The Subterranean Railway (50 page)

By 1932 the system had expanded into the suburbs, and the map had become a chaotic representation of the system. Many passengers, particularly those unfamiliar with London, must have been bewildered by its complexity.

The modern version of the Harry Beck map demonstrates the flexibility of the design as it incorporates several extra lines and many more stations but still follows the principles he first set out, such as using only 45° and 90° angles and eschewing geographical accuracy in favour of clarity.

A 1905 poster demonstrating that the ‘Twopenny Tube’ was used by all classes.