Ranger Rick posted:I have used roofing granules. I had a large amount of track to ballast and that was the most economical way of doing it. If you can find a supply source near you so you can pick a bucket up, it is a great choice.
Rick
I have posted many, many, many times on how to conserve ballast, and any other "expensive" scenery materials. Simply use dried, CHEAP, sandbox sand, and then apply a very thin layer of your ballast, cinders, etc., over the sand. Our whole layout is done that way.