How Much Ballast per Foot of HO Track?

[KidatHeart06]

Hi, As I have never ballasted (is that even a word?) a layout I have no idea how much ballast it takes. I model HO scale and will be using code 83 track. From reading the other posts I've pretty much decided on "Fine" ballast. But how do I go about figuring out how much to buy? I could buy a little at a time as I proceed around the layout. But not real practical, running back and forth to the LHS or piecemeal buying on ebay or online. Is there a rule-of-thumb out there somewhere? Thanks! George

[conrail92]

If your using cork, I would put down just enough to couver the cork and little more too add dimension and make it look more natural. Usualy on the container it will tell you how many square feet it will cover.

[selector]

I bottle of WS fine ballast, assuming an average ballasting height over regular cork, should do somewhere near 20' of track if spread fairly thinly, just enough to cover the cork and fill out at the edges of it for a nice profile....but, it depends on dips, spills, changes in profile near the edge of the cork.  You may get nearer to 30'.

My LHS always insisted I could return what I didn't open. 

 

[UP2CSX]

I'd guess the 20 foot per bottle of fine ballast is pretty close for mainlines. Siding, spurs, and yards actually tend to take a little more ballast because you tend to bury the track above the tie level and yards in particular can absorb a lot of ballast since you end up ballasting (yes, that's a word ) the whole surface area of the yard. I'd measure out my track and figure 20 feet to the bottle for mainlines and 15 feet for the rest. I think that should get you within a bottle or two of the final total.

[bearman]

You might want to consider Arizona Rock & Mineral ballast in lieu of WS.  I think it is pricier, but it is real rock as opposed to the WS ballast.