Hi!
I've explored RR property in the '50s - '90s (don't do it now - don't care to get arrested) in Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and New Jersey.
In general, the yards I've visited in the '50s - '70s were covered with mostly dirt, coal, cinders, and debris (i.e. trash, tie remnants, etc.). Anywhere that was not covered by something and wasn't used as a walkway had some sort of weeds growing - some wayyy out of hand. Frankly, they were dark and dirty, dangerous places and the RR cars were only a part of the danger.
The yards I've visited in the '80s - '90s were typically in much nicer shape. Most were ballasted (and the ballast was a shade of grey - not black), and fairly well kept. Weeds existed only in the more remote areas, and were mowed regularly. Obviously, the remains (coal/cinders/ashes) of steam locos was no longer a factor much after the 1960s.
All that being said, I model the '50s and do not want to have a blackened grimy yard. So, it will have a different color ballast (shades of brown, very dark grey), and will have some "colorful" weeds here and there. I just don't want it to look like the ones I saw back in "those days"!
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Observations from Butler Yard in Northwest Milwaukee, now UP, formerly C&NW.
The ballast was fine chips of pink lady ballast, not stones, and the ballast came up to the tops of the ties in a very even way. This minimized surfaces on which someone could stub their toe and trip. They also had a pile of these ballst chips in an open area. While one often sees model railroad yards littered with discarded airbrake hoses and coupler knuckles, at Butler Yard it seemed they took care to pick up that kind of stuff.
Throughout the yard you can see lots of evidence of sanding for traction. You could also see dark spots where the crews would customarily park locompotives between shifts or at break time. Leaking grain is not uncommon. I guess you notice it more because speeds are slower and cars sit still more.
Little used tracks would have some weeds and shrubbery but elsewhere it was pretty much devoid of plant material. In the fall one would see something like tumbleweed blowing around however.
Dave Nelson
If its going to be a high used yard not too much greenery around the tracks. This would be a Hazard for the crews. Like said earlier use cinders for ballast. Look around and take in many pictures that are avaviable on the net. Kevin
I went with flat cork as a base and used dark ballast and cinders everywhere. added some clump foliage but still have some work to do in that area. I model central Pa and I like the effect , it looks grungy and dirty.
This is a picture looking down into my yard:
When I first put this yard in, I didn't realize that yard tracks would not generally be set up on an elevated roadbed, but are more often set at grade level. So, I filled in the spaces between the roadbed before I ballasted and added scenery.
I like the Walthers bumpers at the end of the tracks. That's probably not really prototypical, either, but it's my railroad.
There is a small "water"-filled ditch just below the light tower in the picture. Nothing fancy, just a cut in the foam, filled with "dirty" envirotex and surrounded with tall grass.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Check out my thread from several months back regarding my yard scenery:
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/155121.aspx
Nick
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
i suggest you go to a rail photo site like fallen flags and look at the pictures, paying close attention to the track stucture and yard surfaces. you will notice that in a lot of engine terminal areas, all you can see is the rail and a bunch of oily black sand. i worked in a lot of yards where all you could see was the outline or top of the ties and the rail.
grizlump
Ready to put in yard scenery! Anyone have other suggestions besides mine: put fine, light brown ground foam between the tracks mixed in w/ some tall grasses and WS clump foliage? Also, any issues to worry about in putting short pieces of field grass on the track, giving it a less-maintained look?
I'll use fine, dark gray WS fine ballast for the yard tracks and light gray for the mainline. Another option is covering the entire yard in ballast.
Best,
Lee