How do I make the underlay for the track. I don't want to buy anything premade?
Just lay the track on gravel ballast, that will fit between the ties, just like the big trains. Nothing premade about that.
Paul
I echo Paul, but would add to not use river rock (a.k.a. "pea pebbles"). Instead use a sharp rock like crushed granite (I use #89 granite and the small to medium rocks look great).
Try starter size chicken grit. It's actually crushed granite of an appropriate size and has plenty of 'tooth'. You can get it at a feed store. I got a fifty pound bag for $5.00 US.
You live in Pittsburgh and you got fifty lbs for five bucks, and I'm in Denver, Colo., where we got plenty of livestock all over the place and I've checked everywhere and I have to special order the stuff in half-pound bags.
What the heck is wrong with this picture? I'd be better off buying from you and paying the shipping?
The St. Francis Consolidated Railroad of the Colorado Rockies
Denver, Colorado
Yse, that had to be about ten years ago. I was working as a streetcar motorman for the Port Authority of Allegheny County. One of our dispatchers was 'Annie" who lived in nearby Washington County. Annie raised chickens. So after reading this tip in Garden Railways about using starter size chicken grit for ballast I asked Annie if she could get me some. Next day she showed up with a 50lb. bag. I asked what I owed her. She said five bucks. I still have the stuff. I'm redoing my G scale trolley layout in the basement and will be using it for ballast.
Coincidently, "Annie's Feeds" (different Annie) on Jefferson Avenue in Washington, PA, 724-229-4012, sells starter size chicken grit at $7.95 for a 50lb bag. I just called them this morning after I read your rreply. But the cost of shipping has got to hurt!
By the way, there was no link in the email to get back to this forum. It was difficult to find.
I don't know where you live in Colorado, but when I lived in Castle Rock all had to do was go to any garden supply or large feed store to get the right size rock for balist. I now use 1/4 inch blue minus.
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
Another item I use is the lowest priced vinyl tiles from Lowes or Home Depot as track shims. You want something that can hold up outdoors, is cheap and easily cut to fit. If you are on gravel ballast the changing weather and seasons will result in the need to realign your track and especially switches. After it is installed I just add ballast to hide it. Many tiles are finished to look like rock/slate anyway so they can use them as is, paint to weather them to match and/or put new ballast to hide them.
What I do for track underlay is grab about 9 five gallon buckets left over from paint and sheetrock mud. I use fencing with 1/4 inch holes. I go to the local cement plant here in Davenport, Iowa and sift their smallest gravel (3/8) into those buckets. I use a bucket as a stool, a large scoop and leather gloves. I don't try to get every last piece that will fall through the screen, just most of it. Then shake the screen a little to get off excess and throw on another scoop. It is sold by weight and costs around 5 dollars for 45 gallons. Some places have what is called "fines". I was able to get them in Lexington, KY when living there. But here, I have to sift.
Mike
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