BNSF "Pink Lady Ballast" Where is it?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hi everyone,

I am currently about to embark on creating a modular section for a model railroad club. I want to make one based on one of BNSF’s mainlines in the South Western deserts. I was wondering if anyone knew of the manufacturer that made the correctly colored ballast. I was thinking of using Woodland Scenics IRON ORE BALLAST, however, it appears to be too dark and more of a brownish-red color rather than “pink”.

I was also wondering on some of your opinions. Would you suggest I use flex-track with black ties or use the flex-track with brown ties?

Thank you all very much,

-Nathan

2

Arizona Rock and Mineral

http://www.rrscenery.com/Home/Links/AZROCK5.html

They have 2 pinks, to me the AT&SF looks like Great Northern Pink (err BNSF that is)

Chicago & Northwestern Pink Lady Granite

and

Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe (New color Winslow Hue)

3

The Woodland Scenics “iron ore” is way too dark for the pink lady ballast, plus it’s a tough product to get good results from (look at other threads on this site for more on that).

Several companies have offered suitable ballast colors, and you can check before ordering to ensure the product is real rock and not the Woodland Scenics ground walnut shells that float away when you glue them. This source is reportedly ground up from the prototype quarry where the actual stuff is sourced: http://www.greatdecals.com/Scale.htm (scroll down to the ballast).

4

I have been using a coarse sand found at Michaels that is a reddish color. It may be too dark for your application but matches the red rock around Helena, MT I am using for my Great Northern/Montana Rail Link layout.

5

‘Pink Lady’ is the Baraboo Quartzite that the C&NW used. It is quite pink with purple streaks in it at times. AT&SF ballast can be had from Arizona Rock & Mineral. They have a ‘traditional’ AT&SF ballast and also ‘Winslow Pit’ ballast. I suspect what you are seeing is ‘Winslow Pit’. Here is their web site:

http://www.rrscenery.com/Home/Links/AZROCK5.html

BNSF also gets ‘Sioux Quartzite’ just north of Sioux Falls, SD. I would not use the W/S stuff - real rock ballast works so much better…

Jim

6

Are my posts invisible?

7

Well thank you all very much! I think I’ll be going with Geared Steam and jrbernier’s suggestions. The ballast manufacturers colors look to be just what I need.

Again, thanks!

-Nathan

8

Geared Steam is correct. I have it from the owner of Arizona that the ATSF ballast was/is ground from the same quarry rock used by Santa Fe.

Go with his advice, it looks just right on the layout.

Jeff