highway lines for the 1960's

[Phoebe Vet]

The 1954 15-page supplement to the 1948 MUTCD included 47 revisions and a brief description of each. The most significant change is that the color for the STOP sign was white letters on red background, which resulted primarily from the development of new fade-resistant finishes. The 1954 manual also represents the shift from using mainly regulatory and warning signs on interstate highways to including guide signs. This manual also adopted the use of white letters on green background for Interstate highways.

A completely rewritten MUTCD premiered in 1971. Some of the most significant changes included adding definition of "should," "shall," and "may" requirements. Orange was designated for construction signing, yellow markings separated opposing traffic, and there was a wider use of symbol signs. School signs were also adopted.

[cacole]

Illinois was the first state to paint a solid white line on the outer edge of highways.  I grew up in Illinois, and don't recall that line being used in the 1960's.  When it came into use, I don't recall but there may be something on Wikipedia about it.

[MudHen_462]

 Along with the "white line" issue... does anyone know when the hexagon shaped STOP signs changed from yellow to red ???  I think it was about 1958, but I'm not sure.

 Bob/Iron Goat

I expect the official date was before 1960, but I know I remember seeing yellow ones in the late 60s, not yet replaced.

In viewing a GN video, I saw a yellow STOP sign at the crossing (along with the crossbucks), so I think I am safe prototypically.  Thanks...

 Bob/Iron Goat

 

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

 Along with the "white line" issue... does anyone know when the hexagon shaped STOP signs changed from yellow to red ???  I think it was about 1958, but I'm not sure.

 Bob/Iron Goat

I expect the official date was before 1960, but I know I remember seeing yellow ones in the late 60s, not yet replaced.

 

[C&O Fan]

Here's a link to the same subject

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1211934/ShowPost.aspx

 

[MudHen_462]

 Along with the "white line" issue... does anyone know when the hexagon shaped STOP signs changed from yellow to red ???  I think it was about 1958, but I'm not sure.

 Bob/Iron Goat

[kcoyle]

Hi,

   Thank you very much for al the great information.

  Kevin

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

I also recall (mid to late 60's I'd guess) a few, in very rural areas, yellow stop signs.

 

[chicochip]

I started driving in 1970. At that time, the lines were still white. In California anyway, the broken white line meant (and still means) you may pass. A solid line means no passing. At that time, I also learned to look at the fog line (side of the road) when high-beam headlights from opposing traffic otherwise obscured you vision.

Another thought: The highway signs have changes since then also. Around here, speed limit signs are black letters on a white background. In 1960, they were white letters on a black background. I'm sure there are other such opportunities to create an anachronism.

Good luck.

 

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

Here we go, more than you wanted to know:

http://tcd.tamu.edu/Documents/evolution.stand-alone.pdf

This one puts the date as 1971, which matches what I remember better than the other, though it looks like some places used yellow well before that.

 

[Vail and Southwestern RR]

If I am not mistaken, the dashed lines down the middle of the road were white until the late 60's to early 70's.  I feel sure I remember the period when that was changing.  It could well have been regional, thought I'm thinking it was US highways that standardized it.

Wikipedia claims the date of the change was 1963.  It may be that at the first painting after that they went to yellow, which would make my late 60's memories make sense.  Pics from old magazines would be a great resource.

 

[Phoebe Vet]

Kevin:

You might be interested in this site:

http://companypubs.elhts.org/magindex.cgi?ERLA

 

[Phoebe Vet]

I don't know what year the standards were enacted, but white lines mean traffic on the other side of the line is going in the same direction.  Yellow lines mean traffic on the other side of the line is going in the opposite direction.  As a general rule, you should never have a yellow line to your right.  One exception is on roads with lanes that can be direction switched for time of day or special event traffic.  Edge lines are not generally used on rural two lane roads.  If they are present, a two way road would have white on both edges, a one way road would have white on the right and yellow on the left as viewed when traveling in the correct direction.

[loathar]

You could also contact the D.O.T for the area you are modeling. They could probably point you in the right direction.

[leighant]

I model Texas, and for a period reference, I go to Texas Highways magazine, a vanity publication of the state highway department.  My public library has issues going back to the 1950s.  Don't know if they have anything like that for your area.

Try researching regional travel and industrial promotion magazines from your time period. 

I don't think you will find much very period-and-region specific information of this kind on google. 

You might try "American Memory" in Library of Congress, www.loc.gov.  I do not believe google will find anything from the hundred million or more online research items at loc, you have to go to loc and search.

You might also try Rensallear Polytechnic Institute model railroad information site, great reference source for this sort of information, but I think you have to join and/or pay.

[kcoyle]

Hi,

 

  I am modeling the Erie Lackawanna right after the merger and I am working on the lines for the higways.  I have searched the past forums and found a reference to a single white line down the middle of the highway.  Would the whitelines on the shoulders als be present?    I would imagine for rural roads that the shoulders would not have lines where as the town/city area would have had them.

  I tried to google for some information, but it seemed to find only current highway markings.

  Any advice would be very helpful

 

  Thanks,

    Kevin Coyle