Ballast Colors

[Anonymous]

Good Evening Everyone,

I have noticed in photos in Model Railroader that instead of using a continuous ballast color for your entire layout that some people mix it up. Some tracks are one color then another track is a different color.

Im modeling the BN, late GN, NP in Montana Great Falls area.

How do you decide what color to use and what size? Fine or medium for HO lets say is another question.

I was planning on using a gray blend mix, light and dark but then I see for instance black ballast being used. At first I thought using black would be neat at an engine track or roundhouse.

Any suggestions or ideas out there what you all are doing for ballast colors?

Or are there no rules and creativity is the answer.

Thanks,

Mark in Texas

[Anonymous]

Good Evening Everyone,

I have noticed in photos in Model Railroader that instead of using a continuous ballast color for your entire layout that some people mix it up. Some tracks are one color then another track is a different color.

Im modeling the BN, late GN, NP in Montana Great Falls area.

How do you decide what color to use and what size? Fine or medium for HO lets say is another question.

I was planning on using a gray blend mix, light and dark but then I see for instance black ballast being used. At first I thought using black would be neat at an engine track or roundhouse.

Any suggestions or ideas out there what you all are doing for ballast colors?

Or are there no rules and creativity is the answer.

Thanks,

Mark in Texas

[wp8thsub]

"I have noticed in photos in Model Railroader that instead of using a continuous ballast color for your entire layout that some people mix it up. Some tracks are one color then another track is a different color."

That's because it's how the prototype usually does it.

"Im modeling the BN, late GN, NP in Montana Great Falls area."

I'm not a BN expert, but I recall that most BN (ex GN) mainline ballast in northern Montana in the '70s and '80s was pink. Its extremely obvious in photos and still stands out in my memory from when I visited. Scrounge for prototype color photos before ballasting to get the colors right. At least one ballast supplier sold actual crushed C&NW "pink lady" ballast that should be close.

"At first I thought using black would be neat at an engine track or roundhouse."

Service tracks usually get the lowest quality ballast maintenance around. Most of the older servicing areas I've seen have not much more than dirt for ballast, but it's thoroughly soaked with oil drippings and then piled with locomotive sand around the sand towers.

The Western Pacific and D&RGW used a lot of black smelter slag for mainline ballast in Colorado, Utah and Nevada.

"How do you decide what color to use and what size?"

Prototype photos determine both wherever possible. A lot of "medium" or "HO" sized ballast looks oversized to me, especially for yards and secondary tracks. I sometimes mix in "fine" or "N scale" ballast or use it exclusively depending on the brand name. Normally I use sand if I can find the right color and texture.

[wp8thsub]

"I have noticed in photos in Model Railroader that instead of using a continuous ballast color for your entire layout that some people mix it up. Some tracks are one color then another track is a different color."

That's because it's how the prototype usually does it.

"Im modeling the BN, late GN, NP in Montana Great Falls area."

I'm not a BN expert, but I recall that most BN (ex GN) mainline ballast in northern Montana in the '70s and '80s was pink. Its extremely obvious in photos and still stands out in my memory from when I visited. Scrounge for prototype color photos before ballasting to get the colors right. At least one ballast supplier sold actual crushed C&NW "pink lady" ballast that should be close.

"At first I thought using black would be neat at an engine track or roundhouse."

Service tracks usually get the lowest quality ballast maintenance around. Most of the older servicing areas I've seen have not much more than dirt for ballast, but it's thoroughly soaked with oil drippings and then piled with locomotive sand around the sand towers.

The Western Pacific and D&RGW used a lot of black smelter slag for mainline ballast in Colorado, Utah and Nevada.

"How do you decide what color to use and what size?"

Prototype photos determine both wherever possible. A lot of "medium" or "HO" sized ballast looks oversized to me, especially for yards and secondary tracks. I sometimes mix in "fine" or "N scale" ballast or use it exclusively depending on the brand name. Normally I use sand if I can find the right color and texture.

[AltonFan]

In the steam era, yards often got cinders for ballast.

In the Chicago area, the former C&NW and Milwaukee Road lines had pink granite ballast. The former Soo Line-Wisconsin Central had a pale green ballast.

[AltonFan]

In the steam era, yards often got cinders for ballast.

In the Chicago area, the former C&NW and Milwaukee Road lines had pink granite ballast. The former Soo Line-Wisconsin Central had a pale green ballast.

[daniel1967]

I agree that anything larger than small ho scale ballast starts looking too big...
I like to crush my own rock, and even better... use sand. It comes in all granular sizes and colors... and what better excuse to do a vacation to california, hawaii, florida, carolinas, capecod , etc, etc... sand is everywhere, not just ocean side too!

[daniel1967]

I agree that anything larger than small ho scale ballast starts looking too big...
I like to crush my own rock, and even better... use sand. It comes in all granular sizes and colors... and what better excuse to do a vacation to california, hawaii, florida, carolinas, capecod , etc, etc... sand is everywhere, not just ocean side too!

[jrbarney]

Mark,
I haven't crushed any ballast, of any color, myself, but if and when I do, I plan to run a permanent magnet through it after crushing to minimize any problems with particles that are magnetic.
Bob

[jrbarney]

Mark,
I haven't crushed any ballast, of any color, myself, but if and when I do, I plan to run a permanent magnet through it after crushing to minimize any problems with particles that are magnetic.
Bob

[cacole]

Most railroads use whatever rock is predominant in their particular part of the country. Here in SE Arizona, the UP (formerly SP) main line track is ballasted with a mix of white granite and black copper smelter slag. In northern Arizona where the volcanic ash has a redish color, the BNSF uses red lava rock. A former SP line running alongside the San Pedro River toward the Mexican border uses only copper smelter slag, since there was a large smelter in Douglas, Arizona when that line was built and they probably didn't even have to pay for it.

[cacole]

Most railroads use whatever rock is predominant in their particular part of the country. Here in SE Arizona, the UP (formerly SP) main line track is ballasted with a mix of white granite and black copper smelter slag. In northern Arizona where the volcanic ash has a redish color, the BNSF uses red lava rock. A former SP line running alongside the San Pedro River toward the Mexican border uses only copper smelter slag, since there was a large smelter in Douglas, Arizona when that line was built and they probably didn't even have to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Good afternoon everyone,

Thanks for the information, it was very helpful.

Mark in Texas

[Anonymous]

Good afternoon everyone,

Thanks for the information, it was very helpful.

Mark in Texas