a running tunnel. Or is this figure arrived at by taking the cost of an entire length of line and dividing it by how many metres it runs for, thus covering things like building stations en route and what have you?
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 5, 2009 23:27:01 GMT
How cool is that! Love it!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Dec 5, 2009 11:22:11 GMT
Interesting, I dunno what the locals call it but for 30+ years I've called it 'Chesh-um'. You're right, locals call it that, to go along with Amersh-um.
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Nov 30, 2009 22:47:49 GMT
Welcome to the Christmas Quiz for 2009! This year you have three advent calendars - each day, another 'window' is opened. You have to work out the location of the picture. The final picture will be fully revealed on Christmas Day. Post your suggestions in each of the three threads. Keep quiet if you do work it out, so as not to spoil it for others. As with previous Christmas quizzes, this is a team effort and I won't accept answers (or even whimpers for clues!) via PM. Hint: there is no particular Christmassy theme to them - but they are all snowy! The first pictures will go up tomorrow - 1st December. You won't be able to cheat by 'hacking' the URLs of each picture as I will only upload them as I go Good luck! xxAI
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Nov 24, 2009 22:09:07 GMT
AI was telephoned by the media to comment! ;D She politely demurred. LOL it was the Beeb (London radio) and unfortunately I was going to be driving home from work when they wanted me, so was unable to defend the "family silver"
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Nov 23, 2009 18:46:47 GMT
Having investigated as much as I can, I can't find any reference to anything like that in an Underground setting - which doesn't mean there wasn't, but just that nothing's out there on the net.
If anything, the Victoria and Albert Museum might be a place to enquire, if the London Transport Museum hasn't helped (you did ask them, right?). You mention 'Kensington' station, y'see (there's three of them!) and I wonder if they were actually designed for the foot passage linking South Ken to the museums on Exhibition Road.
What would help either museum is seeing a photo of the back of the tiles, any maker's stamps, marks or scratches.
Rather than kitchen/bathroom as per Jim's suggestion, the size and width imply a fireplace setting.
Sorry to have been not much use!
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Nov 23, 2009 11:33:13 GMT
I've got a selection at home; from memory your railways rule books are very similar to the old LT drawings from the General Signalling Regulations.
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Nov 22, 2009 10:42:16 GMT
I am feeling like a numpty. Of course you can look out the front as a passenger. I even commented on the driver's position earlier on in this very thread - that it looked like a little cupboard. Err ;D
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Nov 21, 2009 1:04:58 GMT
|
|
|
Post by angelislington on Nov 20, 2009 11:49:58 GMT
Due to my love of Excel [1] I enjoy any kind of exercise in playing around with data [2]. ChrisM was good enough to let me have the raw info and needed help with the dates part of the summary [3], which are below: 2 days had 8 photos each 2 days had 6 photos 3 days had 5 photos 6 days had 4 photos 14 days had 3 photos 23 days had 2 photos 156 days had 1 photo (total of 311 pics altogether - though these are unique instances of photos being used, rather than 311 pics in total.) Data is current to 20th Nov (today) but I'm afraid if you're looking for today's answer you'll not get it out of me! [1] I'm an IT trainer [2] and I've played around with it so much my tea's gone cold! [3] due to restrictions in OpenOffice Calc not having pivot tables
|
|