Track Ballast - A visit to the fishy store

[wrmcclellan]

Buckeye,

I looked into this also. What I did not like was the aquarium gravel was too homogenous, too bright (primary colors) and it is very shiney.

What you might look into is the aggregate that is used on roofs. If you look at a typical asphalt roofing shingle, note the gravel aggregate is a perfect size for O scale trains! I use what comes off my roof and settles into the gutters. I got one big load due to the last hailstorm that destroyed my roof. I got another big load withthe loose stuff that washed off the new roof.

Up nawth - folks that do a built up (residential) tarred roof can actually buy the aggregate in bulk (1mm size, 50 lb bags) and compared to commercial ballast it is "dirt" cheap.

The material goes by the names: roofing granules, fine roofing agregate, etc.

It is nearly impossible to find it down here.

Regards,
Roy

[Blueberryhill RR]

I started my layout with white aquarium gravel. Actually, it was too stark white for ballast and a little large for 0 guage. At least, I thought so. I switched to fine chicken grit, which had multiple colored stones.
I will use the aquarium gravel for places on the mountains.

Chuck

[Buckeye Riveter]

Q: Has anyone ever used gravel purchased from an aquarium store for their layout's track ballast? They seem to have several sizes and of course colors.[?][?]

My Answer: I haven't.
[:)]