Ballast

[Anonymous]

There's a dip between double tracks, and most people think it's for drainage, but that's not all. When the railroad replace ties they need that ditch for clearance to pull the old tie out and as a place to store the ballast that was removed for tie pulling. The slope of roadbed is dependent on ballast size, ballast shape, and surrounding lay of the land. Gravity is the biggest spreader of ballast so courser and rougher ballast have steeper sides than say pea gravel would. Typical angel is 45 degrees with some rough ballast in the 60 degree range. Some are so steep you can't climb them. Also it depends on if the track is higher or lower than the land. Rails are pretty much flat with 1.5 per cent slop being steep grade to the railroads. If the track is in a ditch the angle of the ballast is almost 0 with the ditch banks rising at about 45 deg.. If the track is elevated the ballast is generally steeper the higher the track goes. A lot of times on really elevated tracks the base will be dirt with grass, weed, and scrub trees growing on it to stabilize it and will be around 45 slope. Othertime the rails will build retaining walls from concrete or old ties, esp. in town where space is at a premium. Most yards are flat and some don't even show the ties. There are also different types of yard and sidings and they vary in use and appearance. A team yard may only have the very tops of the track showing with a cut where the flanges mash out the mud/gravel. Some classification yards are better kept than the mains. I suggest getting in your car and go see the real thing. The basic right of way has changed little since WWII.

[Anonymous]

There's a dip between double tracks, and most people think it's for drainage, but that's not all. When the railroad replace ties they need that ditch for clearance to pull the old tie out and as a place to store the ballast that was removed for tie pulling. The slope of roadbed is dependent on ballast size, ballast shape, and surrounding lay of the land. Gravity is the biggest spreader of ballast so courser and rougher ballast have steeper sides than say pea gravel would. Typical angel is 45 degrees with some rough ballast in the 60 degree range. Some are so steep you can't climb them. Also it depends on if the track is higher or lower than the land. Rails are pretty much flat with 1.5 per cent slop being steep grade to the railroads. If the track is in a ditch the angle of the ballast is almost 0 with the ditch banks rising at about 45 deg.. If the track is elevated the ballast is generally steeper the higher the track goes. A lot of times on really elevated tracks the base will be dirt with grass, weed, and scrub trees growing on it to stabilize it and will be around 45 slope. Othertime the rails will build retaining walls from concrete or old ties, esp. in town where space is at a premium. Most yards are flat and some don't even show the ties. There are also different types of yard and sidings and they vary in use and appearance. A team yard may only have the very tops of the track showing with a cut where the flanges mash out the mud/gravel. Some classification yards are better kept than the mains. I suggest getting in your car and go see the real thing. The basic right of way has changed little since WWII.

[cacole]

Main line tracks usually have the sides sloped at least 30-40 degrees for drainage, with the tracks elevated, ballast tamped under the crossties, and with a drainage ditch between parallel tracks. Yards are not as critical on drainage since trains run much slower on yard tracks, so they are not ballasted to the same standards as main lines. Adequate drainage on main lines is important to prevent wooden crossties from rotting or sinking into the ground and causing uneven rail, which could cause a derailment at higher speeds.

[cacole]

Main line tracks usually have the sides sloped at least 30-40 degrees for drainage, with the tracks elevated, ballast tamped under the crossties, and with a drainage ditch between parallel tracks. Yards are not as critical on drainage since trains run much slower on yard tracks, so they are not ballasted to the same standards as main lines. Adequate drainage on main lines is important to prevent wooden crossties from rotting or sinking into the ground and causing uneven rail, which could cause a derailment at higher speeds.

[Anonymous]

I was wondering the same thing. In looking at photos of prototypical yards and double tracks, the yards all seem to be level, and most of the double tracks are level or only a slight dip between tracks. What do the veterans have to say?

Larry

[Anonymous]

I was wondering the same thing. In looking at photos of prototypical yards and double tracks, the yards all seem to be level, and most of the double tracks are level or only a slight dip between tracks. What do the veterans have to say?

Larry

[tomnoy3]

What should the angle of the slopes be on the sides of the rail bed. And is there a dip inbetween douple tracks or is it flat. Thanks to anyone who replys.

-Tom

[tomnoy3]

What should the angle of the slopes be on the sides of the rail bed. And is there a dip inbetween douple tracks or is it flat. Thanks to anyone who replys.

-Tom