track and ballast combination

[mtrails]

I just wanted to pitch some relation to track and ballast combinations out there, since I have been experimenting lately. I am part of a local model railroad club, and we are renovating most of the 1,200 sq. ft. modular layout. A lot of track has been pulled up and re-laid, and I suggested ballast and track combinations for specific areas. There was a lot of mix'n'match modules joined, where the tracks went from gray ballast, to brown, to light gray and so fourth. There are four separate areas of the layout:
1. Yard
2. Rural trackside ops
3. Coaling
4. Scenic

Using Woodland Scenics ballast, I purchased several bags of each color, in Fine and Medium. To determine track and ballast combinations, I took a week, driving around, and searching photo's online to study rail and tie color, in conjunction with the ballast in particular areas to conclude a realistic combination for the layout...

Yard-
Mainline - rails and ties pained medium brown. Medium ballast combination of Buff, Light gray, and Dark gray.
Classification tracks - rails and ties painted dark gray. Fine ballast: Cinders, oversprayed with dark gray.
Build track - rails and ties painted medium brown. Fine ballast: Dark gray. Black streak down the center to represent oil.

Rural-
Rails and ties painted medium brown. Fine ballast: Light gray.

Coaling-
Mainline- Rails and ties painted dark gray. Fine ballast: Dark gray.
Coaling trackage- rails and ties painted dark gray. Fine ballast: Cinders

Scenic-
Rails and ties painted dark gray. Medium ballast combination of Buff, Medium Brown, Light Gray, and a hint of Oxide Red.

I don't have photo's, since ballast has not yet been applied, but have 1-gallon zip lok bags of ballast combinations, laid out on the layout for member's to get busy this weekend. I will be happy to share photo's when the ballast has been laid.

There are area's that were ballasted with sand, and I don't find it appealing, or realistic. The "sparkle" that sand can emitt, just doesn't look right! Just my .002 cents.

[Anonymous]

One thing you have to be careful about when using sand is to be sure it is all glued down and loose particles vacuumed up. You sure wouldn't wand sand in your bearings and gears.

[nucat78]

QUOTE: Originally posted by j1love

I wonder if you would get the same "rocky" texture that the ballast gives you. Throughout the forums the general consensus seems to be n-scale ballast for ho scale track.....is the colored sand the same size or finer?

Not sure. I'll have to get some art sand from the local craft store and compare to some old n-scale ballast that I have.

[j1love]

I wonder if you would get the same "rocky" texture that the ballast gives you. Throughout the forums the general consensus seems to be n-scale ballast for ho scale track.....is the colored sand the same size or finer?

[nucat78]

On a related topic, anybody try colored sand? 25 pounds for $48 plus shipping. Ballast is what, $3 for 7 ounces? It would have to be nonmagnetic though.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget Micro Engineering makes excelent flextrack too. So does Precision Scale.

The hand laid info I got was on-line from MR.com, The NEW Utah Belt I opened the track plan on the .pdf file. There's the "Layout at a Glance" box on the left. You have to enlarge it to read it.

Go figure. I guess we'll still don't know for sure which is right

[j1love]

Thanks gsetter, that is great information for the ballast......after re-reading the article he states he uses flextrack (code 83 for the mains and code 70 for sidings etc)......I am wondering if he used micro-engineering or maybe walthers.....it does not look like atlas to my eye....maybe peco?
If anyone else has any ideas, please keep the opinions comming!!
Thanks in advance, everyone

[Anonymous]

The most I could find out is that that the track is hand laid code 70 in the visible areas.

He may have used real stone ballast. (click on highlighted words for links)

Color Canyon Materials
Hunter Scenery Co.
Great Northern Sand & Gravel Co.

Or do it yourself with a LLC Lab Sieves. Fits on a 5gal bucket. $23
See the Sieve chart for scale rock sizes. The larger the number, the finer the stone. #30 yealds 1.75" rock in HO scale.
Start with regular window screen and work your way down.

[j1love]

Hello All;
I was reading the story about Eric Brooman's new Utah Belt layout and I have a question. I really admire the fabulous job he did on his trackwork. I love the different tones of gray and slight brown tinges (to my eyes anyway).
So I was wondering, does anyone happen to know what kind of track he used? I was also hoping someone would know the mix of ballast colors and paint. If it is not obvious, I wi***o have similar trackwork on my soon to be started Davis & Pennsy. Thanks in advance for your replies.