Suggestion on ballast for 1905 Appalachian branchline

[Anonymous]

Looking for suggestions on type/color/texture of ballast for a layout set in 1905. Mainly a well maintained branchline - primarily coal but with a lot of passenger traffic. Also I have a very short mainline run between staging. (see my website for details).

I am not sure of color, but thought I might use the ballast mix base for the mainline and then add in a proportional amount of cinders for the branchline. Sidings and industry would need to have some difference as well.

Any ideas?
Allen Byrne
http://modelrr.adbyrne.us

[dehusman]

Cinders. Burn some charcoal briquets to ash. Mix a couple teaspoons of ash with fine cinder ballast. Softens the black color and adds a fine texture.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dave! The ash makes sense with all the pictures (B&W) I have seen. Then I can just use some old ballast I have sitting in tins to distingui***he short mainline. Works for me!

BTW, if you check out my layout page(http://modelrr.adbyrne.us/room.htm) I had to make a change to the yard design that was discussed. I thought I needed to leave room for the yardmaster and reduce his reach. I lost a few tracks but I think it will still work.

Allen

[orsonroy]

A good natural, local stone for mainline operations in your region would be slate. Railroads would also have used slag for siding ballast more than cinders around 1900, since it was more common and had better drainage properties. Cinders would have been used close to the source (enginehouses), especially around yards.