Color of Ballast around Roundhouse

Roger:

I think the general purpose of the railroad you're modeling has a large effect on the ballast colors. The GTW roundhouse at Pontiac had a dark gray color which I think was mostly cinders. The Milwaukee Jct (GTW) roundhouse had ballast that was almost black and quite fine, almost like stamp sand. And, that's just what was used up on the Copper Range in the Upper Peninsula. The steel mill railroad my dad worked on had ballast made from slag, kind if dark reddish/gray and you really didn't want to fall on that stuff! So, it seems to me that whatever was readily available locally dictated the ballast composition/color.

Bottm line, though, it's whatever pleases you that counts!

Neil 

I would suggest you look at photos of the period/road you are modeling..heres some pics to look at.  Generally around the roundhouse....it was a mess...dirty grimy blackish muddy crud...take a look at this variety of pics. 

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=512

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=902

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=901

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=904

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=903

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=298

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=1829

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=1845

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=1212

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=1701

Diesel era..

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=314

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=15

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=499

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=997

CWEX, Great photos thanks.

I appreciate everyone's replies. Have a great week.

Here are photos of the ballast around the East Broad Top roundhouse in Orbisonia/ Rockhill Furnace

Roger

I don't know if this will help but sense you model the Frisco Railroad, here is a link to some pictures. The 4th picture down is a Frisco roundhouse and turntable in Newburg, Mo.

http://cdm.sos.mo.gov/cdm4/res...s&CISOSORT=title|r

I don't know if there was ever a roundhouse in Springfield, but there is a turntable that is used just off the N Kansas Expressway. Maybe you have seen it ? Here is a Google maps satellite view.

Robert

Roger,

A mixture is best because it looks the most natural. Having a steam yard, I wanted a cinder based look. I sprinkle sand, thicker and less thick cinders, ground foam, etc.

Robert...good to see you post....been too long.  I wonder if that table is being used now and if so for what?

Eliot...wonderful ground cover!!!

Alan

Robert, thanks. I printed that off and I have been by the turntable on N Kansas,,,I need to go back over there. Thanks for reminding me.

Eliot, thanks for the picture and the info. This too helps me with my roundhouse.

Alan

The first time I noticed that the turntable existed there was a BNSF engine on it being turned. Every time I am in the area I look to see if it is being used and I have seen them a couple of times. The problem is the view is from a bridge that crosses all the tracks in the area. There is no place to stop to view or take a picture without blocking traffic.

Here is another Google view with a street view that will give you a better idea of what it looks like.

Robert

Scrapiron,

I've admired your photo with the wrecking track when it appeared in a different post. If possible, could you reveal where you found an o-gauge truck that looks like it belonged to the '30s?

Thanks,

PaPaT

PaPaT,

The truck comes from an EBay online presence called Rusty something.

I will try to get you the link.

Scrappy

Thanks Robert...I never knew it existed.  I am going to take a road trip!

Alan

PaPat

Google "Rusty Rails" for cast vintage vehicles--wreckers,flatbeds, dumps, pickups,etc.

CEWX' description:"dirty grimy blackish muddy crud"

nails it perfectly

Dewey,

Rusty Rails had just what I was searching for in Scrapirons photo. Not cheap but great detail and perfect for my 1930s steam era dream.

Thanks,

PaPaT

NS Conway yard, Conway/Baden, Pa.  The Turntable dates way before most of us.  We were granted access to the facility.  Oil-ly, dirty, grundgy black is in order.  A lot of oil.  Here are some very good pictures of what an operational TT looks like.   Click on the underlined phrase to link a slideshow. 

(1.) Note all the oil obsorbent fabric.

(2.) Note that the TT drive has a sander to increase traction.

(3.) We were told that the TT pit doubles as an oil collection area, piped to a water treatment plant that removes the oil from the water before discharged to the Ohio River. 

(4.) I believe about a year after these pictures were taken, this TT was rebuilt. 

(5.) Al Zamorski's TT, Millhouse River Studios has a Pennsy option kit that deals with the center cab TT and accessories. It is very similar to the TT cab in these pictures. From Al's website.

That's it!  I want some!!  Floquil...where are you??!!!  At $6.00 a bottle, it'd be a bargain!!

KD

Now that's funny.....