Wikipedia talk:WikiProject London/Wiki takes the Tube

some thoughts
Edward, I'm wondering whether to position this as an editathon or a wiki takes event, and I think on the whole it would be better to bill it as a "Wiki takes the Tube" event. Especially if we can identify more targets.

If we do this on the 9th we are probably going to have to start early as the light will quickly go. By the 9th November sunset will be at a quarter past 4, which implies a fairly early drift to the pub.

Would you be in a position to do a bit of guiding, for example saying a few words about some of the listed buildings we are going to see? Alternatively we could list the buildings and ask people to sign up for which ones they will be willing to give a two minute talk about.

I'd like to add a bit of a skill share element, especially if Thryduulf is there. As well as advice on photography whilst we are taking photos, we could use the tube bits for some image downloading and advice, that doesn't need wifi and to be practical - we won't have WiFi all the time.  Ϣere Spiel  Chequers  17:37, 14 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Jonathan, all good thoughts. I really like the idea of "Wiki takes the Tube", in this case an even catchier double meaning. Yes, early start and early finish times make sense. I'd be happy to do some guiding, talk about the buildings, but agree that getting others involved would be even better. And skill share is a fine idea - photography, using images in articles, advice on uploading etc. Edwardx (talk) 12:58, 15 October 2013 (UTC)

Move from Userspace
I have created a link to this from WMUK's events list, feel free to remove the "to be confirmed" bit when you consider it confirmed. I would also suggest moving it from your userspace to become a subpage of WikiProject London, that would make it clear that all could contribute. Once again thanks for doing this. Jonathan Cardy (WMUK) (talk) 10:36, 15 October 2013 (UTC)
 * I can confirm my attendance. Yes please - I did mean to ask you about moving it when we're ready, so let's do that. That way we can better get others involved. It's fun to be doing something a bit innovative and to be helping towards the Wikimania Fringe as well is great. Edwardx (talk) 12:58, 15 October 2013 (UTC)

Any engineering works?
Looking at the TfL "Planned works calendar", the East London plan looks closure-free as far as the Tube goes. Will try to find DLR and Overgound info. Edwardx (talk) 14:48, 15 October 2013 (UTC)

DLR looks okay, "Planned Engineering Works" Edwardx (talk) 14:49, 15 October 2013 (UTC)

London Overground looks fine too: "London Overground (LO)" Edwardx (talk) 14:53, 15 October 2013 (UTC)

Football at Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Charlton (all 3pm), so no issues there. Only checked top two divisions. Edwardx (talk) 14:53, 15 October 2013 (UTC)

Architecturally interesting stations
There are many, but these were particularly noted:
 * Piccadilly line: Southgate, Arnos Grove, Cockfosters, Oakwood (North London)
 * Piccadilly line: Sudbury Town, Sudbury Hill (West London)
 * District Line: Kew Gardens, St James Park, Whitechapel
 * Circle Line: Paddington, Baker Street
 * Jubilee Line: Canary Wharf, Southwark
 * Central Line: Gants Hill, Loughton

Underground, Overground, DLR

 * Just Underground might be conceptually simpler
 * We need to look at what stations have already been well photographed
 * Videos of trains entering/leaving stations?
 * Perhaps we should focus on the more modern architecture?

Cleared by TfL Film Office?
Has this been cleared by the TfL film office? 80.176.129.180 (talk) 14:17, 2 November 2013 (UTC)
 * As we steered this more towards using the tube to get to grade I or II* listed buildings which we didn't have picture of so this ceased to be relevant to them - in the event I don't think we took a single TFL linked photo. Jonathan Cardy (WMUK) (talk) 14:35, 3 December 2013 (UTC)

Ticket zones
If you are coming into London from outside- it would be helpful to know which Ticket Zones are going to be targeted so you can include them on your Rail ticket. Sounds like a great day. In preparation do we have a few words of wisdom on how to write a GA/ B/ C standard tube article- and the sort of illustrations that would be the most helpful. What detail would be the most helpful in the image description- and protocols for providing geotags if we are underground and not visible on Google Maps? -- Clem Rutter (talk) 19:47, 4 November 2013 (UTC)

Meet at the cafe by the entrance to Waterloo.
Sounds fatally vague to me - there are many entrances and many cafes near them! Johnbod (talk) 15:53, 5 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Another suitable rendezvous for this or similar events would be the London Transport Museum. The main showcase is in Covent Garden and their bookshop is great for finding specialist sources.  They also have a depot in Acton which had a special opening last weekend.  As that was part of the 150th anniversary, it's not clear when they are going to do this again but we can perhaps arrange a special viewing for Wikipedians.  Me, I managed to take lots of photos of the special steam train service which they ran but haven't found time to upload them yet.  Another place which they do special tours for is the disused Strand station. Andrew Davidson (talk) 18:07, 5 November 2013 (UTC)


 * I've found details of the next depot tour. They do them every month so we just need to make a block booking. Andrew Davidson (talk) 18:16, 5 November 2013 (UTC)


 * There's nothing wrong with Waterloo so long as it's absolutely clear where the meeting point actually is. Johnbod (talk) 13:24, 6 November 2013 (UTC)


 * I can only second Johnbod here. Ham 11:37, 8 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Agreed - there are at least six cafes in the station. Meet at the COSTA cafe by the main entrance (Station Approach) to Waterloo. This is the only Costa in the station, immediately on your left if you enter from Station Approach. No. 31 on the Station map - click on the link in the top right corner to download a PDF if you are uncertain. Edwardx (talk) 20:44, 8 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Phew! Thanks. Ham 20:54, 8 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Hope you can make it. Weather looks a bit uncertain, but the forecast is improving. Light rain and sunny intervals from 2pm onwards now. And I've identified several great locations very close to the V&A. Edwardx (talk) 21:21, 8 November 2013 (UTC)


 * I'll be going straight to the Lord Mayor's Show and so I'm more interested in the final assembly point. But I suppose that, if we're scattering, that a second rendezvous would be too complicated.  We can compare notes at the Sunday Wikimeet. Andrew Davidson (talk) 09:47, 9 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Andrew, I'm meeting Jonathon at South Ken tube 10:45, then V&A, or nearby sites, depending on weather. Later pub meeting point tba. Or see you tomorrow! Edwardx (talk) 10:04, 9 November 2013 (UTC)

Lord Mayor's Show
I'll be focussing on this, now I think of it, as it is always a grand event. It's a great pageant and I always get a good laugh from the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists which we might reasonably claim as our guild. See http://www.lordmayorsshow.org/ for details of the timetable and route. Andrew Davidson (talk) 18:30, 5 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Yep, that's where I'll be too. Note also that entry to St Paul's Cathedral will be free all day, admittedly it's quite well photographed already but I figure a few more can't hurt. the wub "?!"  22:10, 8 November 2013 (UTC)

Watched the Lord Mayor being sworn in and just had tea and Victoria cake at St Pauls. Will watch the fireworks and then go home unless there's anything else happening. Andrew Davidson (talk) 16:01, 9 November 2013 (UTC)

Regent's Park
Hi, I've just heard about this event – it sounds great! I've been working on an overhaul of the list of Grade I listed buildings in the City of Westminster in this sandbox. For a while I've been intending to take a trip to London to take photos of buildings and sculptures in Regent's Park, as there are gaps for that area on both the Grade I-listed buildings page and the List of public art in the City of Westminster. So hopefully I'll be able to make it for this event; it's possible I might spend most of the day in Regent's Park but come for the meetups in Waterloo and in the pub. Ham 11:51, 6 November 2013 (UTC)

DLR and Docklands
Getting from Waterloo to Beckton is 7 stops on the Jubilee Line to Canning Town, then 8 stops DLR, then one stop back to Gallions Reach. Gallions Hotel is close to station, but Church is 10+ minutes walk from Beckton. On the way back, we could get off at Royal Albert and cross the dock basin to Former St Mark's Church (Brick Lane Music Hall), of which there is one low-res image. 10 mins walk, but a good view of London City Airport etc on the way.

Coming back from there, we could get off at Canary Wharf and photograph Blackwall Basin, church in Poplar and two sites on north side of West India Quay. AND finish at the Wetherspoons there! Alas, KTC has already photographed all of those sites in September, with the WMUK Canon EOS 60D. I'll see what else I can think of. Edwardx (talk) 19:07, 7 November 2013 (UTC)


 * However, there are six Grade I/II* sites easily accessible from Shadwell DLR/Overground or Wapping stations, and they are either seemingly without photos or in need of better ones. And travelling south from there via "Overground", you pass through the Thames Tunnel another II* site. From Waterloo, Jubilee Line four stops to Canada Water, then 2 stops on the Overground to Wapping.  Could be a good first destination.  Thoughts?  Edwardx (talk) 19:32, 7 November 2013 (UTC)
 * I think we should definitely visit Wapping/Shadwell. So, I'm setting up some basic stub articles and Commons categories to make life a bit easier. Raine's House is the first. Edwardx (talk) 21:06, 7 November 2013 (UTC) St Peter's, Wapping is the second (it has six photos, but all very small). Edwardx (talk) 21:17, 7 November 2013 (UTC)
 * St Paul's Church, Shadwell already has an article and some photos, but most are very small. St George in the East, Stepney also has an article, and 19 images, but again, most are very small. Edwardx (talk) 22:16, 7 November 2013 (UTC)
 * On the south bank, right by Rotherhithe Station, St. Mary's Church, Rotherhithe has just one poor photo. Church of St James very close to Bermondsey Station has a photo, but no article. I think that Nelson House, 265 Rotherhithe Street has no photos, and is about 10 minutes or so walk east of Rotherhithe Station along the river. Edwardx (talk) 19:42, 7 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Also in Southwark, the area around London Bridge Station is rich in sites, but from a quick look they've been well-photographed. A shame, as that area would tie in well with my ideas above. Edwardx (talk) 19:52, 7 November 2013 (UTC)

Predecessor event?
I've heard talk of an event that took place early in Wikipedia's history that aimed at covering (photographing?) all of the London Underground stations - does anyone know anything about this? I think I heard about it around 2008-2009, so it would have taken place before then. I'm curious because of Sarah Stierch's question at meta:Programs:Evaluation portal/Parlor/Questions about early Wikimedia photography competitions... Thanks. Mike Peel (talk) 19:42, 8 November 2013 (UTC)
 * I couldn't find anything about such an event. There's WikiProject London Transport/Current Stations Images, but that seems to have been more of an ongoing project. the wub "?!"  22:22, 8 November 2013 (UTC)