Image (6144px x 6144px) | PDF | PDF (With Index)
The St. Jacques Tube and Rail Services Map is a custom metro map for one of my fantasy cities. I have created two versions of the map, one fully hand-drawn and one drawn using vector software.
Created in 2012, early on during my time at university, it is a graphical representation of the many people I have met during my life. Imaginary cities, especially their transport networks and metro maps, were something I had always created since primary school, however the St. Jacques Map was the first fully conceived system with any semblance of realism and logic (somewhat for the latter!)
The concept of the map is simple - all stations on the map are named after friends I have met along the path of life, as well as family.
The map has gone through several iterations, with five versions of maps being drawn as the metro network evolved. The latest version of the hand-drawn map has been drawn on three sheets of A1 paper and six sheets of A2 paper, all forming a giant canvas, measuring 1680mm by 1782mm. I have restored the map (including removing all the paper 'gaps') and this can be seen above.
The digital map, created as a complement to the original hand-drawn map, was always something I had in mind, but didn't have the means to do so - with little knowledge of vector illustrating software, and a very old Sony VAIO laptop with no option for reasonable screen resolutions. As soon as I got my MacBook, inspired by Robert Maxwell's "Underground Maps Unravelled" (the author is responsible for the circular tube map which many of you have sent to me) I would have better means to create a digital map, and after some experimentation and work, I have finished the digital version. The map has evolved since, with more lines and stations, and extensions to existing lines. I have decided to preserve the hand-drawn map, so these additions will not be added to keep both maps in sync.
The current digitial map has space for 1,780 stations; of these, 1,662 have been taken. 1,438 different people are represented, of which I know 1,354 - the rest are famous to varying degrees. There are also stations which have more generic names.
An index of stations can be found on the PDF version of the digital map.
For more information (including everything that was excised from the home page), navigate the toolbar at the top of the page.
What's New In Version 4.1?
The map is at a point where barely any extensions can be made. However, a few changes have been made - most notably to Kenney Island in the east. The People Mover is longer and can now house more stations for Raiders. There is also potential to add more islands on the east side of the map - something similar to the Staten Island and its own railway (Overground line) could be upcoming in Version 4.2.
Stations have been added for around 40 new people. The ends of the Crossrail lines which extend beyond the St. Jacques Metropolitan area have been given names - all after members of the Metanet community (continuing on from the Napega map).
Tramway T14 has now become a line for the Fuzzy Ducks (so sorry Al for renaming your tram line!)
A new category has sprung up. I've dipped my toes into the Cricket community, by becoming a very occasional member of the Graces. Somewhere deep in the south, stations for cricketers have begun to appear.
A lot more stations have now been confirmed (i.e. finalised them by changing their text colour to black), as they have been prior sitting on the map shown in orange or green text.
There's been some general tidying up of the map, as well as the keys and information.
Old Versions (PNGs Only)
