Login
or
Register
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Home
»
Model Railroader
»
Forums
»
Layouts and layout building
»
ballast materials for HO gauge
Edit post
Edit your reply below.
Post Body
Enter your post below.
Greetings, <br />Caution with the cat litter. I used cat litter to start and found that it would swell when wet and then when it dried it left a void between the litter and the base. When you pressed down on the litter it would crack and fall away. I bought a 50# sack of what they called composted granet. I sifted through a 1/4 inch hardware cloth first and came up with about 10#s of large stone. I say large because it was about the size of your thumb before hitting it with a hammer ha. The balance i sifted through a flour sifter and this was about the size of med ballast. It is a browni***o red color and looks great on the layout.The larger stuf I use on my garden railroad outside and it packs exceptionally well. Infact hard rains fave no effect on the material and weeds dont grow through it. <br />By the way, I have about 350 feet to HO and I have about 1/3 of the track ballasted. I am using track in a raised plastic road bed and I ballast to the outside rail. I have used approximately one gallon of ballast so I figure that one $4.00 sack of composted grannet will be more than enough. I have used a little less than a gallon so far. <br />I buy the granet from a garden supply store. <br />Hope this helps. <br />Sincerely, <br />Neal Melancon
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag
Update Reply
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Users Online
There are no community member online
Search the Community
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter
See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter
and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up