Ballast

[Anonymous]

What are the functions of ballast in a railway?

[Anonymous]

What are the functions of ballast in a railway?

[Anonymous]

Ballast is a real useful thing to have around:

1) It provides a stable, level surface to run the tracks on.
2) It supports and distributes the weight of the trains.
3) Being made of stones, it allows rainwater and other muck to flow and drain away from the tracks.
4) It (sort of) discourages the growth of plants.

There's more too, I'm sure; this is just what I've heard.

[Anonymous]

Ballast is a real useful thing to have around:

1) It provides a stable, level surface to run the tracks on.
2) It supports and distributes the weight of the trains.
3) Being made of stones, it allows rainwater and other muck to flow and drain away from the tracks.
4) It (sort of) discourages the growth of plants.

There's more too, I'm sure; this is just what I've heard.

[mudchicken]

(1) drainage, drainage, drainage (what all roadmasters need to know)

(2) keep the mud-monster at bay (avoiding heaves and sinking, surface)

(3) hold the track in place laterally (this is why gravel is unacceptable, like a sea of ball bearings, won't lock-up)

(4) firm foundation for track structure (improves track modulus, decreases flexure)

(5) makes switchmen unhappy, especially if it's 3.5 inch main track ballast and they walk in it all day. (ouch!)

(6) allows for easier adjustments and repairs when not fouled by mud

Is this Mookie's pop-quiz (by proxy)??

[mudchicken]

(1) drainage, drainage, drainage (what all roadmasters need to know)

(2) keep the mud-monster at bay (avoiding heaves and sinking, surface)

(3) hold the track in place laterally (this is why gravel is unacceptable, like a sea of ball bearings, won't lock-up)

(4) firm foundation for track structure (improves track modulus, decreases flexure)

(5) makes switchmen unhappy, especially if it's 3.5 inch main track ballast and they walk in it all day. (ouch!)

(6) allows for easier adjustments and repairs when not fouled by mud

Is this Mookie's pop-quiz (by proxy)??

[Anonymous]

Yeah, what he said!!!!!! [8][:p][:D]

[Anonymous]

Yeah, what he said!!!!!! [8][:p][:D]

[edblysard]

Makes switchmen unhappy, especially if its 3.5 inch mainline ballast spread where small yard ballast should be, like on switching leads. Turned ankles, and a ACL injury later, the carrier tamped it down, and covered it with the correct size ballest.
Ed

[edblysard]

Makes switchmen unhappy, especially if its 3.5 inch mainline ballast spread where small yard ballast should be, like on switching leads. Turned ankles, and a ACL injury later, the carrier tamped it down, and covered it with the correct size ballest.
Ed

[Anonymous]

Ed,

How bad did you tear your anterior cruciate ligament?

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Ed,

How bad did you tear your anterior cruciate ligament?

Jeff

[adrianspeeder]

Ouch Ed,
I run for cross country, and part of our course runs where there used to be a spur to an old factory. The track is gone, but the ballast remains. Try running for time on that, I have rolled several times and streached my ACL on the stuff. Starting this year though, I succeded in having the runners be allowed to run along side. It was neat the first time I realized that I was running on old railbed, but that changed after the first fall.
Adrianspeeder

[adrianspeeder]

Ouch Ed,
I run for cross country, and part of our course runs where there used to be a spur to an old factory. The track is gone, but the ballast remains. Try running for time on that, I have rolled several times and streached my ACL on the stuff. Starting this year though, I succeded in having the runners be allowed to run along side. It was neat the first time I realized that I was running on old railbed, but that changed after the first fall.
Adrianspeeder

[edblysard]

Not me, my helper. And not running, just walking. The ballast shifted, he slid a little sideways on a very gentle slope, heard a loud pop from his knee, and tried to take another step, went flat on his face.

I twisted my ankle on the stuff about a week later, had to stay off of it for almost a month. They got the hint, two leg injuries in a month on the same lead within 50 feet of each other. They levled the slope, took up the big rocks, and replaced it with 1" and less ballast, mixed with chipped shale.

A lot easier on the feet and ankles.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by valleytenderfoot

Ed,

How bad did you tear your anterior cruciate ligament?

Jeff

[edblysard]

Not me, my helper. And not running, just walking. The ballast shifted, he slid a little sideways on a very gentle slope, heard a loud pop from his knee, and tried to take another step, went flat on his face.

I twisted my ankle on the stuff about a week later, had to stay off of it for almost a month. They got the hint, two leg injuries in a month on the same lead within 50 feet of each other. They levled the slope, took up the big rocks, and replaced it with 1" and less ballast, mixed with chipped shale.

A lot easier on the feet and ankles.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

QUOTE: Originally posted by valleytenderfoot

Ed,

How bad did you tear your anterior cruciate ligament?

Jeff

[mudchicken]

To the unitiated:

IF you walk around in loose ballast all day, the next morning everything from the thighs down is screaming in agony. The next morning, you look and feel like Tim Conway's "little old man" routine. If you don't have a good pair of work shoes, you don't make it through the day. I set the table for Ed to reply and he did so magnificently. It's not only the tripping issue. Ed works in a different world than most of us and does so safely (It isn't as easy as it appears). There are a whole bunch of considerations in play when you elect what size of ballast to put down. (Mainline (3.5 in), Yard (1.5 in), Chips (0.75 in) or screenings/waste (fines) ballast all have uses, what nobody wants is mud!)

[mudchicken]

To the unitiated:

IF you walk around in loose ballast all day, the next morning everything from the thighs down is screaming in agony. The next morning, you look and feel like Tim Conway's "little old man" routine. If you don't have a good pair of work shoes, you don't make it through the day. I set the table for Ed to reply and he did so magnificently. It's not only the tripping issue. Ed works in a different world than most of us and does so safely (It isn't as easy as it appears). There are a whole bunch of considerations in play when you elect what size of ballast to put down. (Mainline (3.5 in), Yard (1.5 in), Chips (0.75 in) or screenings/waste (fines) ballast all have uses, what nobody wants is mud!)

[kenneo]

We all jumped for joy about 15 years ago when the FRA REQUIRED formal toe paths at each switch for a complete train length. 3/4 minus on top of #3. YES!!

In 1975 blew all of the cartlege in my right knee, shortened my leg about 2 inches. 1/2 body cast for 6 months. Walking on #3 beside a cut on single track is NOT FUN! Got the handle of "Sawout" because I made the hog head saw me out instead of walking on that slope.

[kenneo]

We all jumped for joy about 15 years ago when the FRA REQUIRED formal toe paths at each switch for a complete train length. 3/4 minus on top of #3. YES!!

In 1975 blew all of the cartlege in my right knee, shortened my leg about 2 inches. 1/2 body cast for 6 months. Walking on #3 beside a cut on single track is NOT FUN! Got the handle of "Sawout" because I made the hog head saw me out instead of walking on that slope.

[Anonymous]

I do not know if this has anything to do with ballast. They are putting in a second track in between Antioch and Wheeling. The problem is they are running into pure black dirt. They have to dig it up and put down clay. Pure black dirt is bad for a rail bed for it absorbs water and holds it. The clay is layed then watered down. The sun bakes it. I talked to one worker he told me it gets hard as concrete. Darn us Illinios people with are pure black soil. (We would ship it to Nebraska but it would only blow back.)
TIM A

[Anonymous]

I do not know if this has anything to do with ballast. They are putting in a second track in between Antioch and Wheeling. The problem is they are running into pure black dirt. They have to dig it up and put down clay. Pure black dirt is bad for a rail bed for it absorbs water and holds it. The clay is layed then watered down. The sun bakes it. I talked to one worker he told me it gets hard as concrete. Darn us Illinios people with are pure black soil. (We would ship it to Nebraska but it would only blow back.)
TIM A

[Mookie]

Ah Tim - you are so right! We have so much clay here in Lincoln, they ought to put in more tracks! You grow the corn and we will run the trains! Great trade-off!

Jen

PS - the wind has actually been a little better here this year. Not nearly as many 'bad-hair days".

[Mookie]

Ah Tim - you are so right! We have so much clay here in Lincoln, they ought to put in more tracks! You grow the corn and we will run the trains! Great trade-off!

Jen

PS - the wind has actually been a little better here this year. Not nearly as many 'bad-hair days".

[mudchicken]

Tim: Send it (black topsoil) to Colorado. Tired of trying to grow anything in brick with little or no water.

ps: Welcome to the wonderfull world of sub-ballast.....

[mudchicken]

Tim: Send it (black topsoil) to Colorado. Tired of trying to grow anything in brick with little or no water.

ps: Welcome to the wonderfull world of sub-ballast.....