Transportation Structures:
Route Typologies - Part 1

The architectural/geographical/cultural resources that are the focus of this nomenclature and discussion are predominantly "historical," i.e., more than 50 years of age. A better absolute closing date is World War II, which ended many architectural, structural and technological trends.

Typological Outline

Focusing on routes in increasing detail and greater scale.

These are arranged with the first three distributed in Part 2, and the last in Elements / Part 3 .

Master-Type or Route Supertypes

• General, larger scale characterization, beyond terrain.
• Scale: county / scores of miles
• e.g. Scioto River Route: overall route through geological area / region

Route Types

• Nomenclature and classification for general routes.
• Scale: township / several miles
• e.g. Terrace Route: route segment with terrain

Route Subtypes / Pathways~

• Three-dimensional paths that comprise a route.
• Scale: section / 1 mile
• e.g. Sideling Level: identifiable part of a route, with landform

Route Elements

• Two-dimensional elements of direction or intersection of a route.
• Scale: stone's throw
• e.g. Jog: element in a route, analyzed only as it affects direction, without landform

Arranged in Part 2 in nested lists:

I. Route Master-Type

II. Route Type

II. Route Subtype

1. Valley Route Master-Type / River Road Master-Type
   1. Bank Route / Bankside Route Type
   2. Terrace Route Type
      1. [Mid-Valley] [Bluffside?] Terrace Route Subtype
   3. Break-of-Slope Route Type
   4. [Transverse Sprint] Route Type

2. [Bluff / Highbank] Route [Master?] Type

3. Portage Route [Master?] Type

4. Upland / [Rolling Land] Route Master-Type
   1. Blunt Grade Route Type
   2. Soft Grade Route Type
   3. Gully Route Type
   4. Sideling Route Type
      1. Sideling [Grade] Route Subtype
      2. Sideling Level Route Subtype
   5. Ridge Route / Crest Route / Summit Route? Type
      1. Watershed Route Subtype
      2. Beach Ridge Route Subtype
   6. Edge Route Type
   7. [Serpentine] Route Type
   8. Switchback Route Type

5. Flank & Appropriation Route Master Type
   1. Canal-Flank Route Type / Canal-Side Route Type
   2. Canal Appropriation~ Type
   3. Railroad-Flank Route Type / Railroad-Side Route Type
   4. Railroad Appropriation~ Type
   5. Road-Flank Route Type / Road-Side Route Type
   6. Parallel Railroad Route Type

6. Rectangular~ Route Master Type~
   1. Section-Line Route Type
      1. QuarterSection-Line Route Subtype

7. Tangential~ Route Master Type~
   1. Tangential Across Route Type
   2. Tangential Over Route / Overland Route / Cross-Country Route

< Transp-RouteTypol1.html > v1.5 - 7/5/04, 10/25/02, 7/19/02
© Intrepid Historical Services - Kevin B. Coleman - Chillicothe, Ohio, USA
(Adapted 06/23/02 in part from "Route Types - A Suggested Typology"
v 4.1 - Second Draft: August 17, 1999 - Original: May 21, 1998