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The first half of your first sentence is not accurate. The systems were build the same time but look different. BART and Metro don't look alike. MARTA comes closest to DC in look, but doesn't have the iconic stations and DC's newer trains separate it from Marta. DC Metro is a brand like MTA and the El. Numerous movie scenes or TV shows have depicted the Metro. I don't know of too many depicting the T.
Honestly, I believe the average person would be able to correctly identify a BART train before the T.
You should read up on the Washington DC Metro system and it's history of design pattern and what makes it so unique. It honestly goes beyond the US in terms of being iconic.
That’s interesting because nobody outside DC seems to notice when they film scenes in the DC metro in Baltimore, LA or at other period transit systems
The fact is the MBTA trains look totally different than any other networks. That’s not true for DC, BART, Atlanta or LA. The Charlie Card Branding is totally unique as well. It’s very distinctive
Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by btownboss4
That’s interesting because nobody outside DC seems to notice when they film scenes in the DC metro in Baltimore, LA or at other period transit systems
It's very noticeable actually, I notice every time. Why do you think she wrote the article on it if it's not noticed? You posting this doesn't mean it's not iconic, it just means it's a travesty that some Hollywood films choose not to go all the way to DC to actually shoot inside the system. Take that up with the directors. I have seen films depicting NYC subway shot in LA too.
The Washington Metro system is no less than the 3rd most recognizable major transit system with the El and MTA. If we're talking about subways under ground it's the 2nd most iconic in the country after MTA.
Last edited by the resident09; 04-19-2020 at 11:24 AM..
It's very notice able actually, I notice every time. Whydo you think she wrote the article on it if it's not noticed? You posting this doesn't mean it's not iconic, it just means it's a travesty that some Hollywood films choose not to go all the way to DC to actually shoot inside the system. Take that up with the directors. I have seen films depicting NYC subway shot in LA too.
The Washington Metro system is no less than the 3rd most recognizable major transit system with the El and MTA. If we're talking about subways under ground it's the 2nd most iconic in the country after MTA.
Because it’s the Washington Post that’s why. It’s a Washingtonian noticing that LA isn’t Washington.
You said DC beats Bosyon because Boston would get confused for NYC. As if Washington isn’t passable as LA or Baltimore.
I agree that the DC metro is iconic, but not as widely known or distinguishable. Their trains and stations look enough like LA's trains and stations that they pass for each other with no changes. Only people familiar can tell and that's not many. Lately I've even seen Toronto stand in for LA.
My list is:
Seattle monorail
SF cable cars
NYC Subway
Chicago El
Staten Island ferry
Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
8,128 posts, read 7,560,868 times
Reputation: 5785
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Easy
I agree that the DC metro is iconic, but not as widely known or distinguishable. Their trains and stations look enough like LA's trains and stations that they pass for each other with no changes. Only people familiar can tell and that's not many. Lately I've even seen Toronto stand in for LA.
My list is:
Seattle monorail
SF cable cars
NYC Subway
Chicago El
Staten Island ferry
I have yet to go to Seattle yet, and could not tell you what the monorail looks like. The Miami elevated metro is about as known or iconic as some of these others being mentioned. Before I rode Metro in LA years ago I wouldn't have been able to definitively identify it either, and this is with all the movies being depicted in LA.
The only 3 systems that by one shot the average person could stare down a station or at a shot of their rail and mostly identify it would be the NYC subway, the El, and Metro in DC. The front of trains are often the biggest identifiers of them. DC metro has a very distinct front to it when facing the train. The only system who's trains come remotely close from that angle are MARTA trains, but they are still different.
The SF cable cars are completely identifiable as well.
I have yet to go to Seattle yet, and could not tell you what the monorail looks like. The Miami elevated metro is about as known or iconic as some of these others being mentioned. Before I rode Metro in LA years ago I wouldn't have been able to definitively identify it either, and this is with all the movies being depicted in LA.
The only 3 systems that by one shot the average person could stare down a station or at a shot of their rail and mostly identify it would be the NYC subway, the El, and Metro in DC. The front of trains are often the biggest identifiers of them DC metro has a very distinct front to it when facing the train. The only system who's trains come remotely close from that angle are MARTA trains, but they are still different.
The SF cable cars are completely identifiable as well.
And ferries we're adding to the list?
You don’t think the fact that the MBTA has colored trains is distinctive .
After the MTA and CTA it’s really a jumbled mess.
It’s entirely possible for DC, SF, Bos to be 3-5 or NOLA, Toronto and Philly.
Also there is good reason the L, NOLA’s trolley and SF cable cars are famous. You don’t have to get a filming permit from the Transit agency because they are open air
Chicago's Train, but really only the Loop section. Again, movies and TV shows seem to show this part of the train system. Well known to most, but the rest of Chicago's transit is a mystery to me since I've never been.
Vancouver's Skytrain. Iconic in the sense it is the longest fully automated driverless system in the world. Maybe not as well known as the others. I'd also add in the sea bus, as an iconic piece of Vancouver's transit system.
Number 5...tough one...a toss up between Montreal's rubber tired metro, and BART. I prefer Montreal's metro though.
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