h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My wife and I travelled from Houston, Texas, USA to London a few years ago for a ten day vacation. One of my favorite souvenirs is a book from the London Underground Museum (or something like that) titled "Mr. Beck's Underground Map - A History by Ken Garland". It's a great story which is nicely summarized by the entry here on H2G2. I have to say the map worked very well for us, we always felt like we knew where we were (rightly or wrongly). The buses, on the other hand ...

As far as interesting items based on the Underground map, I have on my wall a large poster titled "Underground Above Ground" at the top and "Picadilly Line" at the bottom. It is a deep perspective drawing of the sites along the line, running from Hammersmith at the bottom foreground to the Arsenal Football Ground and beyond in the distance. There are plenty of intermediate locations - Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden, etc. Quite a ride.

I've seen that poster somewhere Steve, it's pretty cool.
It's a bit like another one which starts off at NYC and goes off across America in very, very deep perspective.

Yes I too have seen that map many times on the Piccadilly Line. I don't think they've ever done it for any other line....goodness knows why cos it looks quite nice

Mr Beck's Underground Map is indeed a fascinating book and if you look at the second bullet point on the where to go next stuff at the bottom of my guide and then click on history of the map there's more about it there.

Thanks for reading guys

The Mole

Y'know, the underground... I reckon I ought to be calling it The Underground, is one of the few things I miss about London, and it's the thing I miss the most. I went to that website you list for a download of "Mind the gap", and I nearly ed with homesickness (is that a word?) when I heard the sound of the train pulling into the station. My favourite thing to do when I was on summer holiday from school was to get a Twin Rover pass (valid for one day on all tube and red bus services), and just ride around the tube all day. I got to know it pretty well from that.

Here's a question for you - what do you think of Tottenham Court Road station - the one with all the mosaic tiles? Gorgeous or ghastly? I choose the latter.

Most definitely the latter....it's a real headache for the eyes (bad turn of phrase but you know what I mean) It's even worse when you've had a few bevvies. I prefer the tiles at South Kensingston which are of dinosaurs and stuff. V v subtle introduction for the museums nearby.

Still thinking about it Tottenham Court Road station does put you readiness for the madness that is Oxford street.

Hmmm I feel another Guide Entry coming on.....The symbolism and significance of London Underground Mosaics!!!

Also glad you liked the sounds. I'm really pleased they've been preserved in some form on the net. The new Miss Mind the Gap sounds a bit too prissy for my liking!

Now that we're allowed to put non BBC URLs into postings - here's the link to more info on the book Mr Beck's Underground Map

http://www.goingunderground.net/maps.html#harrybeck

Enjoy!

that is a good site - the fast-downloading Tube Map Overview with zoom capability is nice.

I like the idea of the entry on the mosaics at the various stations, I had no idea what I was looking at. Be sure to include the British Museum station ... Neil Gaiman can probably provide some input.

Hello Mole, I need your help. When I was downloading the LT font from a link on your extraordinary website, I came across a quote by (I think) the person who was running LT at the time which went along the lines of "The test of the goodness of a thing is its fitness for use. If it fails this test, no amount of ornamentation or finish will make it better. It will only make it more expensive and more foolish." Does that ring a bell? I need to know who it was.

Bells ringing a-go-go. It was Mr Frank Pick and I actually quoted it in this very guide too. It was from a lecture he made to the Edinburgh branch of the Design and Industries Association in 1916.

Frank Pick was Chief Executive of London Transport between 1913 and 1938. He had a great interest in visual arts and commissioned both the London Underground font and the famous logo.

Here's where I found the quote on the London Transport Museum's website

http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/omnibus/pg/1919.htm#72

Hope this helps.

That's where I read it!!! me, it was right under my nose all the time. What a muppet I could've sworn I read it on another website when I was getting the font Thanks