Ballast size to use help - Printable Version

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Ballast size to use help - upnick - 03-30-2009

Hi All,

I am looking at my ballast tubs here and have mainly medium sizes of WS stuff grey/brown/buff i bought these for N scale but want to know what sizes of ballast you use for HO ....... as i have tried a section beside the repair shop and it looks a bit small between the ties, also what colour of ballast would fit in with the switcher layout as it is really a busy yard.

Re: Ballast size to use help - Trucklover - 03-30-2009

hey Nick

I know alot of people use "fine" WS ballast for HO. I tend to use the "medium" for HO, i like the larger size i guess, my personal preference and i just like how it looks better then "fine" for HO.

The color depends on what railroad. UP usually has some blend of gray ballast....

Re: Ballast size to use help - Bigsteel - 03-31-2009

i use fine ballast,i prefer the small size seeing how real ballast is usally 2-3in wide,the fine looks more scale to me.but medium is good also (just watch your flangeways).and since your ballasting a yard,you may want to cover the ties a bit more than on a main,since yards are much slower and typically are not maintained as well. for color,try mixing your grey balast with some cinders,yards were given the worse of the ballast on the line since it didnt need as much support.heres an image for refernce that i used: http://www.zuula.com/img_srch/img_frame.jsp?pglnk=http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2179214748/&thmblnk=http%3A%2F%2Fthm-a04.yimg.com%2Fimage%2F07a94fe26a3b1192&imgschlnk=http://thm-a04.yimg.com/image/07a94fe26a3b1192&thmwd=140&thmht=108&imgt=07a94fe26a3b1192&rslnk=ec%3D1%26bst%3D1%26opnn%3D0%26sson%3Dtrue%26numres%3D20%26st%3Drailroad%2Byard&lna=0--josh

Re: Ballast size to use help - Russ Bellinis - 03-31-2009

Another thing to remember when ballasting your yards is that the ballast is not nearly as built up as the main line. Putting ballast directly on "grade" rather than using cork or perhaps using n-scale cork instead of the larger ho scale cork will be more accurate for a yard.

Re: Ballast size to use help - upnick - 03-31-2009

Hi Josh/Russ,

Great information Thumbsup the link you provided Josh i have saved for reference in my favorites Big Grin with the yard Russ you mention cork levels i presume you mean the yard should be more on a level overall ? rather than mainline tracks.

Re: Ballast size to use help - Bigsteel - 03-31-2009

russ meant that the tracks in a yard typically sit lower than the mainline tracks.since they dont have to hold up as much weight at high speed they can have less support under the ties.--josh

Re: Ballast size to use help - Russ Bellinis - 03-31-2009

Nick,
Here is a link to a thread on the Southern California Railfans Forum with pictures of Hobart Yard in Vernon. The mainline has the typical Santa Fe (BNSF) pink ballast, while the yard is gray. If you look closely you will see that the gray ballast appears to be level or close to level while the pink mainline ballast has nice deep shoulders.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.socalrailfan.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1455&highlight=Hobart+Yard">http://www.socalrailfan.com/forums/show ... obart+Yard</a><!-- m -->

You may need to register at the site to view pictures, but don't hesitate to register. It is free just like Big Blue with "no strings attached."

Re: Ballast size to use help - upnick - 03-31-2009

Hi Josh,

I see now thought it might be that thanks ........

Josh (Trucklover) yeah i have gone for the medium grade of ballast after great advice here ......... think its going to be a mix of brown/Grey/Buff/Cinders & weeds. try and post a pic later.

Re: Ballast size to use help - LynnB - 03-31-2009

I've been using the WS HO scale, I tried the N scale, it spread alot easier but found it was too smooth after glued down.

Re: Ballast size to use help - upnick - 04-01-2009

Hi Lynn,

You've got me thinking again as to the size of the ballast Icon_lol weekend off so i'll look at it more Big Grin

Re: Ballast size to use help - Lester Perry - 04-08-2009

I have been reprimanded for this but it works. I go to local asphalt plant with a 5 gallon bucket and shovel. Tell them I want to buy a bucket full of stone dust. After some funny looks they tell me to just go get it, no charge. I then take it home sift it through a piece of screen toss the big stuff and I have free ballast. You be the judge of how it looks

[Image: 100_1034.jpg]

[Image: 100_0049-1.jpg]

There is small pieces of iron in stone dust that supposedly cause problems some way. I have never had any trouble and I have a lot of it on my layout.

[Image: 100_0912.jpg]

I is all glued down well enough that I can use a vacuum cleaner hose to clean my layout.
Les

Re: Ballast size to use help - upnick - 04-09-2009

Hi Les,

That looks cool need to find my local asphalt supplier Thumbsup thanks for the tip.

Re: Ballast size to use help - Lester Perry - 04-09-2009

You can get it at almost any stone supplier. You might be able to get it at a quarry that is where it comes from.
Les

Re: Ballast size to use help - jglfan - 04-09-2009

What a timely post! I've just come in for lunch, having spent this morning filling my wheelbarrow with stone dust from a stone patio I am dismantling (replacing the stone with wood) I've been wondering how I'm going to get rid of it! Think I'll bag it and sieve it at a later time. Anyone in the area (north Jersey) want some?

Gary

Re: Ballast size to use help - Bob C - 04-09-2009

That stone looks wonderful, Lester - color and texture look very close to scale. What did you use to screen (size) the stuff? Nice job putting it in place, too! Thanks for sharing. Bob C.