Speaking of Ballast

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hey Guys, I came across this on “Rail Pics”

Was there some discussion of 1:1 railroads using ballast pans on top of the support timbers a while back?
If one looks to the rear of the loco, It sure looks as though the ballast is laid directly on the wood timbers and then the rail and ties on top of the ballast? I wonder how that works! You can’t trust the railroads to be consistent.

Have fun.[swg]

Lee

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/[IMGhttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii34/Yankeeflyer/3225BridgeBallast.jpg[/IMG]:550:0]

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/[IMGhttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii34/Yankeeflyer/IMG_0394a.jpg[/IMG]:550:0]

2

Espee practice for wooden trestles was to use 4-by-12 boards for the ballast floor and sides, with the floorboards 16 feet long laid perpendicular to the track. The resulting “tray” would be filled with ballast in which the ties were laid.

3

Your top picture appears to be the (Austin) trestle up Mullan Pass outside of Helena MT?

If this is the case remember this rail line used to belong to the Northern Pacific, and now belongs to Montana Raillink. One would assume the new owner would inherit the previous owners specifications/ habits when it comes to infrastructure, which explains the inconsistencies.

4

There was indeed…I was asking for examples of ballasted trestle bridges. And now here we have a iron trestle bridge with a tray and ballast. Great stuff. Thanks. I’ll check out more on this bridge based on what Bill wrote.

5

Here is another good example of ballast from Rail Pics. as pertains to rust.

Notice the rust stain extends all the way to the end of the ties to a lesser degree. On the tracks that don’t have fresh ballast, there appears to be a light rust stain extending out about 2 feet. Also you can see a black line that appears to be oil running down the center of the tracks.

Maybe we don’t have to be so perfect when painting the rust on our tracks. A little over spray won’t hurt.

Have fun. [:-^]

Lee

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/themes/trc/utility/[IMGhttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii34/Yankeeflyer/3857railroadballast.jpg[/IMG]:550:0]

6

Thanks, Lee…Be sure you post this in the “but it ain’t prototypical” discussion!

7

I would be more than willing to wager that that wide streak of rust is the residue from brake applications.

Back in the dark ages, I managed to railfan a stretch of N&W mainline on a heavy grade. The uphill track was well-fouled with sand and looked as if it had been talcum-powdered. The downhill track had the same rust pattern, but much heavier. Shortly after a train cleared downhill, one could see little sparkles from the newly-deposited wear metal which hadn’t had time to rust…

I noticed the same pattern where tracks were operated one way on the JNR. In addition, it was possible to tell which tracks were used by juice motors and EMU - grease streaks about where guardrails should be. DMU and diesel-hydraulic locos left a streak down the track’s centerline.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

8

Fascinating, absolutely fascinating. I will figure out how to apply this to my grades and my diesels. Does any of this apply to steam locomotives?

9

By `The dark ages’ I referred to the mid-fifties - the trains on those tracks were mostly pulled (and pushed!) by Y-whatevers.

Likewise, in Japan the trains were hauled by both steam and electric locos, meeting to swap consists at Haijima (aka my friendly, neighborhood railway station.)

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)