I think I still like the Traction Sand for my Milwaukee Road branchline, but I may go a different direction for my BNSF and UP mainlines. I really like my Brennan's Better Ballast and my Scenic Express ballast for that. As soon as we get plowed out (10" of snow this morning plus 2 to 4" more forecast), I am going to the Dollar Store to look at strainers. Then I have spotted a large pile of crushed stone ballast nearby from BNSF's track work last summer. It will be a while before I can see it again because of the snow, but if I strained that it couldn't get much more realistic than that. Of course I will try to get permission or at least forgiveness.
Art