Ballast colour and size

[Anonymous]

I model in HO, and my theme is Canadian National in Western Alberta, c.1957, I am ready to start ballasting and scenicing portions of my layout, but am unsure which ballast to use. (The local hobby shops all stock Woodland Scenics products in various sizes and colours.)

I have looked at some demonstration layouts and the ballast often seems monochromatic and in disproportion. Can a realistic effect be produced by mixing various sizes and colours? What colour and size is appropriate for my theme? (I must admit that I don't know what size 'real' ballast is, or what material was used by CN in 1957.)

I would appreciate any advise on achieving a realistic ballast colour and grade. Thanx in advance. Dwayne.

[Anonymous]

Dwayne, Not going to be able to help a real lot on the color of the ballast because that changes from reagon to reagon. It all depends on what type of limestone is available. Some times "Slag" from steel mill blast furnaces was used cinders from power plants was common on sideings. Lime stone can ranger anywere from the gray spectrum to a almost sandy color to an aqua-blue depending on were it can from and the mineral content of it. Some lime stone is almost white. A very common size for ballast around the ties is about the size of your fist. A filled in under cut may have Grape fruit sized ballast under the fist sized stuff. For me, working in HO, the medium sized medium gray seems pretty universal. And the dark gray and the medium gray of the medium size mixed together is a good look for under cuts. Hope I helped..........Jamie

[Anonymous]

Dwayne;

Try N scale ballast. Its size may give you a better appearance. With respect to colour, check out your prototype, grab some samples and try some tests. Good luck!

Mark

[Anonymous]

Hi Dwayne,

Try's Arizona Rock & Mineral Co. (P. O. Box 567, Paulden, AZ 86334, 920-636-9275; fax: [phone]) and Highball Products (available from Walthers at www.walthers.com).

Western Alberta is likely to have basalt or granite in the ballast rather than limestone, so a medium gray, light gray mix would be appropriate, with perhaps something of a dark brown, too.

Most ballast in the West is about the size of your fist, and to my eyes medium N scale ballast looks better in HO.

You might contact the Canadian National Lines Special Interest Group (101 Elm Park Rd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2M 0W3; they're on the Web too, and you can access it from this page under Historical Societies to your left) and ask if someone there can provide more information as to color and material.

Hope this helps,

Paul Schmidt
Associate Editor
MODEL RAILROADER

[Anonymous]

Hi Dwayne,

Try Arizona Rock & Mineral Co. (P. O. Box 567, Paulden, AZ 86334, 920-636-9275; fax: [phone]) and Highball Products (available from Walthers at www.walthers.com).

Western Alberta is likely to have basalt or granite in the ballast rather than limestone, so a medium gray, light gray mix would be appropriate, with perhaps something of a dark brown, too.

Most ballast in the West is about the size of your fist, and to my eyes medium N scale ballast looks better in HO.

You might contact the Canadian National Lines Special Interest Group (101 Elm Park Rd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2M 0W3; they're on the Web too, and you can access it from this page under Historical Societies to your left) and ask if someone there can provide more information as to color and material.

Hope this helps,

Paul Schmidt
Associate Editor
MODEL RAILROADER

[BR60103]

Try to find some books with pictures of the area you're modelling. If you live nearby, look at the tracks yourself; the colour probably hasn't changed too much. I use a mix of similar but different colours to get a lumpy look.
Check the hobby shop's ballast collection to find a size you're happy with. I once used N scale ballast on a N-scale layout and couldn't tell the result from plaster, it was so fine. You can mix sizes on a length of track. (I've proably sent you to the shop for nine different bags now!)
The colour also varies with time and weather.
In the Toronto area, CP and CN use different colours - one is grey and the other is black. This is noticeable where they cross.
-David

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your responses, everyone.
Dwayne