Speaking of random...

[randomness]

...I've been working on a list of stations which share the same names in different metro/subway systems. It's tedious work finding them. I figured I'd see if anyone else on the net shared one of my quirky interests and could help out.

The Mornington Crescent intersystem quick reference, a work in progress.

Feel free to pass this to anyone you think interested in transit systems or Mornington Crescent.

Comments

[skreeky]

Washington: Chicago, Los Angeles

Ahhh, takes me back to the day when Downtown Crossing was called Washington. Okay, no it doesn't, because I haven't lived here that long. But last I noticed, there was still a sign on one of the platforms that said "Washington" if you know where to look.

I'd say it's a cheat because (a) it's not called Washington any more, and (b) the full name was "Washington Street," but the note on Times Square says the one in NYC counts because even though its full name is "42nd St Times Square" there's a platform sign that just says "Times Square." So if they still haven't taken down the sign...

[hotpoint.livejournal.com]

Washington (not Washington Street) in Boston is one of those extra-special cases, because it was only named Washington for a couple decades. Until then, the station actually had three names; separate names for the northbound and southbound Orange Line platforms and one for the Red Line platforms. Early line maps after the color-coding showed it as "Summer/Winter/Washington". That was consolidated to "Washington", and renamed "Downtown Crossing" with "Washington" as a secondary name in 1987 to match the name for the pedestrian mall above. (And I moved here 7 years ago, so I certainly never saw the sign.)

I've found that in general older stations have the shortest possible name; new stations tend to end up with the names of both cross-streets, or the full neighborhood name, or what have you. (Ultimate example: the Washington Metro's "U Street/African American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo" station.) Interesting trend -- perhaps the brevity was most useful when everybody took the subway, while long names make it easier for subway newbies to find the stations today?

[skreeky]

(And I moved here 7 years ago, so I certainly never saw the sign.)

It was there much more recently than that. In fact, I think there are two remaining places. One at Park Street station that points you down the Winter Street tunnel toward "Washington" and one on a platform at the least-used end. I'm not through there very often anymore, but I may be on Saturday. I'll look and see if I can find them. (I'll try to remember my camera, too.)