I have noticed that a lot of GRRs lay their track on top of the ballast. We call that floating. But, when I look at a full size RR where I live the track is actually pressed into the ballast, not sitting on top. A lot of the ties can barely be seen. So what do you all think ( especially those who must have every rivit in its place)? I am asking out of curiosity as I beleive It is your RR and if it pleases you then that’s all that matters.
Hi George,
Nice phrasing![:D][:D]
Welllll, I intend to do as I’ve done for a long time. Look at what the proto does and try to emulate it.
Since my set-up - it’s a-building; slowly but surely - uses both track that is elevated above ground (on benchwork) and the “on the ground” type, I’m sure I’ll have “fun” to keep ballast where it should be. [;)][:)][:p][:)]
When laying track in-ground, like a prototype RR, you cannot just lay the track on top of the ballast, the ballast must be up between the sleepers (Ties) to actually hold the track in place.
I mix a handfull of GP Cement powder with Crusher Dust to form the shoulders of the roadbed, then leaving the track floating IN dry Crusher Dust Ballast, water it in to hold the track in place, expansion and contraction still occurs but the track does not move. Since starting to use this method, some two years ago, I have had very little need to reballast the roadbed, and I am in sub-tropical Queensland, Australia.
I actually ballast even with the ties/sleepers. After some settling and bird “theft”, the level drops slightly and I add a little more ballast, maybe once a year. I see some ballast with pea gravel and other large chunky materials, in those cases it seems to me that putting the track on top is the best way to go. To each his own, what works for me may not work for you. What it comes down to is what YOU want to do…
[oX)]
I use crusher fines for ballast, even with the tops of the ties. But for whatever reason, I find that my track (LGB sectional) tends to ride up out of the ballast over time, and I do have to add more ballast to keep it in place. I haven’t tried ballasting OVER the ties; maybe that would help…
SandyR
I have only been doing this a year but I have found the fine ballast has dissapeared from between the ties. I think it has been working itself down through the 3/8 inch crushed stone sub bed when it rains. I am thinking of doing as Danny suggested and mixing in a little cement… Is there a cement to ballest ratio anyone has found works best?
Same here. The track tends to ride up onn the ballast. I usually re-top in the spring.
Mark
probably because we have no scale rain![:D][:p]
I have worked out a process that makes laying track a lot easier and getting your camber right a lot easier…
You get the bed pretty right using crusher fines as ballast, then lay the track on top of the fines. I then put a fair amount of crusher fines onto the sleeper and brush it along and into the spaces with an old paint brush.
I the check the camber with a small spirit level and get it right by lifting the track and pushing ballast under the high sleepers. I then use a spirit level to check that my gradient is what i wanted and regular and consitent. When I am happy with this I water the lot in and check camber; again going about the same process.
When all is ok I give a variety of rolling stock and locos a run on it and then Doreen comes along and adds decorative ballast, whatever we deam correct for that part of the track.
Rgds ian