Gravel or Ballast as Track Bumper ?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I would like to use fine gravel or maybe WS ballast at the end of a spur for a track bumper. My question is whether the white glue alcohol mix would short the track?

Thanks,

Bob

2

Bob:

I’ve had several spurs that I’ve ‘bumpered’ that way, and no, there’s no fear of shorting the track. After it dries, the white glue is a natural insulator.

Tom [:)]

3

I built an open-ended crib of ‘timbers’ from some left over scale stripwood, stained them, and then used ashphalt shingle grit that I find several times a year in my gutters as a coarse gravel/rock fill.

-Crandell

4

Bob

No it will not short the track, I have used ballast as a bumper on 3 locations, no problem with track shorting, but consider that, if your are using Kadee couplers, the “air hose” will contact the ballast pile before the wheels on the truck will, it could cause problems if bumped too hard. Make sure your engineers have a soft touch on the throttle.

Edit: Crandall, I like your timbered version, I may have to upgrade mine to that style, thanks.

5

I pile of “dirt” would work as well and be less attractive to someone down the street who needs a few wheelbarrows of gravel.

Mark

6

Since my last layout was a (12"= 12" scale) shortline, I would agree that a simple pile of dirt was most expedient as well as being less expensive (than ballast or crushed stone) to install and maintain. We had several such bumpers at various sidings.

From an engineering viewpoint, plain old dirt usually consolidates much better than piled course aggregate and isn’t as likely to scatter. From a real world point of view, piled (unrestrained) course aggregates tend to scatter along their angle of repose when disrturbed with a love tap from a free rolling car, careless loco engineer, or rubber tired service vehicle. The cribbed bumper (with crushed stone or ballast fill) looks great and would do a better job at containing scatter, but would be succeptable to material theft in an isolated area.

I suppose it all gets back to the owner’s choice in our wonderful world of model railroading.

Now retired, I am presently planning a shelf based shortline layout (in HO) that will be heavily based on actual operating experience. Will be modeling the WW-2 period on up through the early 1950’s with mixed light steam and a couple of 44 ton diesel switchers.

Ted

7

I’m going to stick with the gravel/ballast topped off with a dusting of soil and an even lighter one of weeds. That will make it look like it’s been there a while. Also I won’t need a night watchman to guard it.

Locally CSX recently had a load of gravel dumped on an unused spur where it crossed a road They park gonds on it for a scrap dealer to use.

Thanks for the replies.

Bob