I got ballast today! *PICS* LGBfan 123 take a look!

Garden Railroading
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BIG UPDATE: Today I got ballast!!! I was very excited. I bought 2 80# bags of 1/2" crushed rock. It looks really good too! But would’nt you know it! I was one bag short! Oh well. I will purchase it tomorrow, and hopefully have trains running ASAP. It was SOOO humid today! By the time I was done, I was sweaty and sticky and ready for a nice shower! [:)]

By the way LGB fan, I have ballested track now! [;)]

Here are some pictures from today’s work day…

The bags of ballast. They may look small from the picture, but they were big bags trust me!

My track walking pooch Comet.

The ballast in the wheelbarrow ready to go. The hatchet is for breaking the bag, I’m not a killer. [:p]

Ballast ready to be put in!

Me putting in the ballast.

The first layer of ballast. Still needs to be leveled.

What I got done today.

Another pic. Comet could not resist doing a pose! [:D]

The remaining area that needs to be b

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Looking good! [:)]

Matthew [bow]

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Matt,

Cool. You can firm the ballast with Quickrete bonding adhesive diluted 1:3 with 3 parts water. Add some soap or alcohol to penetrate 1 inch down.

THen, the dog can walk on the ballast without ruffling it.

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I would not do that, the idea of ballast is to hold the track in place but to let ti have some free movement so that it can “float” and let rail bsorb the shocks from the locomotive etc.

i have set some of my track with what was advisd and i wish i had never done it. this is the only place i have derailments.

By all means set the sides in palce but lwet the main part of the rails float.

I don’r understand why you bought ballast by the bag. why not get a quarter of a cubic metre or so delivered or transport same in your ute.

Rgds ian

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Ian, thats the only way it is available here in California (the northern part anyway) in bags.

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lots of outdoor guys use concrete bonding adhesive. It is rubbery when set and allows the track to float

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Dave, thanks for the tip! I think I am going to try it out.

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I live In NY, (near Lake Ontario) SP?) and the only ballast left after the winter is the stuff that is semented down.

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LGBFan here, and I took a look!
You do a nice job of ballasting…its a big task to get most of the right-of-way done in one afternoon!

Regards,

Thomas M.

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I still do not think it is wise to concrete your tracks; in no matter how flexible it is said to be.

As i have said i regret doing it 3 years down the track.

Rgds ian

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Not to debate right or wrong, but as explaination. Concrete bonding adhesive isnt concrete, it is basically outdoor elmers glue or matte medium for the small scale people ((I think it is basically the same thing as matte meduim, which I believe is high strenth?? elmers glue) -as it smells the same and has the same consistency, with the same intial results)

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I have found out the hard way pea gravel dosn’t work, 600 lbs to late. But you mite be able to get something smaller at a garden supply house for the top coat.

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I am not using pea gravel though.

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Jack Verducci does not recommend the use of pea gravel nor does he recommend that track be glued down and thats good enough for me irrespective of the glue!

Rgds Ian