Where to buy ballast?

[railroader21]

Hi, Im having trouble finding a location that sells a good sized ballast for Garden trains.  Ive looked at locations like Lowes and Home depot with no luck.  I would like the color to bed red or a reddish tint like red lava rock.  Any help would be greatly appreciated

thanks

[Quitchakiddin]

Local Quarry?

Stone and Landscape Supply?

 

Depends on where you live.

Bill

[IRB Souther Engineer]

The local shipyard here used to have lots of types of rock; a friend used to bring me balast from there. When I need to buy more I go to a landscape place.

[ttrigg]

If we knew where in the world you are located (update your profile) someone would be able to tell you which store to go to. Since I don't know where you are I'm just going to say find a landscaping rock "store" in your area. My local "rock shop" handles everything between 1/4 inch minus to 24+ ton bolders.

[PJM20]

ttrigg

 to 24+ ton bolders.

 What would someone do with a 24 ton boulder? - Peter

 

 

 

[ttrigg]

Peter: This is sunny southern california, we have a few "strange" folks here. Some like to turn their front yard into a desert or mountain landscape. Disregarding the "unseasonal" rains this year, we do live in a desert, and some do not want the massive water bill to grow a lawn.

[PJM20]

Wait, it that a reason why California is in more debt than any state in the Union? I sure hope my brother doesn't try that. - Peter 

[Quitchakiddin]

I think it would be fun to roll a 24 ton boulder down a hill!!

[ttrigg]

We are supposed to be helping a new friend find ballast, not ragging on a big rock. Yes it would be fun watching that rock roll down hill.

[PJM20]

With all that rain this year, I think they had a few 24 ton boulders go down the hill. I am starting my garden railway this spring and I have been looking at landscape places that supply crush rock for pathways and stuff like that. I hope you find your ballast. - Peter

[dwbeckett]

It is going to be hard to find the type of ballast you are looking for, red lava rock,. And I don't think painting crushed rock would last very long.

Dave  

[PJM20]

Thinking about it, the only lava type of rock that is somewhat red was slag from an old furnace that I visited when I was in 3rd grade. The pieces were way to large to use for ballast and they were really sharp! - Peter

[ttrigg]

Have a look here:

http://www.krcrock.com/ecom/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18_19&products_id=4718

Is what I use, with stabalizer, premixed. The "phase 1" section of my GRR (in the dirt for 8 years) has about 80%+ of the original ballast still in place. It is a bit more red in color in real life than in the pic.

[gbh]

Farm stores or Farm coops sell Chicken Grit - it is crushed granite. It works great comes in different grits. I use #3 or 2.  It is the product fed to turkeys and chickens. 

ghanson - mn

[Filisur Meister]

I got my ballest from a roofing supply dealer.  He had 50 pound bags of #5 for $6.00.  I am using this for the base course over the weed barrier cloth and then using #10 to fill in between the ties.  All decomposed granite.