Street Names

[joe cassidy]

What names do you give the model streets on your layout, particularly urban ones ?

The one that amuses me is "Mount Pleasant".

If you go to any industrial town in the Midlands/North of England the grottiest street of Victorian/Edwardian terraced houses will be called Mount Pleasant. Always makes me chuckle.

Best regards,


Joe
P.S. Apologies to anyone who actually lives in Mount Pleasant

[austinbob]

That's an interesting question I'll be considering next year on my new layout.
I'll probably base the street names on family members, local places or local landmarks/places of interest.

[MikeDunn]

the grottiest street of Victorian/Edwardian terraced houses will be called Mount Pleasant.

Odds are it's as flat as a pancake too 

[Newportnobby]

I'm quite sure 'Gasworks Street' and 'Railway Cuttings' must appear on layouts somewhere

[jpendle]

As my layout is based on Bolton then I'd use street and place names from there.

Sod Hall and Nob End come to mind as appealing names, they're real, look them up.

Regards,

John Pendlebury

[Bealman]

[smg id=33172 type=preview align=center width=400]
A real place and served by a wonderful railway, too! That is actually the station!

[Komata]

FWIW: Street names can be 'created' from several sources.

These can include all and any of the following - frequently as a group or theme 

Poets, writers, local 'personages of distinction' (which can in itself be interesting as you may have to write the necessary history).

Favourite records / music groups.

Favourite movies or movie titles (Star Wars Avenue as a 'current' example).  These can however date very quickly.   

Family names (although the Americans have tended to batter this to death, usually unsuccessfully).   However, be VERY careful with this as sometimes the street / lane that was oh so cute when the children were small, can cause immense problems when they become teenagers and the 'cute' is seen by their current 'special person'.  Let's just say that the experience can be 'unpleasant' for those involved, and that you (as the innocent builder) may learn things about your personage and layout that might be somewhat 'interesting' (and that your innocent action is now seen as being anything but...)

Local geography (although be very, very careful with this one as double endentre can have unforeseen and unexpected consequences - even if it is unintentional ('nuff said...).

Memoralising events / places which are personally relevant.   As an example, one of my layouts had a Talisman Lane, which reflected my association with a gold mine of that name

Motor vehicles  / bikes that you (or your family) have owned....

Favourite locomotives / trains

Favourite aircraft

Merchant or naval vessels

Military units, or (again) barracks / locations which have special associations.

The possibilities are endless, although I would recommend that you do NOT under any circumstances name roads. lanes etc after former 'lady friends', as things can become somewhat fraught (don't ask!), and also be aware that puns tend to date rapidly and can be misunderstood. They were also 'done to death' in the 1950's and 60's (Think John Allen's famous layout) and now tend to be viewed as very anachronistic. 

Finally, if your layout is to be seen by small children avoid any ambiguity,or double endentre - it makes things sooo much easier.  I would strongly suggest that you say whatever name you intend to use out loud several times to see if there is anything about it that could have some 'hidden meaning' or cause a viewer offence, and if still uncertain, ask your 'nearest and dearest' for their opinion...

Hope that this helps. Have fun. 

[Derwentbob]

Being the kind of guy who sees Viz as a modern literary classic,  many of my street names barely make double entendre status. Others are based on my favorite radio shows - Troutbridge Quay Lane, Railway Cuttings (East Cheam), Much Binding Road, Bona Parade etc. Fortunately in n gauge very few people can read the signs.

[Komata]

DB

Re: 'Fortunately in n gauge very few people can read the signs'.

But there's ALWAYS one, isn't there..??

[Bealman]

Surprised you can't identify Bealman's location in the photo, Komata!

[Derwentbob]

DB

Re: 'Fortunately in n gauge very few people can read the signs'.

But there's ALWAYS one, isn't there..??

Yup, and its the person most likely to be offended by it. I have never been offered access to Specsavers pedants and moral outrage range, I suspect you have to ask specifically for such spectacles.

[D1042 Western Princess]

On my layout "Peltin Down", based on a typical West Country seaside resort, the road names mainly reflect various diesel classes from the 1970s or other rail based names, examples including:

Western Way (the principal road)
Duff Street
Gricer's Walk (leading to the stabling point)
Letsbe Avenue (where the police station is)
Bash Street (the school there is well known)
Peak Hill
Hoover Close (where the scrap metal merchants are)

the River Tadpole flows through the town
a pub is named 'The Warship'

and so on. Other road names are basic High Street, Station Road etc.
Don't know if it helps, but as someone else put it, the road signs are too small to read anyway. But its a fun thing to invent names for the roads.
Best wishes,
Greg.

[NeMo]

Pictures! Or it didn't happen.

NeMo

On my layout "Peltin Down", based on a typical West Country seaside resort, the road names mainly reflect various diesel classes from the 1970s or other rail based names, examples including...

[marco neri]

 
At moment, remembering a famous U2 song...my layout is a place "where the streets have no name"

Cheers

Marco

[Byegad]

Not sure about naming UK streets, but on any French outline layout it is surely compulsory to have a Rue/Avenue/Place Victor Hugo?

Certainly everywhere I've been in France that has more than one street to its name seems to have one.