Couple of questions about ballast color. I have looked at numerous photos of layouts, but I can’t quite figure the right mix. I am assuming that the mainline would be light to medium gray, with sidings a darker gray and yards (usually not well balasted) would be either cinders or a mix of cinders and brown ballast.
Any suggestions? If the yard is a black-brown mix, what is a good ratio?
RicZ
Why not look at the ‘prototype’? You did not mention era or region of the country - That will make a big difference. Current railroading uses a vary hard Basalt or Granite type of rock for main lines. Gravel and Limestone tend to ‘wear out’. Railroads in the 50’s many times used pit run gravel or limestone for ballast. The decision can be based on cost of the material, cost of transport and if the material is locally available.
I have noticed that several railroads have material crushed smaller for yard areas where there is foot traffic. Cinders can still be seen, but are getting rare. It was never a good ballast material as is drained rather poor and the sulfur tended to eat away at the rail(but it was free).
Jim
What (if) railroad are you modeling? If not a particular road, what area? GN had pink lady ballast, The McCloud was red. Ballast color is based on where the railroad got the ballast from.
Here is some examples of ballast colors used around the country, notice they used specific railroad names when naming ballast.
http://www.rrscenery.com/?wpsc_product_category=homainlineballast
I am freelance modeling northeastern Colorado in 1959. Cheyenne to Denver essentially following the UP line through Greeley, etc. RicZ
There are companies that sell ballast keyed to individual railroads. Look for "Arizona Rock and Mineral " ballast. Railroads, especially modern ones, may not use different stone on main tracks and sidings. The color of the ballast varies by the type and the pit. On the MP, ballst from west Texas pits could be a more reddish brown, while the pits in Arkansas had a “blue” grey ballast and the pits in Missouri had light grey with some pink in it. The CNW ballast was called “pink lady” because it was pinkish granite. The SP and UP used copper slag which was a dark brown in some places.
Didn’t C&NW use ‘Pink Lady’ too? I know some railroad that ran through Wisconsin ( yay Wis!) and was actualyl quarried in Wis., down by Madison IIRC. I personally like the look of lighter ballast on main lines and mix of darker on other tack, although I am also starting to appreciate the look of cinder ballast also.
On the NS in PA the ballast appears to be light grey limestone on the mains and grey in the yards. The shades of grey tend to be light but probably depend on availability. The yards have small ballast (actually gravel) around switches. That gravel is referred to as “walking stone.” It is less stressful on crewmembers’ ankles. The rest of yard ballast is about the size of mainline ballast but there is less stone applied in yards. And there are no piles of stone or steep slopes of ballast between the yard tracks for the sake of employees.
While seeking an answer to my question, I sstumbled on a rather unique idea that was posted on another web site. The author suggested using Google Maps to hone in on a known location to actually see what a prototype in the area used. Thus, I looked at Greeley CO. on Google Earth and found the Union Pacific mainline. When you zoom down on it, one can actually see the roadbed and the ballast colo used in that area ( kind of a gray-blend). Thanks for your help.
RicZ
The closest to PRR mainline ballast that I have found is Woodland Scenics Medium Grey Blend. Sidings and yards will be done with cinders (Woodland Scenics Fine Cinder Ballast.)
I model in HO.