My HO layout is set in Montana between 1947-1955. Would white or yellow road striping have been the dominant color in most states at that time?
Thank you.
Hi, HM7, and welcome to the Forums. The answer depends on the class of road and the specific application; while white was used in two-lane roads, yellow was used in no-passing zones, multi-lane roads, lane number transitions, and other situations. You'll find the information you need in the 1948 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD. While recent versions are available on the U.S. DOT website, older ones are archived here: https://ceprofs.civil.tamu.edu/ghawkins/MUTCD-History.htm
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
This might help.
https://www.icstriping.com/a-brief-history-of-road-surface-marking-and-striping/Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Wyoming used to use a LOT of yellow lane striping, and still uses some on state roads. In fact, when the Interstate Highway System was first authorized, the state of Wyoming requested that they be allowed to continue with their yellow lane striping for one very sensible reason - in a ground blizzard, yellow striping is much more visible than white. The feds said no.
Interesting sidebar - my Tesla autopilot camera is apparently strongly biased towards white striping. A yellow stripe (left shoulder and no passing zone demarcation on non-interstate highways here) has to be very prominent for the camera to see it reliably.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
Thank you for that high value resource!