Why Glue Ballast?

[jxtrrx]

In another thread, Selector raised the question "Why glue ballast?" It's something I've been wondering too, so thought I'd start a new thread for some discussion on that.

I laid ballast in a section about two weeks ago, and ran out of time to glue. Then, never did get around to it. So it lays there, doing just fine thank-you.

Gluing increases track noise -- not to mention it's a pain to put down. Is there a big "bite me where it hurts" [:0] coming up with this loose ballast or is it something others do?

[dacort]

Glued ballast does help to hold the track in place, especially flex track that is only spiked every so often. If it's not glued I'd be worried about it making a mess and migrating all over the adjacent scenery. Ballast over roadbed is elevated, and I would think that the vibration of the trains would tend to make it move off the roadbed and fall to the sides. Also, once in a while it's useful to vacuum the layout, and anything not glued down is not going to stay down. I prefer to glue mine at any rate.

[selector]

Another reason FOR gluing would be the inevitable derailment and the mess that the item(s) and the finger tips would make of the ballast profile. However, if the track is well laid, the derailments will be few, and the tidying up of the ballast could be a few seconds with a fine brush.

I still need to know what else is so compelling if the layout is static. Otherwise, the noise of the passing trains gets to me, especially when it competes with other ambient noises that I'd rather hear.

Thanks for asking the question, jxtrrx. [:)]

-Crandell

[Anonymous]

I can just see the ballast getting pulled into an engines gear train, and eating the gears alive. Not to mention the problems with trying to clean. If the benchwork gets bumped hard enough it's going to scatter that unglued ballast.

Honestly, it just sounds like a mess waiting to happen.

I don't know about you, but I've found that glueing the ballast seems to help deaden noise from the trains. I think it's becasue matte medium is more flexible than white glue.

[Anonymous]

I had a section of track on my layout that the ballast was not glued down and this section of track would not stay clean no matter how often I cleaned it. The rest of the layout did not have this problem. Once it was glued down, this problem was no more. I would highly recommend gluing ballast down.

[selector]

Thanks for all the answers; they are good to see. I had heard that matte medium stays softer, and presumably is more resistant to sound transmission. You seem to be a case in point, Greyryder.

[Anonymous]

This matte medium, what is it? Something I would find in an art supply store or a big box hardware store?

[waltersrails]

i hope you not have derailmant it then would mess up your ballest.

[TomDiehl]

A problem we've had at the train club with unglued ballast is that it migrates into places like switch and crossing frogs, switch points, etc where it causes derailments. So no matter how well laid your track is, the loose ballast can cause the same problems.

Matte Medium, as well as Gloss Medium is usually found in art and craft supply stores, like AC Moore. I believe it comes in gallon cans, as well as smaller containers.

[Anonymous]

I am as lazy as they come... When it came time to glue down my ballast, I dreaded it. But I did it, using an eyedropper. I am glad I did ballast the track, as all of the points made in favor of ballasting are good ones.

[nbrodar]

I've had problems with unglued ballast migrating into switchpoints, being displaced while cleaning track, and scattering about when i bump the layout table. And of course it disappears, into the dreaded shop-vac at cleaning time.

Nick

[cwclark]

the reason the ballast is glued is to keep your track and rails from moving...most track will contract and expand enough to get out of alignment ...temperature changes and the constant forces from the train wheels passing over the track over and over again can loosen the track and cause unballasted track to move, some movement is enough to allow the track to get out of gauge or misalignment with the track it's attached to and cause derailments...once the ballast is glued down, so is the track..the track is not going anywhere after the glue dries and can't move or shift around anymore as unballasted track will..chuck

[selector]

Well, so far I can see no showstopping need to glue the ballast, and I will experiment with unglued ballast for a while. It seems to me that if your track is properly affixed to a subroadbed that is itself fastened to the bench or splines, your track won't be doing a lot of moving...unless you are running 4-8 lb locos. So, if you pour ballast, keep it away from the switches, inspect your track once a week (the prototypes do it every second day, or so), and don't mind the occasional 30 minutes of touching up, I feel that you could have a good experience and quiet running.

As for the issue of material getting up into the works, that might happen with unclean or dusty stuff, like Kitty Litter, but not with beach sand; the grains are too heavy, non-magnetic (I was careful there), and will not be lifted into the works, even upon derailment...unless I derail at ridiculous speeds and send a cloud of sand up over the area...not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bukwrm

This matte medium, what is it? Something I would find in an art supply store or a big box hardware store?

Both. I got my matte medium in the craft section of the local wal mart. It's a 16oz. jar. It looks, smells, and pretty much behaves like white glue, but it does dry more flexible. I use for afixing ground foam, too.

[Anonymous]

Selector,

I did what you are talking about for almost a year. I don't recommend the practice. The ballast ruined a switch machine an I had lots of headaches keeping it out of places where I didn't want ballast. The kicker was one night when I sneezed too close to the track.....What a mess. I was/am using WS ballast.

Since you are using sand, you may not have the same problems but I would shudder to think what sand might do to points and moving switch parts. A locomotive derailing in sand might be interesting in terms of grit in the gears, running gear etc....

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trainnut1250

Selector,

I did what you are talking about for almost a year. I don't recommend the practice. The ballast ruined a switch machine an I had lots of headaches keeping it out of places where I didn't want ballast. The kicker was one night when I sneezed too close to the track.....What a mess. I was/am using WS ballast.

Since you are using sand, you may not have the same problems but I would shudder to think what sand might do to points and moving switch parts. A locomotive derailing in sand might be interesting in terms of grit in the gears, running gear etc....

Yes, the derailments are the biggest area of risk, to my way of thinking. I'll have to think long and hard about this. Maybe spraying the nether side of the "ballast" on EZ-Track (if it end up using it again) with a rubbery foam to deaden sound will help. It seems as if the matte medium will help.

What the heck. I said a few months ago in a similar thread that I would experiment with a few techiniques before I begin my next layout. In fact, there is no time like the present.

I also said I would report on the results. So, sometime after the holidays, I will try three or four standard and non-standard techniques and let the forum know which seemed the quietest.