Obviously there are many different colors out there, primarily depending on what's readily available (or priced) to the RR when the track was put down or re-ballasted. And while it looks nice to have the mains all one color, that isn't a primary concern for major roads as availability/price are more of a priority.
I've preferred a light medium grey for the mains, darker grey for secondary tracks, and very dark for sidings, and even black (coal/ash) for the steam terminal tracks.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Hi Chris,
As for colour, are you modeling a particular railroad, or do you have a geographic location in mind? If so, the railways that you are modeling may have had a preferred ballast colour for the mainline. If you look at some pictures you might be able to see what the ballast looked like. Also, the availability of ballast may have determined what colour was used. Most railways would not go to huge additional expense to haul ballast from hundreds of miles away if there was something closer that would work.
The ballast on a single line doesn't have to be all the same colour. For example, there may be a different colour ballast where a repair was made to a section of track or a switch, or it may just be lighter in appearance because it hasn't had time to accumulate all the grease and oil and soot.
Keep in mind that it is your layout and you can do whatever you want. If you are being faithful to a prototype then you will want to find out what colour ballast they used. On the other hand, if you like the look of a particular ballast then go for it! Personally I like the look of cinder ballast because that is what was used in my area.
I have not worked with Woodland Scenics ballast, but I have read that it can be tricky to keep in place as you are soaking it with glue. Regardless of that, literally thousands of modelers have used Woodland Scenics with success. I suggest studying Cody Grivno's methods.
I have worked with natural stone ballast and I didn't have any problems keeping it in place when wetting it.
Just make sure to thoroughly soak the ballast with glue. At my old club we had constant problems with ballast because whoever installed it didn't saturate the ballast. That created a layer of glued ballast on top of a layer of loose ballast and the glued layer would come loose regularly.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I'm curious which brand and color of ballast you chose to use for mainline? I've looked at Woodland Scenics fine gray blend, thinking of using that.
Alternatives?Thank!