Bangkok map from a 1958 Hammonds City Atlas

[admin]

(from the September 24, 2005 2B front page) Bangkok map from a 1958 Hammonds City Atlas.

Interesting things on this map: Mahanak (Floating) Market? Santitham Hall (where the UN building is now)? The Royal Mint (where the Pinklao Bridge is now)? Sunantha Garden on Samsen Road?

[GWR]

The feature that struck me the most is that the old khlong San Railway Station is shown on the banks of the Chao Phraya. According to 2Bkk's SRT Timeline, the Khlong San to Wongwienyai section of the Mahachai line was terminated on Jan 1st, 1961:-

http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/srt/timeline.shtml

[dick]

Always a crime for a dutch cartographer, the toponymes! Nevertheless always an interesting subject, the names and translations in a map. Lan Luangroad/Lak Luangroad, Asdangroad/Atsadang etc.
I wonder why Bangkokmaps in past and present are not always made with North in top, confusing. Trams are missing, but it's nice map with decent color setting with resedagreen. Not in my collection unfortunately.

[ncr]

It definitely is a nice map. Neat and clear.

Some spellings are debatable (or wrong: "Phraya Thai" - ouch, invasive "r"; this regrettable tradition was later continued by other mapmakers: Prathumwan, Prathum Thani, etc.) but overall, good effort!

BTW, it also shows the Trocadero Hotel that was recently featured in photos on 2Bangkok.

[ncr]

1. The map shows quite a lot of greenery! (Especially Siam Square, most of Thonburi.)

2. Interesting signature for the khlongs (I like it).

3. "Santitham Hall" - yes, seems to be the location of the UN Building.

4. "Sunantha Garden" - a modern map (Nelles) shows the following in this area: Suan Dusit Teacher College, a building of the Interior Ministry, Suan Sunantha Teacher College, Suan Sunantha School, Rural College. Also: "Amphawan Garden" - modern map shows an "Army Club".

5. The Royal Thai Mint is now in Pathum Thani (Eastern side of Phahonyothin Rd, about 2 km north of Future Park Rangsit).

6. "Town Hall" near Phan Fa Bridge (where now the King Prajadhipok Museum is)..... (> here, 24 August 2004)

7. The "Central Telegraph Office" near Memorial Bridge is also shown (recently reconstructed and once featured on 2Bangkok). (Here, 21 October 2004, and in this photo.)

8. "Banbuathong [sic] Bus Station" on the western bank of the river (near the former location of the terminal of the Bangbuathong Railway)...?

9. The Royal Hotel (the common English name) is interestingly called the "Rathanakosin [sic] Hotel" here. A thread about the name confusion is here .

[BangkokBlues]

That's what I noticed too. I have never seen a map showing the station and was not aware of what year it's use was halted and the tracks removed. Very interesting map.

[GWR]

Originally Posted by BangkokBlues

That's what I noticed too. I have never seen a map showing the station and was not aware of what year it's use was halted and the tracks removed. Very interesting map.

One of the Government's (long-conceived) mass transit projects envisages using the Wongwienyai to Khlong San route as a means to connect the Mahachai line to Hualamphong; with a new Chaophraya railway bridge (or tunnel?). I imagine elevated tracks are intended, especially North-East of the Chaophraya, where the route would have to straddle an existing canal. However, I'm not really genned up on this; so await the arrival of more expert authorities on this matter.

[ncr]

Originally Posted by BangkokBlues

That's what I noticed too. I have never seen a map showing the station and was not aware of what year it's use was halted and the tracks removed. Very interesting map.

....then you haven't seen Dick van der Spek's Maps:

Bangkok Tramways
1930
1950

Paknam Railway
1937
1958

And, of course, a map of Maeklong Railway proper.

By the way, many months ago Khun Wisarut promised to scan in an old photo of the Khlong San Station that he found in some book.....

[jamesn]

Is there a good reason that Suriwong Road was not shown on this map?

[dick]

To make the map not overloaded I mainly show the Tramroutes, but I agree that for a better orientation more lanes and streets were welcome.
And it depence what scale will be used. Mostly I use for citymaps the scale 1: 25 000 or 1: 50 000. But by reduction for publication it's mostly better to drop some lines (streets).