wp8thsub I took a similar approach here, by using different ballast and some scattered weeds. There's more vegetation along this team track, but again a similar look.
I took a similar approach here, by using different ballast and some scattered weeds.
There's more vegetation along this team track, but again a similar look.
Rich
Alton Junction
dknelson So I think the real question is how well is your prototype railroad able to deal with all of this? If you model the Rock Island, or the Milwaukee Road in the 1970s-80s, or the Penn Central, you'll see some vegetation. Dave Nelson
So I think the real question is how well is your prototype railroad able to deal with all of this? If you model the Rock Island, or the Milwaukee Road in the 1970s-80s, or the Penn Central, you'll see some vegetation.
Dave Nelson
rrinker That seems excessively clean. Maybe brand new? You'll at least find random junk like tie plates and spikes strewn on the ballast, even if the weeds are kept down. And that's on standard spacing. In areas where there are more than one track and they have space between them, it would be very odd for there not to be weeds and such growing in the space. Depending on the frequency of maintenence, they might even get pretty high before being knocked back, if they get knocked back. If there are no hand operated switches with the switch stands in the space between tracks - I don't think they'd bother much with taking down the weeds. Even if regularly sprayed, there will be low stuff growing. --Randy
That seems excessively clean. Maybe brand new? You'll at least find random junk like tie plates and spikes strewn on the ballast, even if the weeds are kept down.
And that's on standard spacing. In areas where there are more than one track and they have space between them, it would be very odd for there not to be weeds and such growing in the space. Depending on the frequency of maintenence, they might even get pretty high before being knocked back, if they get knocked back. If there are no hand operated switches with the switch stands in the space between tracks - I don't think they'd bother much with taking down the weeds. Even if regularly sprayed, there will be low stuff growing.
--Randy
This of course will vary by loaction and era.
DSC00358 by wp8thsub, on Flickr
DSC00358
Above is BNSF trackage in Lamar, CO. The secondary tracks are lower than the main, have different ballast, and reflect less intensive maintenance. Between the main and other tracks is mostly a mixture of dirt and gravel.
Gering Industries 8 by wp8thsub, on Flickr
Gering Industries 8
Along the UP in Gering, NE there are some weeds and an access road, but again mostly dirt.
The above photo from http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3453258 isn't mine, but shows mostly ballast of varying textures, colors, and depths between tracks at Fernley, NV.
Cenex-Fuel Spots by wp8thsub, on Flickr
Cenex-Fuel Spots
Milton Team Track Spot by wp8thsub, on Flickr
Milton Team Track Spot
Rob Spangler
If ballast and subroadbed do their jobs right, and if well maintained , well drained, and regularly cleaned, track should be free of vegetation. But it is pretty common for track NOT to be well maintained or the ballast cleaned. As ballast ages (pounded by trains) it grinds against itself, becomes more rounded. Crossings in particular are so expensive to maintain that it is at crossings that you often see mud mixed with the ballast from the pumping action of the track (loose spikes, ties not setting in their cribs). That pumping action, that mud, and the looseness of the ballast - holds moisture, allows dirt to settle and gives a place for vegetation to take hold. Environmental concerns have made vegetation control ore difficult too. It is almost shocking to look at photos of railroad right of way 30 and 40 years ago and see how few trees and shrubs were trackside. Now there are more trees. Some classic photography spots, such as the famous curve at Naperville on the CB&Q/BN look different now for example.
A 2011 view of UP double track mainline on the shore of the Carquinez Strait near Crockett, Ca., on the right is part of C&H sugar refinery service trackage.
Regards, Peter
richhotrain RR_Mel I also have 2” spacing on my mainline and I spot sprinkled grass and weeds between the tracks. I’m just getting into static grass and when I figure out how to apply it I’m going to try a little bit between the tracks too. I keep coming across photos like this which lead me to believe that an active double mainline must be vegetation free, thus, my dilemma. Rich
RR_Mel I also have 2” spacing on my mainline and I spot sprinkled grass and weeds between the tracks. I’m just getting into static grass and when I figure out how to apply it I’m going to try a little bit between the tracks too.
I keep coming across photos like this which lead me to believe that an active double mainline must be vegetation free, thus, my dilemma.
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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mbinsewi I'd go with the weeds and grass. Seems more prototypical to me. An unkept area, that maybe gets sprayed when it gets out of hand. Mike.
I'd go with the weeds and grass. Seems more prototypical to me. An unkept area, that maybe gets sprayed when it gets out of hand.
Mike.
My You Tube
I am going to begin ballasting the track on my new layout. For the most part, it will be done on my double mainline. The straight sections of double mainline track are 2 inches on center. So in keeping with prototype photos, it appears that the ballast covers the open area between the two tracks without any appearance of weeds or grasses.
But I also have some areas of track where there is a third track that services yards and spur tracks. On one curve in particular, the three tracks are spaced 3 to 4 inches apart. Would you cover the entire area between the tracks with ballast or would you intersperse ballast with weeds and grasses in that area?