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I'm putting together all of the stuff for a small yard and locomotive service area (steam and early diesel) and would like some suggestions on ballasting it.  I mainly model the SP.  I know that different regions and different railroads used different types of ballast.  I also know that ballast may be different in a yard area than it would be on a stretch of main line that is going thru a rural area.  Would ballast maybe be darker in a yard area from all of the coal and oil? Would the roadbed be lower in a yard and service area?  Any suggestions are welcome.  Matt

BayshoreYard

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Last edited by boin106
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Originally Posted by railhead53:

I've looked at a variety photos of late steam era yards and I think a combination of dirt and with a heavy dose cinders creates a pretty good representation.  Some of those steam era yards and everything around them seems to be just covered in black soot and cinders.  Here are several photos of the small engine service facility and yard I am working on.  They kind of give you an idea of what I have done.  Bo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can tell I think from the photos that I used a combination of fine, medium, and course ballast in the service and yard areas. 

Here is an interesting group of pictures from NS Conway yard/ engine Service/ Turntable/facility.  Note the oil absorbant material.  The TT pit doubles as a waste/waste water collection area.    Run-off is process through a treatment plant before exiting to the Ohio River.    There is probably a pretty good reason why my work boot soles are listed as oil resistant.  






Heavy duty

Last edited by Mike CT
Originally Posted by railhead53:
Originally Posted by railhead53:

I've looked at a variety photos of late steam era yards and I think a combination of dirt and with a heavy dose cinders creates a pretty good representation.  Some of those steam era yards and everything around them seems to be just covered in black soot and cinders.  Here are several photos of the small engine service facility and yard I am working on.  They kind of give you an idea of what I have done.  Bo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can tell I think from the photos that I used a combination of fine, medium, and course ballast in the service and yard areas. 

Railhead53,

That is an awesome yard.  The other question I have is did you put any type of cork or flexxbed under your yard track?  Matt

Originally Posted by boin106:
Originally Posted by railhead53:
Originally Posted by railhead53:

I've looked at a variety photos of late steam era yards and I think a combination of dirt and with a heavy dose cinders creates a pretty good representation.  Some of those steam era yards and everything around them seems to be just covered in black soot and cinders.  Here are several photos of the small engine service facility and yard I am working on.  They kind of give you an idea of what I have done.  Bo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can tell I think from the photos that I used a combination of fine, medium, and course ballast in the service and yard areas. 

Railhead53,

That is an awesome yard.  The other question I have is did you put any type of cork or flexxbed under your yard track?  Matt

Matt,

Thanks for the kind remark about the yard.  No, I'm using MTH Realtrax which comes with it's own plastic roadbed.  In my case I layed the track directly on homasote and then applied strips of hardboard between the tracks to bring the ground up to about the height of the ties.  It was kind of a chore, but it turned out ok I thought. 

 

If I were using something like Atlas or Gargraves track you have the option of course to lay it directly on a surface such as homasote or put down some kind of roadbed first, then the track.  I think if I had those options I would have done the latter because it would let me make subtle changes in the terrain between the tracks.  The down side to that option is that it will require you to place more material between the tracks to get the ground level up to the top of the ties. 

 

SIRT, another forum member, has done a beautiful job with his yard.  You might pose your question to him as well.  

 

I hope I have provided some assistance.  Thanks again, Bo  

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