I'm actually beginning to construct some roads on my layout. I'm looking for historic highway markings from the 1950s. My memory is that the white stripe on the side of the road didn't exist back then. I can't remember a double stripe in the center of the road - a single unbroken meant "don't pass." I've searched under "highway markings" and "historic highway markings" with no joy.
Any memories from guys who remember 1957, or any search suggestions?
Thanks.
Gene
Gene
As I remember there were no lines on the side of the road.
A solid white line in the center of the road indicated NO PASSING.
If the line was broken you could pass.
Stop signs slow signs and directional arrows were black lettering on
a yellow background.
This is in Pennsylvania other states may differ.
Tim L. Anders
Souderton, PA
Thanks, Tim. Those are my memories, too. When did the stop sign go red?
Gene
Search for "Historical Highways", or "Historic Highways".
IIRC, center striping hasn't changed in 50 years. I found pictures of "Kings Highway" 17 in Canada circa 1950.
http://www.thekingshighway.ca/PHOTOS/Hwy17photos2.htm
Continuous double yellow no passing either direction, broken white with continuous yellow indicates which lane is allowed to pass, broken white no yellow either lane is allowed to pass. (with caution of course).
According to some DOT sites, road edge marking started around 1950. It always created problems, as motorists tended to shy away from it and hug the center of the road. Out here most of the roads now have "rumble strips" to alert you if you get close to the edge, with the usual white edge stripe. Psychologically it lets you hug the edge stripe without fear of leaving the pavement, very handy at night or in bad weather, especially in fog when your lights on dim are directed to the roadside.
I don't remember stop signs ever being any color but red. Caution signs yellow.
I have seen stop signs in White on Red & Black on Yellow but the signs were always octaginal. I like the new buried reflectors they also make noise if you drive on them they are used to mark lanes at night.
Bob,
The King's Highway photos are great! Thanks a lot. Most of the roads on the layout will have to have the double stripe as they are either curvy or going over a grade crossing or both. BTW, I've tried an experiment that I read about and I'm using the back side of roofing shingles for asphalt highways. Guess what? They work great! Another technique I'm using is a white coloring pencil for the road stripes. I've already done the DuPont parking lot in this fashion though it's right now empty of cars.
I didn't think to search for historic highways. That's a great idea. I guess another would be "Route 66" or "National Road" or "US 1." I'll take a look.
Gene
Just going from memory about how it was in Alberta, Canada where I lived at the time, yellow and black stop signs started being replaced by red and white ones in the late fifties and the yellow and black were virtually all gone in the early sixties. Center lines on highways were dashed where you could pass, solid where you couldn't, and the only places there were double center lines was where traffic in one direction could pass but traffic in the other direction could not. In urban areas, the center line was always solid, but you could pass if safe. Shoulder marking on highways was originally yellow to distinguish it from the center line, but somewhere in the late 50s/early 60s they switched the two because the center line was more important and yellow on black shows up better and last longer than white on black.
On a trip to Florida in 58', saw lots of chain gangs, highways were generally poorly marked. some were tar, lots were concrete 2 lane
Roads had one single white line until 1971. Of course dashed line means passing and solid is no passing.
I hope this helps!
PRR
do a search (historic highway markings)
Gene,
Keep in mind that this is a "States Rights" issue, and in the 1950's while there where somewhat uniform standards nationwide, the details of various practices and standards did vary from region to region and state to state.
Anyone offering advice like "roads had one single line until 1971" is obviously not well informed.
Based on my research a few things seem clear:
By the 50's most stop signs where red and white,
speed limit and other "law" signs where black and white or red and white,
warning signs where yellow and black.
Red and white "yield" signs not in use, yield signs yellow and black back then.
Single or double lines of white or yellow would be found dividing lanes depending on the highway's traffic level, importance and local practice.
"stop" lines and crosswalk markings only found in metro areas, and lines on the side of the road would have been very rare.
Sheldon
It seems that the red and white stop signs came along in 1954 but there were still many of the old yellow and black ones in use in the mid sixties. Apparently there is at least one still in use.
http://www.mycrazyhobby.com/stop/ (http://www.mycrazyhobby.com/stop/)
I backed the link to the main page, hundreds of pictures showing road markings.
http://www.thekingshighway.ca/
here is a highway near durango from the denver puplic library. Try going there and look at buildings. You'll find 15000+ pics at the DPL. Lots of streets and roads are shown next to buildings. Glass negatives is where you search
(http://photoswest.org/photos/11007626/11007725.jpg)
I like the idea about the roofing shingles , after all they are asphalt shingles. Seems like a very appropriate use. Going to have to go to the wine cellar and see if there is still a set Dad stashed from the time before the last reroofing . J2,
and who could forget that famous Rt 66
(http://www.national66.org/photos/031oldrd.jpg)
One shingle goes a LONG way!
Gene
Sheldon,
I know about variances between states - after all, I am an army brat! :D I agree about the single vs double lines - Bob's pictures show several examples of a double line in 1957- and I seem to remember them. But there were also solid single lines.
Gene
Gene,
Yes, I remember both single and double lines here in Maryland and I'm only 51, born in 1957.
Glad to see your layout is progressing, seems from your reports that problems have been minor.
Hope to get restarted on mine now that the control system is "developed".
Sheldon
In the UK, single and double yellow lines are used at the sides of carriageways to indicate parking times and waiting restrictions.
http://www.sefton.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=3178
In the U.S. single unbroken yellow separates each pair or sets of lanes in a 4 lane or multiple lane highway or street. You may not cross a single continuous yellow line except where turns are permitted.
http://www.lowestpricetrafficschool.com/handbooks/driver/en/4/8
You have to read this. I hope to never see these people on the road when I'm driving. Many drivers today either don't know or don't care about traffic regulations. Today some jerk crossed a double yellow to pass and was heading for us in our lane. We had to pull to the shoulder to avoid a headon. To top it off, he gave us the bird as he went by. Road rage is rampant.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081119142248AAs50Sa
BTW, how many know the current rule for maintaining intervals? No, it's not one car length for every 10 mph as was previously taught. HINT. The rule works at any speed.
Bob, it is interesting to note the differences in meanings of lines. Here in Saskatchewan, you may not cross a double centerline, period. If there is a break in the double centerline at an intersection, you may turn left. If no break, you may not turn. If you do cross it, even if it was safe, you risk getting a ticket for a moving violation, same as for speeding, running a red light, etc. I guess if I were driving in Florida, I would be going a long way looking for a place to make a left turn!
I suppose the rule of which you speak is the 2 second rule? Sometimes called the 3 second rule? Or even the 4 second rule?
In drivers-ed, they told us the rule was 3-5 seconds behind they vehicle you are following, more if driving conditions are not optimal (dark, raining, etc).
Timothy
I attended a defensive driving course by the CHP several years ago, and we were advised the 2 second rule for daytime good weather, increase to 3 -4 seconds or more for nighttime or poor visibility. I have seen many drivers cited for following too close. "Tailgating" carries a stiff fine out here, equal to speeding.
In rural areas, double yellow means no passing, you may turn at a road intersection if safe to do so. (my driveway for instance) Within city limits, turns other than those at traffic lights are discouraged or prohibited except on one way streets.
Some are intimidated driving in large cities, I love it. You just turn the radio off, follow the lines, arrows and signs and go like a bat. :D
Jim,
That is very interesting. Do they break the line for every driveway and parking lot entrance? If they did that here in suburbia the double yellow line would be dashed or maybe even non existant.
This just goes to show, even today, standards for these types of things very quite a bit from place to place.
We have lots of continuous center left turn lanes and lots of roundabouts and 4 way stops now, all of that is new in the last 15 years or so. You would have not seen any of that around here in the 50's.
We used to have both angled and parallel parking street side in urban areas. Angle parking is gone now, except in a few private "main street" like shopping areas.
Our expressways have always had both left and right hand exits, and, to go along with that Maryland has no "keep right unless passing" or "slower traffic keep right" laws unless it is posted on multi lane highways.
Sheldon
Double centerlines in Saskatchewan, which are used only on 4 lane undivided highways and in places where passing would be dangerous on 2 lane highways and urban roads, do not have breaks for driveways etc. The "correct" procedure is to continue on to where there is a break, turn off the highway, make a U-turn, then drive back to the driveway or whatever. In practice, the "if I can't see a cop then a cop can't see me" rule applies. This works well in practice if the double centerline is on a flat highway where you can see for miles each way but not so good when the double centerline is on a blind curve.
In urban areas, not many streets have double centerlines. Many streets have no lines at all. And all the streets have no lines for the half of the year when they are covered with snow. Then you go by the ruts in the snow as a guide to where to drive, even though the ruts often differ radically from the lines hidden below. Driving becomes really interesting in spring when the snow is melting, exposing the lines but still showing the ruts.
I think markings have become more standardized in the U.S. I don't really think about it while driving, it just seems natural to follow the markings and signs.
The main thing is to stay with the flow of traffic. Driving too slow can create a hazard in high volume areas. We have minimum speed limits here, posted where in effect.
BTW, we all know that on a standard traffic light red means stop, but what does yellow and green mean?
Yellow (not flashing)
A. Stop
B. Proceed with caution
C. You don't have the right of way
D. None of the above
Green
A. Go
B. Proceed with caution
C. You have the right of way
D. None of the above
And last but not least....
(http://deliverator.silverfir.net/gallery/albums/CollectedPhotosofKenandHelenMarsh/1273_Cattle_Crossing_Rotorua_Dev_April_1971.jpg)