I’ve got one for you: What would be the best color of ballast to represent CMSt.P&P (Milwaukee) ballast? I have searched these forums many times and I haven’t been able to find one iota of information on it. What I want to do is mix whatever color it is with two different grades of cinders (given that part of that section of my empire uses steam engines). Thank you for your assistance with my inquiry.
In the late 1970s early 1980s, the south side crossing in Milwaukee WI that I railfanned most often (Waterford Avenue) seemed to feature gravel ballast of a white limestone color. The Highball Productions limestone ballast is an excellent match.
But in Waukesha WI heading west from Milwaukee, much of the ballast was a slate-colored dark gray rock - much larger rock than the gravel. The Woodland Scenics gray matches what I recall. In a few spots there was white gravel mixed with the dark gray, giving it a decided salt and pepper look.
I suspect other sections of the country had different impressions of Milwaukee Road ballast.
And by the way the ballast that I rememberd has been totally replaced by the CP so you cannot judge by today’s track.
Dave Nelson
For clarification, the area of the Milwaukee that I need to know about specifically is for Eastern Montana (Miles City to Roundup division, if I remember what my Mom has told me of where that division ran).
Ah, important to know. I think many railroads tend or tended to look to fairly local sources for their ballast, so what I saw in Wisconsin is of little guidance. I never railfanned that end of the Milwaukee. But there are some excellent color books and videos. I think more than one of the Morning Sun color books features that end of the Milwaukee Road – even a shot of a freight or passenger car might be enough to suggest a ballast color. Don’t forget Google Images. A quick search using Milwaukee Road Montana found a large cache of images, including this series on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/montanatom1950/with/4436205539/
Dave Nelson
The Milwaukee typically used a pit run river rock(not real good for ballast). Arizona Rock & Mineral PRR ballast is pretty close. Later years(70’s) they started using crushed stone, and a lot of Sioux Quartzite from the Sioux Falls area was used(at least in Minnesota/Wisconsin). This has a sort of reddish tone to it(like AT&SF ballast). Much ballast is obtained locally, so what was used in Montana may be different.
Jim
Using the suggestion from dknelson, I found enough pictures of Milwaukee Engines to led me to believe that the Sioux Quartzite (as suggested by jrbernier) is what was probably used in Montana. The next question is how would one model that ballast. It doesn’t have to be perfect as my intent is to mix it with two different grades of cinders as I intend to run steamers and a couple of diesel switchers.
Arizona Rock & Mineral has Santa fe ballast. Here is the web link:
#1172 is the ‘mauve’ ballast, #1172W is the ‘Winslow’ pit ballast - more red than the #1172. I have used the #1172v for my layout.
Jim
I went to the Arizona Rock & Mineral site as mentioned. (I already have their NP ballast and rip-rap for another part of my layout.) However, they are now requiring a minimum of 6 bags of ballast per order. I think that I only need two bags. I am also unable to find any other dealers that carry the Winslow ballast that would allow me to get the smaller quantity I need. The other problem is that the Winslow ballast is only available in fine. Given the composition of the other two parts of the mix (WS fine and medium cinders. Yes, I know there are people that knock their ballast.), I’m afraid that the fine would get “lost” in said mix even at a planned 2:1:1 ratio. (2 parts CMSt.P&P ballast, 1 part fine cinder, and 1 part medium cinder)
I can’t assure you that he has what you need but a rather obscure source for quality ballast is Dale Kuhn.
http://www.greatdecals.com/Scale.htm
Dave Nelson
I wrote Mr. Kuhn and he didn’t have the right color. However, I did find a company that sent me some real Sioux Quartzite and was able to use that rock for ballast. The link that follows shows the rock on a load in an Accurail triple hopper. http://www.inmemoryofpage.org/MTP-Hopper.jpg
