I have a 9 track yard. I am finally ready to scenic it I can't decide on whether to just do it with dirt or whether to ballast it. I would appreciate input and example photos.
Attachments
Images (1)
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Start by researching photos of real railroad yards, especially for the time frame/era you are modeling. Generally speaking though, most railroads didn't really ballast their yards, since the speeds were so slow. During the steam era, most yards just had cinders spread all over the place.
Very nice start.
It certainly looks like a Class 1 railroad you have there with a lot of possibilities.
Take the time and do it right.....ballast it all the way!
5 track passenger yard and 6 track freight yard.
Attachments
Images (3)
Like jotwater says, they were not rally ballasted. Imho, go to a roofing supply or a big box store an purchase a roll of asfault roll for roofs. Some come with glue on the underside
Cut strips of it between your tracks. Fill in any gaps with ballast or if your yard is not attached, take it up. Roll out the asfault roll, cut to yard area and relay your yard track. Done!
I glued strips of 1/4" pink styrofoam between the tracks, painted it black, then covered the top with cinder ballast (mix of O-scale and HO sizes). The tops of the ties are covered.
In this photo, the track to the right with light color ballast is the main line, all yard tracks are in cinders. The main line is raised on cork roadbed while the yard tracks are directly on the Homasote with no cork.
Attachments
Images (2)
I used gray indoor/outdoor carpeting laid in strips between the rails. I could have used it between the tracks but more work than I wanted to do. Some paint on it to darken the "ballast" and it would look good. Get a small piece and experiment. If you have to work on the track you just pull it up. I used a carpet knife to cut strips about 5/8". It doesn't have to be exact. Quiets things, too.
Buob, I like your idea about using the 1/4 inch foam board, to bring the ground level in the yard up to the tops of the ties.... I was thinking about doing it with corrugated cardboard, but your idea is better... Great photos. I am glad I took the time to go to the website about your layout, many great ideas and photos there.... thanks.
I used a lot of HO black ballast which you really can't see here. It is definitely darker than the main line.
Attachments
Images (1)
Guy's, All the layouts looking layouts.
Good luck, John
Attachments
Images (1)
Yards today look better than back in the transition days of the 50s. The ties were usually buried in black ballast from coal ash and diesel fuel.
Great work. Thanks for sharing. Yards are my favorite place to railfan (obviously, I only observe rail yards from areas accessible to the public)
Here's an example of the yard I created from Lionel FasTrack. It has a southwest dirt theme. Details of its construction are in my YouTube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh4k2P8AYzM
Attachments
Grreat discussion on representing the cinders and unkempt conditions of a yard. But the fact remains, the first installation of track is with ballast. After that, it depends on the working budget to determine how well its maintained.
What I admire here is that everyone had the courage to dump sand, rocks and dirt on their layouts to get fantastic realism. I'm still too much of wimp do that but you guys are inspiring me.
Like others, I've used leftover black roof tiles right under the tracks in Ivor's little yard. Looks sufficiently gritty and different from his 'main line' ...
