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I am trying to find a ballast that I like for my upper level Milwaukee Road branch line. I want it to look different than my lower level high volume BNSF & UP mainlines.

I want a typical Midwestern look of gravel, not crushed rock.

I ballasted the track beside my river valley with sand. I like the color, but felt the granules were too small or fine. So, I went to Menards tonight and got the next step up in coarseness. I put it on a short section of track to see what I think. Here are a couple pictures so you can give me your opinion.

Oh, I forgot to mention this sand cost me $2.50 for 50 pounds.

Thanks for taking the time to give me your two cents worth.

Artballast test1ballast test 3

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It looks OK, if you like it use it.   But... I have never seen ballast with so much variability in size.   You show some pieces almost large enough to span the distance between ties.   You might try straining your ballast to get a more consistent size - the smallest range of stones look OK to me.

Here is what I like for the edges of my Fastrack:  its actually two sizes mixed together to get the range or stones that looks to me, to be accurate for the range that I see.

ballast-size

I counted the number of stones spanning the distance between ties on the mainlines around here (North Georgia), and tried to get a mix with the same count.   That will of course vary from location to location.   Anyway bottom line is if you like it, go with it, the appearance is good.

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Last edited by Ken-Oscale
wild mary posted:

Art that ballast looks very life like.  It's probably one of the best I've seen.   I particularly like how there's a mixture of granule size.  It's a winner for sure.  BTW what road bed are you using?  The way it tapers looks fantastic.

Thanks, Nick.  I use Woodland Scenics foam roadbed, but there is nothing on this sample.  I just laid in on the wood piece to see what it would look like.  I just shaped it with a large paint brush.

Art

Thanks for your replies and excellent comments and advice.  I looked again at one of my Milwaukee Road reference books and they really did not do a very good job on their track, especially when you get out to Northwest Iowa on a branchline.  I do not want to make it too run down looking, but not anywhere near BNSF or UP standards either.  That gives me a fair amount of latitude.  The difference will be most noticeable where the lines meet such as my two interchange tracks.  I will ballast the switches with the better ballast and then start the sand shortly after.  I am assuming that the major RR's would have maintained the switches.

Also I think I should try to sift some of the larger pieces out so I don't have to spend so much time picking them out with tweezers.  The color may darken a slight bit when I glue it down, but hopefully not much.

What kind of RR signs would be at an interchange track?  Which RR would put them up? Or would both RR's have their own signs?  Should there be a small tower or RR building there to man the switch?  Would both RR's have keys to the switch or just one?

Art

 

I think it looks nice. There is just one problem in using native/natural sand for ballast, and many will not notice this . Natural sand, as you are using, is mostly roundish particles. Railroad ballast is made from crushed rock, and as such, it is mostly angular, with little to no round particles.

As I said, this probably will not bother most people. However, I managed rock crushing plants that made railroad ballast. So, this round vs angular issue bugs the heck out of me. If you want the look of angular particles, and want use an inexpensive sand material, there is a sand commonly called "manufactured sand" that is available. It is a fine, waste product produced when large rocks are crushed into small rocks.  Many landscape supply stores carry it by the bag, although it may be called by some other name, like "Rock Dust".

Jeff

ezmike posted:

I think it looks just fine.

By the way, every time someone mentions roofing granules I check their availability online. Neither Home Depot or Lowe's have them available in-store or for delivery and the one seller that I looked at a 60 lbs. bag is $38 and change plus $58 and change for shipping.

Geez!

Mike

Mike, I am having lunch with some train buddies today and one of them is using roofing granules on his layout.  I liked the look of what he has, but it is too light for me and the look that I want.  He has a friend that owns a roofing company and he can get about anything he wants I believe.  Any reasonably large city should have roofing companies that sell these granules, at least that is what I have been told.  I'm going to explore this subject in more detail with him today and will post what I find out.

Art

mowingman posted:

I think it looks nice. There is just one problem in using native/natural sand for ballast, and many will not notice this . Natural sand, as you are using, is mostly roundish particles. Railroad ballast is made from crushed rock, and as such, it is mostly angular, with little to no round particles.

As I said, this probably will not bother most people. However, I managed rock crushing plants that made railroad ballast. So, this round vs angular issue bugs the heck out of me. If you want the look of angular particles, and want use an inexpensive sand material, there is a sand commonly called "manufactured sand" that is available. It is a fine, waste product produced when large rocks are crushed into small rocks.  Many landscape supply stores carry it by the bag, although it may be called by some other name, like "Rock Dust".

Jeff

Jeff, I really appreciate your post.  I was wondering about that, but wasn't sure.  It is funny because so many times something will look great to me until an expert points out some flaw and then it will bug me from then on.  My dear mother used to say "what you don't know doesn't hurt you."  I'm not sure that will be the result in this case, but I would rather learn it before I take the plunge than afterwards.  Thanks for your input.

Art

Last edited by Chugman
ezmike posted:

I think it looks just fine.

By the way, every time someone mentions roofing granules I check their availability online. Neither Home Depot or Lowe's have them available in-store or for delivery and the one seller that I looked at a 60 lbs. bag is $38 and change plus $58 and change for shipping.

Geez!

Mike

You need to look for a roofing contractor most likely. Home Depot near me stocks it, though just one color. They or Lowes, etc. may be able to order it though any roofer should have no trouble and they come in the full rainbow of colors including Bright Blue if you so chose for Thomas and Friends, or Pinkish for C&NW, etc.

Last edited by BobbyD

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