Anyone out there know the composition/color of the track ballast the Southern Pacific used in eastern California and western Nevada, say the mainline from Roseville, CA to Winnemuca, NV as well as the secondary trackage from Sparks to Thorne, NV (ammo base near Hawthoerne) during the mid-1950s? Here in the Bay Area the UP (former SP trackage is ballasted with light gray gravel (as opposed to BNSF former ATSF ballast which is pink.) But that is here and now, not there and then.
I know that the UP in AZ used volcanic cinders they got from the Flagstaff area. It starts out a kinda orangish/grey, but after years of exposure to the weather and train stuff, it was kind of dark grey.
I imagine that the Roseville to Winemucca rock probably came from granite quarries like the one in Rocklin, so gray rock would be the most appropriate–probably the same stuff they used in the ay Area, actually.
If you’re modeling the line, I do recommend taking the California Zephyr on that route and taking lots of photos–great for research. Assuming that you haven’t already…
Overall it’s pretty much a medium gray, at least through Truckee. Dirt and grime alter the color somewhat. I haven’t noticed any big change since UP took over, aside from the yellow diesels above the ballast. The pic is from Truckee railroad days a few years ago. This is a spur but the mainline is a similar color.[img.nr]http://www.dacort.com/graphics_photo/wp_707.jpg[/img.nr]
![http://www.dacort.com/graphics_photo/wp_707.jpg[/img.nr]](http://www.dacort.com/graphics_photo/wp_707.jpg%5B/img.nr%5D){kind=link}