Many years ago when I was much younger, I remember the guard rails along the side of the highway were white posts with 2 sets of cable strung between them and anchored into the ground at both ends. Fortunately or unfortunately, where I live this type of guard rail has been replaced with metal bands on metal posts. There may be some of the older types remaining in the more rural areas around here, but rather than search them out, I’d thought someone out there could help.
Were the cables between posts bolted on or did they run thru the posts? What was the approximate distance between posts? How high did the posts stick out of the ground?
Since I will be installing these on my layout, I need to be fairly accurate for my rivet counting friends.
Ron K.
I may have found the answer in the April edition of MRR. On pages 65,67 it shows the guard posts I asked about (Good find but I must have had a senior moment when I read this article earlier). This one shows three cables but I only remember them having two. Looks like the posts are about 6 to 7 feet apart with the cables on the inside so that’s what I’ll go with.
Ron K.
Ron - thanks that actually is a good bit of info. I will file it away for future road construction.
Terry[8D]
Back in the 40’s and 50’s, highway construction standards varied from state to state and county to county. That’s why you’ll sometimes see 2 cables, sometimes 3, they can run thru the posts, on the front, or 2 on front and 1 on back. The posts can be wood or metal (old rail is good). As such, you can make your model anything similar and be accurate for “somewhere” in the US.
Brad