Joe Brown - London Railway Atlas ( Interview Chat / No.10 )

Joe Brown is the creator of the superb 'London Rail Atlas', as well as the Birminham Rail Atlas, and the Manchester & Liverpool edition too! I caught up with for an interview/chat, to ask how how he designs something so incredibly detailed, and also his work with 'Journey', an organisation for LGBTQ+ professionals working in the transport sector.
Joe's Rail Atlas is : www.crecy.co.u...
The 'Journey' LGBTQ website : journeylgbtq.w...
The S.K.Baker Rail Atlas is also available here: www.amazon.co....

[@geofftech2]

Altogether now …. “Droftarts” 😊

[@andyt2510]

Notsue!

[@fussyboy2000]

krapy rub snif

[@Eddyspeeder]

Ward leroc

[@AndyLambTHFC]

Are you gonna ride the 759 bus?

[@grantwest656]

Joe was my manager on the Bakerloo and he's a really, really nice guy. Never heard a bad word said about him.

[@WordNerd1971]

Great interview. Joe is so interesting. I could listen to hours of you chatting together!

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Geoff sure knows how to set up a good podcast/chatty interview episode. Also, he’s at TfL HQ so new Achievement Unlocked.

[@martynbrailsford3943]

Excellent Interview! Thanks Geoff & Joe for the plug! Martyn - editor of the "Quail" maps.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Perhaps you could ask Geoff to correct the omission of a link to your site in the description section. Usually fastidious to a fault, other links are listed but I looked for Quail to no avail.

[@robertbutlin3708]

I do enjoy an occasional bit of micro-gricing at the Quail level.

[@patbyers9662]

Making being a nerd, cool. Great interview. Thank you Geoff and Joe :)

[@PamelaBane]

This was such an interesting conversation, I love maps and have a Baker book on the shelf cannot beat a physical handling of an atlas, proud to be a cartophile!. Thanks Geoff.

[@Nooticus]

Yet another phenomenal 'interview' (aka Choo-choo chat!) Joe Brown is an absolute legend, anyone who hasn't seen his atlases are mising out!

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

Now there's a surprise. I had assumed that the author (?) of my favourite Atlas (after the Times one of the world) would be a man of a certain age, crackling with dusty experience, seeing how engaging and deftly detailed it is. Not a bit of it. Merci Monsieur and here's to future fantastic feats of fact furnishing. One more bit of sunshine blowing where the sun don't shine: Only once in my life have I had the thrill of having so many answers all at once to questions I've had poking around in my head for decades. Where does that go? type of thing. Thank you, thank you JB.

[@70goldie24]

Can’t wait to ‘pink’ up my new Baker (hopefully at Christmas). Joe you are a star and your work is outstanding.

[@rikufryderyk]

I visited the palestra building recently, how lucky you had the occasion to go quite high upstairs! Will listen to the 'podcast' this evening :)

[@DistrictDriver]

Ah, it's nice to see Joe again! He was one of my DMT's at Earl's Court!

[@GaryJohnWalker1]

I have a copy of the London Atlas - a wonderful browse from time to time. Well worth a real paper edition on the proverbial coffee table

[@gregmichael8473]

Just ordered two of Joe's atlases. Can't wait to get them to add to my collection, which includes Quail & Baker. The detail looks amazing from the glimpses in the video, with the addition of the historical information a bonus.

[@joc6516]

Fantastic interview. I have all of the atlas regions, several from London, the Birmingham one and Liverpool/Manchester. My favourite is the Liverpool/Manchester one as it includes all the crazy old tram lines which made up the largest combined network in the UK. It's amazing to see what we lost up there. London also got rid of theirs, but at least they had the tube to fall back on. It's also sad to see how many railway lines existed compared to today. My hope is for a Leeds/Bradford/Sheffield one as well. That would be incredible, then a Glasgow/Edinburgh. These are easily the best rail maps of any cities in the world. Never seen anything close anywhere else. Joe Brown has done a magnificent job here.

[@matthewsexton9486]

An amazing interview!! Many thanks to you both!

[@a11oge]

My, what fun you had. Thanks for sharing. 🖖

[@marksaddler]

We need the unedited backwards tube stations as a series of shorts 👍

[@guillaumemaurice3503]

Thank you for sharing this Geoff; it was a very interesting and fascinating video. ❤

[@gustavomonteiro302]

Bought his book in my trip to London last march at the Transport Museum. Glad to see him on Geoff's channel.

[@GreatWesternTransportation]

Excellent interview Geoff, keep it up

[@Anonymoususer_2023]

I do like interviews like this one. Very good interview. Please do more of these if you could. 😁

[@BarneyLeith]

I love Joe's London atlas! And I have a rather ancient copy of the Baker atlas.

[@paulgodwin604]

What a fun and informative video. You two make a good double act. Geoff, you asked Joe if people at work us3 his maps. For me, yes I did - when working for TfL I used it extensively to work out where to build new stabling sidings for LUL S Stock to facilitate removal from Lillie Bridge to enable the redevelopment of the site.

[@user-mf2dj8rn9f]

Great video and interview. I purchased the book before the video ended.

[@user-lw5qj9hd4w]

So I've bookmarked the crecy page to buy in August, thanks guys! 😊

[@elainemulberryrat5300]

Funny interview Geoff. Joe comes across as a really nice guy and the camera obviously loves him😅 nice informal chatty style info.

[@stevehotspur]

Fabulous Sunday evening viewing. Brilliant

[@michaelvoyzey1099]

Hi Geoff, Great video as always I have just ordered a copy of his London Atlas really interesting insight as always

[@Transportationspotting]

Well done for making it to TfL headquarters Geoff!

[@deltic1964]

Great Interview Geoff

[@iandraper8554]

In the 70's I picked up a fold out map of all the London Bus routes. Love atlases if you don't have one try and track one down

[@PaulInPorirua]

That door slam at 4:00 is every overheard conversation about trains I have ever had.

[@michaelmiller641]

Fantastic! Thanks for that!

[@tardismole]

I've not heard of that drawing programme. Would have been very useful back when I was writing my book in 2015. I hand drew my map in paint (really don't do that at home). Incidentally, that brought me to Geoff Marshall's channel and I've been here ever since.

[@rayhenwood3833]

I invested in a copy Dec 23. Love the detail.

[@mrowl-the-dsm1304]

Really good this, very impressed and very much enjoyed it

[@andyt2510]

I've got his West Midlands version of this atlas - got it as a Christmas present. It's a good read!

[@andyt2510]

PS - those West Midlands Metro extensions are correct

[@teecefamilykent]

Brilliant video sir.

[@graemehenderson585]

Fabulous atlas. I also use Corel Draw to draw maps and recreate the signal diagrams in signal boxes.

[@RallyingSightsSounds]

I've got the three latest books and the two posters (London and Birmingham) from Modern Railways mag, they're awesome. I look forward to the Yorkshire atlas that is supposedly coming next, but I'd love to see South Wales and the Scottish Central belt in future. Also, it'd be great if you could purchase them in poster format of different sizes, then I could get them without the fold from the magazines!

[@Sim0nTrains]

Great video Geoff, I do love Joe Brown's books. Do have a copy of London, Birmingham & West Midlands and Liverpool and Manchester books

[@robinjones6999]

Brilliant, superb, wonderful _ ive got to order one

[@roundhouses]

I remember going into the school library and tracing out all the railways in the UK. That got me into travelling by train around the country once I left school and had an income. I have a friend who since retirement has been drawing up the track similar (but more diagamatic) to Joes book but for the whole of the country showing all tracks up to the mid 1960's including closed lines.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

A friend..? Go on admit it, it's you isn't it‽ No matter, I rejoice in the knowledge that someone's taken on this task. Don't forget to save it at the end of each monk~like draughting and more power to thine elbow!

[@roundhouses]

@@JP_TaVeryMuch I wish it was me but just dont have the time with all my other interests. He is a civil engineer so is very used to drawing.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

@@roundhouses Well the very best of luck to him. What a project!

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Ooooh i just love maps...! Off to buy the book......

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

You won't be able to put it down!

[@Bsavery17]

Two legends from the tube, thought I knew joe from somewhere

[@philipperry1304]

Bloody brilliant cheers

[@RandomHuman4022]

I'll be working at the Palestra when I start my graduate role this September, I'm hoping to get a peak inside the control room!

[@hughacollins1]

peek (shome mishtake shurely - ed.)

[@RandomHuman4022]

@@hughacollins1 You're the 94th person to point this out. I imagine you'd go outside more, but you're too busy watching Geoff Marshall videos?

[@kerryschofield7744]

Decades ago, the HEX trains needed wheel turning. There was some ridiculously complicated move required to get it to a wheel lathe. Joe’s maps may have been needed!!

[@kaliou6645]

🩵🚂Excellent chat Geoff, I'm hoping for a Podcast Version Launch of your future interviews

[@philipperry1304]

That be so cool. I'm a pod nerd well 1😂 Rockonteurs

[@michellebell5092]

I’m sure I had the first edition. I’ve already added edition 6 onto my Waterstones app wish list

[@marksaddler]

Geoffs Rode Wireless mic is giving me the fear, I hope it holds on for the whole episode

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

9:49 You said it! "... and then you start to get a bit obsessive." Perfect timing mein host! I was right on the point of boiling over in frustration at the last 2½ minutes of what would be on the cutting room floor IMHO. Especially as Joe had gone down the track of explaining why & what only to be 07:07 hauled away to another line by our host. Colouring in is not ever going to be good enough to trump Joe Brown's Atlas's _raison d'être_ in anyone's book is it‽ As I'm so charged that I've paused the video to rant away here, I really hope that he's able to take us down several secret sidings sans interruption in the rest of this gem.

[@ChrisGBusby]

Ooooh - all ordered :)

[@mikewilliamson7246]

Just to say as an admiring follower. Geoff does sometimes ALMOST overwhelm his interviewee, frequently chipping in with a gushing jokey comment that he has just thought of, whilst the interviewee is trying to explain something in answer to Geoff's previous question. Perhaps just calm down a touch?

[@joeymandrews]

Anybody remember when Geoff and Joe both starred in episodes of 'The Tube' back in 2002?!?!

[@joebrown7817]

Trying to keep that quiet… I’ve even grown a beard as a disguise since 😉😂

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

Suits you sir.

[@garydoc]

Hi Geoff. Fabulous interview and loads of very useful info soaked up! The video prompted me to look out a 1935 Philips’ Map of LNER, LMS, GW & SR lines in London and district. I have managed to copy this and wondered if it would be of use to use and/or Joe. Can’t send on here, do you have a link to send stuff to you? Cheers! Gary

[@JB-ek4yx]

Joes Liverpool/Manchester might be out of print, but it's still available on Amazon 👍

[@TomRyanElliott]

Another fantastic discussion. It will be great to see if TFL continues doing things this month with it being the Disability Pride Month. Would love to capture a time lapse from up there with the tube going past

[@svenlakemeier]

The separate tracks panned hard left and hard right made the listen a little exhausting. The content itself was very interesting.

[@k6usy]

Listening to this with headphones… you need to mono your audio with a setup like this. One mic is on the left channel and the other mic is on the right channel.

[@apc108]

What a nice guy. He's cool and un-flappable. I guess you have to be when taking on such enormous tasks. Lovely conversation.

[@Xoron]

Geoff's mic was holding on for dear life there.

[@tremensdelirious]

A little inpatient when he was trying to tell you his history. Interruptions when he’s talking about tracing from books. I wanted to listen 😮

[@tonyjones9442]

Yes. I thought too. It was an interesting insight and it got cut short. A bit rude of Geoff really.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

​@@tonyjones9442 Hear hear. You could say that that's why we love him. Geoff's head is so full of information that he seemingly can't stop it spilling over; common sense, decency, respect and politesse be damned! No situation or subject, no seniority of interviewee, nor really enlightening answer to the question we've all been waiting for... can stop the tsunami. Your very point is a constant in the comment threads of his videos, albeit quietly bubbling under. The exact opposite of this unfortunate habit. Imagine what heights of UndergrounD understanding could be reached if our over enthusiastic host had a word with himself about it!

[@Nooticus]

Chill out

[@smithmini2]

One bit missing. The reversing siding that was at Greenford Central line station upto about 1960 until it was moves further west to Northolt.

[@beachman8106]

Very interesting video. Definitely prefer landscape format. Video time preference is 10 to 20 minutes. For new topics maybe investigate European rail networks. 👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️ from 🇦🇺

[@EngineerLewis]

CorelDraw was my goto software for graphics for the same reason as Joe mentioned CMYK! 🤣

[@tuppb002]

been on that roof. did work experience at tfl southwark office called palestra

[@PokhrajRoy.]

2:49 Both of you are matching your freak 🔥

[@ellenthalianellen7043]

,Are you from London? As a big train enthusiast I'd love to meet you and maybe you know some nice spots in the city to spot trains? Best regards, Kimi

[@ellenthalianellen7043]

hiiii

[@traincrew5746]

There's a mysterious door in Blackfriars Station that has a lot of rather lovely mapping and video experience behind it...

[@apuldram]

Will the “Lancashire” book be put on-print? I have the Modern Railways Liverpool extract but that’s all ☹️

[@joebrown7817]

Yes after ‘Baker’ I think revising Liverpool & Manchester will be next, so hopefully 2025 publication

[@apuldram]

@@joebrown7817 check out Pontefract/Knottingley Baker’s all messed up there. I’m sure you’re on it…😁

[@jgodfrey546]

Most interesting, Geoff! Amazon claims the Baker atlas link is incorrect, though...

[@alanclarke4646]

Hi Geoff. The link to the Baker map seems to be broken.

[@OstrogothRome]

Wow, micro-gricing, you can't get much geekier than that. Come on Joe, how about an atlas of every bus stop that has ever existed, or maybe a new book "Walking Britain's Disused Bus Routes". Oh and what about plotting every phone box that ever existed - along with its model and type, K2, K3 etc etc, and monthly usage...... You could be busy for the next 50 years here.

[@joebrown7817]

Just 50?! 🤣 ...I have a day job, you know 😉

[@GoranNewsum]

Railway magazine centrefolds 😉😅

[@TheRailArchive-p1z]

So, can we expect an on line version with a GPS overlay to show where you are? I've been trying to get Matthew Bromley to do it for his Railmap On-Line site.

[@michaelholdsworth]

I'm waiting for the day someone designs an app to mark off tracks and rail lines. Save me re-tracing a map whenever it updates!

[@IndaloMan]

You would think that after all these years Geoff would have worked out that if his mic is pointing upwards the sound quality is better.... 😂

[@LiveInConcertUK]

You should definitely interview Viola Snow the TikTok husky next. She’ll tell you which are the most (and least) dog-friendly tube lines and share her top tips for canine travellers. 🐕

[@Geogregor747]

I have the foldout map from the Modern Railways on the wall of the toilet. Look at it a few times a day 😉

[@railmaps8141]

I use Corel Draw!😁

[@christophersanton]

I loved CorelDraw and was disappointed when the NHS standardised on Microsoft products.

[@Jimyjames73]

Very interesting with great Views & new words - 'Microgrissing'??? 🤔😊🚂🚂🚂

[@LifeSizeTeddyBear]

I believe it is "microgricing" or "micro gricing". I found some usages of it on the RailUKForums website.

[@Jimyjames73]

@@LifeSizeTeddyBear Oh ok - Thank you 🤔🚂🚂🚂

[@Thornaby37]

The term "microgricing" also appears a lot in Branch Line News (a twice monthly journal for Branch Line Society members). It refers to travelling over bits of track which don't normally have passenger services

[@Jimyjames73]

@@Thornaby37 C😎😎l 😉🚂🚂🚂

[@eastlancsesteem]

I wish Sodor Island was real.

[@LasseGreiner]

IMHO Corel draw is much better and not ridiculously priced as Adobe 😮

[@Thornaby37]

Still got the first SK Baker atlas I bought almost 40 years ago, and have had most editions since then Probably best not say Finsbury Park spelt backwards 😅

[@dougjardine8545]

Ward LeRoc ---- it's your pr0n-star name now, Geoff!

[@axsmth]

What's "Birminham Rail"?

[@peterwoolliams1283]

Why didn’t know this map existed?!

[@FotoCatch]

Hi Geoff! Do you know how to get by local bus from Stansted airport to Oxford, i got only Arrivals, but way make me three buses and 6 hours total for the road

[@nathanwinter863]

Does anyone know if there is a online map or a book thats like a checklist book for london stations/uk stations?

[@RaskoAndDiscoBeerReview]

Hey Geoff, I'm wondering if I've got a rare(ish) unofficially official Tfl map you don't have? There's a beer over in elavrireP as a clue for you to find out. Cheers #Disco

[@beerdo231]

What happened to calling it Choo Choo Chat? I liked that name.

[@thepoleisred5899]

"So, you don't bash yourself?" 😲

[@NigelDraycott]

Try doing this as a KZbin short or Tiktok.....

[@eddisstreet]

If tfl HQ is in Southwark, what's at 55 Broadway these days?

[@marcelwiszowaty1751]

I was going to say it is being refurbished for flats... but I just double-checked. That proposal was dropped and it's now being redeveloped as a hotel.

[@joebrown7817]

Yes it’s rightly so heavily listed inside & outside that it’s a challenge to convert to a new use

[@capturedlondon]

Sorry to be ‘that guy’ but I guessed your location based purely on the building behind you and its angle ….my wife says I’m on the scale, but I don’t care 😂

[@dees3179]

I reckon we mostly are, there will be no judgement here. Your wife is the minority in this community.

[@natts]

Hey Geoff, the Amazon link in the description is broken?

[@howardkey1639]

Ward Leroc 😊